The City of Renton has launched its annual food drive to collect food and donations for the Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank and the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle and King County.
Residents can bring nonperishable food to designated locations, through Dec. 20.
The Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank provides ongoing assistance to residents who live in Renton by providing a monthly supply of food along with fresh food offered weekly to those in need. The Emergency Feeding Program supplies emergency food packs that are distributed at four Renton locations, bridging the gap until people receive food bank services.
“We urge all residents and businesses to join our food drive and help feed those who need our help the most,” said Mayor Denis Law. “This year local food banks are also facing the challenges of the economic downturn and beginning to see a drop in donations, just when many in our community are most in need.”
The most needed food items include canned meals such as beef stew and chili, canned vegetables and fruit, canned lunch meats, evaporated milk, powdered milk in small boxes, canned soup, chicken or beef baby foods, breakfast cereal, dry meals, pasta, rice, fish sauce (Nuoc Mam), vegetable oil, snack pudding and condiments such as ketchup and mustard. Non-breakable plastic containers are preferred.
“There are literally thousands of people out there in crisis right now who need help, many of them working families seeking aid for the first time ever,” said Sam Osborne, development director for the Emergency Feeding Program.
The public can drop off food donations at several locations including Renton City Hall, Renton Community Center, Renton libraries, Human Services Division at 200 Mill Avenue, Maplewood Golf Course, Renton Fire Stations, Cugini’s Florist, Renton Chamber of Commerce, King and Bunny’s Appliances, State Farm Insurance, Evergreen Place Retirement, and McLendon Hardware. For addresses, hours for drop-off locations, and a detailed list of needed food items, please check the city’s website at rentonwa.gov or call 425-430-6691.
As part of its efforts, the city is also launching an employee food drive. City of Renton employees will compete with Iron Mountain of Renton, to see who can collect more food. Last year, Iron Mountain collected more than 14,000 pounds or seven tons of food.
“We can do it,” said Patrick Zellner, City of Renton’s Street Maintenance Supervisor. “Our goal is to collect more food and monetary donations, and get more volunteer hours than Iron Mountain. This is a great challenge since we are both competing for a great cause.”
Residents can also help by donating money to help purchase bulk food. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to the following addresses:
• The Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank, P.O. Box 977, Renton, WA 98057
salvationarmyrenton.org
• Emergency Feeding program
P.O. Box 18877, Seattle, WA 98118
www.emergencyfeeding.org
