Holiday fund drive will benefit Mount Si Food Bank this year
November 30, 2011
By Staff
A new community fund has been established to address hunger and emergency financial aid for Snoqualmie Valley families doing their best to get ahead.
Fund for the Valley kicks off its inaugural year with all donations going to the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank in North Bend. While demand for food grows, the food bank is struggling, due to the loss of $19,000 in federal funding.
You can help make up the difference with contributions to Fund for the Valley, a holiday fund drive initiated by the SnoValley Star. A goal of $10,000 has been set for this first year.
Area residents and businesses do already contribute to the food bank. The Valley’s three grocery stores contribute surplus food every week. Community groups, churches and many individuals make food and cash donations, or participate in benefit events. And taxpayers contribute via the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie. Nevertheless, the loss of $19,000 will be tough to overcome.
Meanwhile, the demand is growing. Many of the food bank’s clients are working, but are unable to make ends meet. The impact is especially hard on the 300 children and 150 seniors that rely on the food bank each week.
There is no one profile for who uses the food bank. Its clients include people who’ve been laid off and are in between jobs, people facing unexpected and staggering healthcare costs, and recently divorced parents struggling to make ends meet.
Not everyone comes each week. Some come only once. Some come for a few weeks or months until they find a new job. Some come from time to time, when they need some support from their neighbors and community.
The one common characteristic is uncertainty.
“A lot of the people who come are in transition. There’s something that’s happened in their life,” and they need a helping hand, the group’s director, Heidi Dukich said.
The greatest benefit the food bank provides is some security and stability for its clients.
“When you give that help you’re providing more than food, you’re providing peace of mind,” Dukich said.
The need for assistance from the Mount Si Food Bank is expected to continue to grow. Your donation can make a difference.
“The mission of the SnoValley Star is to make a difference in the lives of its readers,” Publisher Debbie Berto said. “Fund for the Valley will make it easy for those who want to join us in making a difference. Only 501c3 charities will receive the money, making contributions tax deductible.”
Send checks to Fund for the Valley, c/o SnoValley Star, P.O. Box 2516, North Bend, WA 98045. Donor names will be published (but not donation amounts) unless anonymity is requested.
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