Tukwila Pantry Programs
Food Bank Services
Food Bank Service is provided to individuals and families in cities of Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien and the Boulevard Park community. Our goal is to provide needy families and individuals with nutritional food to assist in meal preparation.
Emergency Referral Services
Individuals and families at times visit Tukwila Pantry during a crisis situation. During these visits many individuals find themselves needing other forms of assistance than what is offered by the Tukwila Pantry. Referrals are made based on a client’s needs. Many times we are able to connect clients with an agency that can be of most assistance to them.
Congregate Meal Service
Tuesday’s Table is our congregate meal service where more than 150 meals are provided weekly. Tuesdays table offers many seniors an opportunity for involvement and social stimulation they might not find elsewhere. It offers many low income families a chance for a night out and gives many home providers a time of rest not having to worry about what to cook once a week. Tuesday’s Table also offers many individuals that are homeless or in transition a chance to get a hot home cooked meal.
Organization Need
Building Capacity to strengthen all our programs is the most important goal at this time. Currently we are working on creating greater depth within our board of directors. It is our hope that this depth will enable us to continue and possibly expand programs in the future.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Most Recent Successes
Tukwila Pantry’s most recent success was being able to secure funding through the Mckibben Merner Family Foundation and Fowkes Family Giving Fund with the support of the Seattle Foundation. These funds enabled the Tukwila Pantry to purchase a 2005 20’ boxed refrigerated truck. This new truck gives us greater ability to handle larger volumes of donated material. Without this truck Tukwila Pantry faced the possibility of having to drastically curtail services and possible closure.
Another recent success story was when one of our clients regained employment and held an office fundraiser benefitting the Tukwila Pantry. This individual has become an ambassador representing the Tukwila Pantry to outside organizations as well as speaking at our Spring Luncheon. From being a client to becoming an ambassador says a lot about our mission. When we first met she was in tears while waiting in line to register. Just the way she saw individuals being treated as if they were family members and not just a number. Realizing that the food was of a substantial amount and of great value.
Current Needs
Tukwila Pantry has been working with Architects Without Borders on streamlining the traffic flow of our clientele as they work their way through the process of registration and food distribution. The main purpose of this work is also to allow clients the ability to self-select foods that are appropriate for themselves or their families. This project will also allow for greater volume of food to be distributed on a more proportional basis.
The need is that we must raise between $20,000-$30,000 dollars to see this project implemented. Unfortunately at the same time we have been hit hard by this economic downturn. Donations have been slower and of lesser amounts than budgeted over the past two years. With government cutbacks Tukwila Pantry will lose nearly $10,000 in funds that have been dedicated to purchasing food for our clientele. The need is great the demand is growing. With support of community we will continue to make a difference.