View our 2012 Newsletter!

Hungry families and individuals in Pierce County will have more food in their cupboards this spring, thanks to the thoughtfulness of local citizens who placed bags of food by their mailboxes on May 12. EFN received 316,209 pounds of food from communities throughout the county.

The event is a true community effort. McKinney Trailers and Containers generously donated the use of 15 trailers to store the collected food during this one-day drive. Bank of America sponsored the purchase of 312,000 bags that letter carriers delivered to area residents. Volunteers helped postal carriers on their routes to pick up food and load it onto trucks. Realtors from the Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors sorted food in EFN’s warehouse after the drive.

This year, organizers made an effort to emphasize the nutritional value of items donated. Peanut butter and canned meats, vegetables, and soups are healthy, protein-laden foods for families and individuals who visit area food banks during difficult times. EFN’s warehouse in Lakewood is now filled to the brim with generous gifts of food, but the bounty doesn’t last long.  EFN distributes over 1 million pounds of food each month.  The Letter Carriers Food Drive provides EFN with a week’s worth of food for the hungry children, seniors and adults who make an average of 110,000 total visits to emergency food sites in Pierce County.

In 2011, EFN distributed 13.1 million pounds of food worth $16.1 million at no cost through its warehouse operation. EFN is able to leverage purchased and donated food to distribute $12 worth of food for every $1 donated.

Food Drives play an important role in helping EFN meet the needs of our hungry Pierce County neighbors. In addition to individual food drives, EFN relies on various companies and organizations to donate product. Once received, the food is distributed to the 73 food banks, meal sites, and shelters that EFN serves.

To learn more about EFN, volunteering, or to obtain a food drive information packet, visit www.efoodnet.org or call (253) 584-1040.

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On Wednesday, May 2 in Philip Hall on the University of Washington-Tacoma campus, Emergency Food Network hosted a community breakfast to mark 30 years of service in the community and to recognize important partners in Pierce County’s effort to fight food insecurity.

EFN honored this year’s recipients of the 2012 Silver Spoon Award, recognizing individuals and organizations who have made a substantial impact on ending food insecurity in our region. By helping EFN with its mission “to provide a reliable food supply so that no person in Pierce County goes hungry,” recipients of this award model a commitment to giving their time and resources to meet a critical need. This year’s winners are: United Natural Foods, Inc., Key Peninsula Lutheran Church, The Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation, American Fast Freight, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Rotary Club of Tacoma No. 8, Marsh Allen, and Schnitzer.

In addition to the Silver Spoon awards, the Emergency Food Network presented the David P. Ottey Lifetime Achievement Award to Carrie Little. Ms. Little managed Mother Earth Farm for more than 10 years, transforming an 8-acre plot of over-farmed land in Puyallup into a bountiful organic farm that distributes 150,000 pounds of produce annually to area food banks, fresh on the day the food is harvested.

Past Executive Directors Jeannie Darnielle, Dennis Flannigan and David Ottey were in attendance, along with past and present board members, representatives from supportive family foundations and local businesses, as well as individuals who have made a difference over the past 30 years.

EFN also announced companies and organizations that qualified as Corporate or Civic Partners in 2011. Corporate/Civic Partners have a special tie to EFN. They engage in efforts to fight hunger and receive distinction for their work each year for their efforts. Corporate and Civic Partners recognized at the breakfast include: Bank of America, Boeing Company, Business Examiner, Chuckals, DaVita, Franciscan Health System, Gordon Thomas Honeywell, KeyBank, LaborWorks, Lakewood Police Department, LeMay Pierce County Refuse, MultiCare Health System, Murray Pacific Corporation, Pacific Lutheran University, Roman Meal Company, Rotary Club District 5020, Schnitzer, Stadium Thriftway, Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors, Tucci & Sons.

Each month in Pierce County local food banks and hot meal sites see an average of 110,000 visits made by children, seniors and adults.  In 2011 EFN distributed 13.1 million pounds of food worth $16.5 million at no cost through its warehouse operation. EFN is able to leverage their purchased and donated food to distribute $12 worth of food for every $1 donated.

To learn more about EFN visit www.efoodnet.org or call (253) 584-1040.

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On Saturday, May 12,  the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its annual food drive, which helps stock the shelves of food banks in Pierce County and throughout the country. This national event is a great opportunity for residents and businesses to join together to see that no person goes hungry in our community.

Pierce County postal carriers partner with Emergency Food Network and area food banks to collect more than 300,000 pounds of food during the Letter Carriers Food Drive. McKinney Trailers and Containers generously donated the use of 15 trailers to store the collected food during this one-day drive on the second Saturday of every May. Bank of America sponsored the purchase of 312,000 bags used for the event.

Each address in the county will receive a bag, but there is no limit to the amount of bags postal carriers will collect. Postal carriers and volunteers will drive through neighborhoods to pick up your donations. Suggested non-perishable items include peanut butter, canned soups and chili, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, and other items high in nutritional value.

Each month in Pierce County, local food banks and hot meal sites see an average of 110,000 visits made by children, seniors and adults. In 2011 EFN distributed 13.1 million pounds of food worth $16.5 million at no cost through its warehouse operation. EFN is able to leverage their purchased and donated food to distribute $12 worth of food for every $1 donated.

To learn more about EFN, volunteering, or to obtain a food drive information packet, visit www.efoodnet.org or call (253) 584-1040.

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