Two weeks after the first serious snow started to fall on our area, more stories continue to emerge about how hard people worked to be sure the weather didn’t stop them from doing what needed to be done. At one point, we published an urgent call for help from Rick Jump (left) at the White Center Food Bank, saying they needed volunteers to help distribute holiday food baskets for hundreds of families; he subsequently reported that many people answered the call and they had more than enough help. What Rick didn’t mention, though, is the lengths he’d been going to, to keep the WCFB — whose official service area includes part of West Seattle — running. That story emerged in e-mail we received last night from Christi Stapleton, who along with Beth Grieser wanted to make sure Rick and the volunteers got a special shout-out, as well as everybody who has helped WCFB and West Seattle Food Bank:

The White Center Food Bank has been working overtime to get enough food and workers together to help out, but it’s been tight lately: demand is up, donations are down.

The Executive Director, Rick Jump, is really dedicated, as are the volunteers and staff.

But, with the weather this year, their dedication really stood out. There was enough food for everyone, but the weather meant that volunteers had a hard time getting there to help!

The snow and ice made travel difficult for all, but Rick’s street was too icy to drive, so he walked 2.5 miles to the food bank and slept there THREE nights to make sure all families could be served. Volunteers braved the snow to help out.

Admiral Safeway and Roxbury Safeway ran a promotion at the register to allow shoppers to painlessly and quickly add a ham for the food bank to their grocery bill! The response was great and allowed the food bank to distribute hams to every family that came to the food bank over the holidays. The Jefferson Square Safeway ran the same promotion and those hams were donated to the West Seattle Food Bank. All in all, it was a great program. Thanks to all the shoppers that donated, Safeway management for their patience and to the Safeway staff for making it a successful food drive.

The families were thrilled with the ham and the special holiday food. They all were appreciative to be able to serve a special holiday meal to their families.

Special thanks to everyone that donated their time and, of course, money, to keep the food banks going. It’s important work and you are appreciated. Keep it up!

If anyone has questions, wants more information or wants to donate (time or money), call Beth Grieser at 206-938-5706. She coordinates the food bank distribution for the 34th District Democrats and the West Seattle Democratic Women. With a little more prodding, they will have her on the board of the
White Center Food Bank, too!

Christi sent the following photo of some WCFB volunteers. Right after it, you’ll find links you can use right now, without even leaving your house, to donate money directly to the WC and WS Food Banks.

The food banks’ website pages with links to donate $ online (and more info on how else to help them):
White Center Food Bank here
West Seattle Food Bank here
Scroll down each of those pages to look for the DONATE button.