A Lifesaving Box Of Food

Hi Everyone, David Tate Here

I thought you might enjoy this.  I was out walking around my neighborhood some weeks back when I passed a young couple and their child.  The man stopped and gave me a curious look and said “I know you from somewhere.”  I did not recognize him and said that maybe he had seen me at FamilyWorks up by the library.  He face lit up, he pointed at me and said  “The foodbank!”   I said ”That makes sense, but I’m sorry I don’t recognize you.”

His wife said they remembered me as I was the one who got them signed up at the foodbank and introduced them to the Resource Center.  I asked them how they were doing and why we had not seen them recently and here is what they said.

A few months back he had lost his job and they were living out of their car with their three year old.  The wife told me that they were down to $20 in cash and desperately needed food, when someone told them about the FW foodbank.  They came down and we got them signed up and provided them with what she called “A lifesaving box of food.”  We also got them “hooked up” with the playgroup program and some housing resources.

They are now in housing and he has a full-time job working security at one of the local “big box” stores.  They both said that their experience with family works had been transforming and lifesaving and had played a huge part in helping them through what was a difficult and stressful time in their lives and they specifically asked me let everyone know how thankful they are for the help.

The Food Bank Diet

One group in Toronto is asking a powerful and thought-provoking question: “Does a single person on social assistance receive enough income to live with health and dignity?”

Social assistance in Ontario is comparable to DSHS here in Washington State. Basically, if you are in financial need, you may qualify for Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support, which would help provide money for food and housing, employment assistance, and health care. But is it enough assistance? Do The Math is a campaign hosted by The Stop Community Food Centre located in Toronto that is battling this issue. They believe that there really is not enough assistance for people to live with health and dignity. See for yourself- check out their website and follow the “Take the Survey” link to see what financial alterations to your lifestyle you would need to make.

Read this article and tell us what you think. Could you live on a Food Bank diet? Can one trip to the food bank fill you up for the week?

Nation & World | More families going without enough food | Seattle Times Newspaper

Nation & World | More families going without enough food | Seattle Times Newspaper.

Did you see this article in which more families are going without enough food?  This is not news to us.  We have seen the rise in families using our food bank.  But we live in such a generous community that we have been able to meet the need.  We hope that soon the ecomony picks up, people find jobs and are able to meet their finaincial needs.  Until then, we will remain open to help those who need it.

FamilyWorks Sunday Dinner & Auction

BlackRock Volunteers build muscle at the food bank

There’s community building going on in preparation for the September 27th FamilyWorks’ Sunday Dinner and Auction.   BlackRock is our major event sponsor this year and has teams of employees volunteering at the food bank as part of the partnership package. These volunteers will get a complimentary ticket to this extraordinary Tom Douglas’  meal and FamilyWorks program.  Companies like BlackRock and Adobe really put muscle behind the money by promoting volunteerism at the non-profits that they support.   Pictured here are BlackRock muscle builders at the food bank.    Check out the dinner tabs for more sponsors and auction information.    I’ll let you in on a few of my favorites:  glass sushi set, Dave Matthews tickets, 5 liter bottle of Chianti, Adobe Photoshop, Lunch with Frank Chopp, sailing, golfing, massages and more!  

Details include 5-7:30 pm at Pallace Ballroom, Eric Liu, speaker.  Call 206 694-6726 to RSVP.  $100 per plate ($50 tax deductible). Hope to see you there!

Breadline USA | AlterNet

Click for a well-argued article on the connection between failing minimum wage laws and poverty, the “missing class” of Americans who work hard and earn enough money that they don’t qualify for federal services such as food stamps but cannot buy food in the world of soaring inflation and food costs in particular, and the concept of a living wage.  Overall, a must-read from Alternet. Check it out.

Summer Hunger in Montgomery County – washingtonpost.com

 

  Another article highlights the issue of hunger and children in the summers. This comments that Montgomery County reaches 86% of eligible students with its summer program, while the national average is 18%. 18% is abominable, but even 86% means that many children are going hungry in the summer….

 

 

‘Hunger Doesn’t Take a Summer Break’ – washingtonpost.com

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Chefs Changing Lives with Food – NYTimes.com

Highly-trained chefs are giving up high-paying careers serving the wealthy in order to work in shelters and addiction programs, teaching the skills of the kitchen and of life to people who need it most. This reminds FamilyWorks of our local version: FareStart. Check it out and support the recovery, job skills training, and delicious food they have to offer!

 

 

 

 

American Album – Finding Purpose in Serving the Needy, Not Just Haute Cuisine – NYTimes.com.

Beyonce Teams up with Feeding America

See how Beyonce is helping fight hunger – and join the cause if you can!

Show Your Helping Hand .

Food Deserts – NPR Reports

Are you familiar with the concept of food deserts? NPR recently reported on such deserts, and what’s being done in one area to try to create oases of healthful food options. Click the photo or the link below to hear the audio.

Food Deserts WPLN News

School’s Out for Summer – Now What About Lunch?

What Happens to Kids in Free/Reduced School Lunch Programs During the Summer?.