Gig Harbor Midday Rotary initiated a project to provide extra food for FoodBackpacks4Kids, a local food bank that provides essential food items for families with food insecurity on the Key Peninsula near Gig Harbor. The project’s objective was to help mitigate food insecurity in the region, particularly during the months of March and April, which are considered the worst months for organizations relying on food donations.
The Community Service Chair, Lonna Calas, coordinated with Zaida Woodworth, the Executive Director at FoodBackPacks4Kids, to purchase and deliver essential food items. Zaida identified the Bremerton WinCo as the best location based on her local store pricing research. For those not familiar with the area, WinCo, and FB4K are 21 miles apart. The manager at WinCo, Kyle, was extremely helpful and scheduled food orders and pick-up dates and times a few days in advance. Then Midday Rotary volunteers would pay for the order, pack them into their vehicles, and deliver them to FoodBackpacks4Kids where their volunteers would help unload and shelf.
Over the course of two months, the club made a total of four purchases, pick-ups, and deliveries to the rural food bank, which provided much-needed support to 200 families in the region. The club purchased and delivered over $4,000 worth of staple food supplies. Midday had a $2000 budget for the purchases and a matching grant from Rotary District International District 5020, the club’s original budget was then doubled.
The Midday volunteers enjoyed the hands-on work and learning more about the food bank. Some now volunteer regularly there as well, and the project was a success, providing essential food items to families in need during the toughest months for food donations. Even after Rotary involvement ended, FoodBackPacks4Kids will continue to provide extra food to families with food insecurity on the Key Peninsula. The Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Midday has a long relationship with Foodbackoaks4Kids and provides ongoing support in many forms. To learn more about FoodBackpacks4Kids and their amazing journey, please visit: https://www.foodbackpacks4kids.org/
