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closeFood bank struggles as more families need assistance
Sumner’s food bank experiences fewer donations than normal, but paired with more requests means it’s a challenging time
Roxanne Cooke
The Sumner Community Food Bank is seeing an increase in requests for food but a slight drop in donations as the economy continues to struggle and families rely more and more on area food banks.
“Any help that we can get would be very much welcome,” said Marlene Murphy, food coordinator of the Sumner food bank. “It’s a very nervous time for everybody.”
Lately, appointments to receive food are filled by 10:30 a.m.
“That is unheralded,” Murphy said.
Items the food bank needs include margarine, eggs, peanut butter, pasta and milk. If every family in the area could just give one item to a food bank, be it a bottle of shampoo or a bag of pasta, things could improve, she said. The food bank has plenty of oatmeal, some soup and just purchased cans of tomato sauce for simple meals such as spaghetti.
Fresh vegetables are coming in from Sumner’s community garden harvest. Potatoes, kale, squash, zucchini, carrots and tomatoes are available and the food bank is grateful.
“God bless those people,” Murphy said. “That’s really helped.”
Though the fall and the holiday season are typically a “drier” time of giving, there are also plenty of people who realize the struggle for food banks, she said. Still, the amount of donations is lower than normal and the donations tend to come in spurts.
“As bad as it is, people are still giving,” Murphy said. “It always seems to be there when you need it.”
November typically brings in food from several local food drives. TOP Food and Drug delivers food to the food bank every day.
“I don’t know what we’d do without them,” she said.
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LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND FOOD DRIVES
Sumner Community Food Bank
> Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. The food bank recommends making appointments the same day of food pick-up between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
> Phone: 253-863-3793
> Address: 15625 Main St. E., Sumner
FISH Food Bank
> Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m.
> Phone: 253-848-5240
> Address: 239 W. Stewart, Puyallup
TOP Food and Drug food drives:
Food drives to help the hungry in local communities will be conducted Oct. 13-19 at TOP Food and Drug stores in Pierce County.
Food banks are seeking canned protein, canned fruit and any other non-perishable food items. Donors also may purchase pre-stuffed bags of groceries that include rice, pasta and soup for $5 apiece at TOP Food stores. A food bank in each store’s community will distribute all of the donated food.
Participating stores include Puyallup TOP Food and Drug, 201 37th Ave. S.E.