Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank Programs
We have three main program areas, food security, clothing bank and financial assistance.
Our Food Bank: is a self-select food bank that allows clients to take what they need and what they will eat. We try to have lots of healthy food options, our shelves almost always have fresh produce, breads, dairy, meat and a variety of cereals, oats, granola and canned goods. Our clients can visit us once a week. In the Food Bank we provide a variety of toiletries and cleaning products to clients once a month.
Our Clothing Bank: is open to ten different local zip codes and has a variety of seasonal clothing options for all ages. We often have business professional clothing. We cater to all people living in all different types of living situations. We have tents, tarps, stoves and sleeping bags for people who are homeless. We also have household items, including kitchen items, children's games, toys and essentials and books.
Our Emergency Assistance Program: provides support to families who are risk of getting being evicted or getting their electricity shut off. This program occasionally provides assistance with fuel expenses for high priority trips like interviews or medical appointments. We also help support families with prescription cost and with special dietary needs.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In the last year we have turned our nonprofit from a traditionally run 'ma and pop' full of heart and passion for the mission into a nonprofit that is still full of heart and passion but is adopting more professional business strategies. This growth and change is 100% for our clients. With an effective Board and Staff implementing strategic work plans that all channel into a common, well-thought out vision we have been able to improve in the following ways:
- Shorter lines for our clients - Training opportunities for our staff and volunteers - Increase in healthy food options - Increase in community collaborations and partnerships - Increase in resource sharing and programming possibilities - Increase in client satisfaction - Increase in resource referrals, no one walks away without a clear direction and good connections. - Improved technology helps free up our valuable time resources so we can spend our time in more important areas like client serves, fund-raising and community relations.
Our Current needs are always posted on our website homepage
www.issaquahfoodbank.org. Financial contributions are always the most important -- we can buy food in bulk in ways the general public can not. Aside from financial support our needs change monthly but our staples are peanut butter, dairy products, cereal, fresh produce, your garden harvest, diapers, toiletries, canned tuna, juice, healthy snacks for schools lunches.