Bonney Lake Food Bank Consolidates and Extends Hours

Information provided by the Bonney Lake Food Bank

Bonney Lake, Wash. – The Board of Directors of the Bonney Lake Community Resources (BLCR) announced today that the Bonney Lake Food Bank will consolidate its distribution efforts at the Bonney Lake site. In addition, the hours of operation will be extended. One additional day and second evening has been added, allowing the Food Bank to offer its services five days a week.

“Due to economic factors, we had to discontinue distribution at the Prairie Ridge Community Center,” says Bonney Lake Food Bank Director Stew Bowen. “It was a difficult decision, but one made after a great deal of thought and planning.”

The Food Bank has conducted on-going surveys of those who use their services and found that the Prairie Ridge residents can pick up food at the Bonney Lake site. “We would only make the decision to discontinue our efforts in Prairie Ridge if we knew that it would not be a hardship on the residents there,” says BLCR Board of Directors President Rex Pulfrey. “Our mission is to provide food to community members who are struggling to put food on the table. We can more effectively and efficiently serve the community at large from a centralized location. No one else is providing this level of service.”

The Bonney Lake Food Bank has been distributing free food and government commodities to area residents under the auspices of the Bonney Lake Community Resources since 2009. It offers food from every nutritional group, as well as baby items, personal care products and pet food. The non-profit organization serves more than 1,200 families each month, operating primarily on donations from the public.

Clients include the working poor and families or individuals who have suffered an immediate crisis such as a layoff, medical emergency, domestic violence or displacement after forced evacuation. Eligibility is based on income. The services are provided to residents living within the following zip codes: 98321 (Buckley), 98323 (Carbonado), 98385 (South Prairie), 98390 (Sumner), 98391 (Bonney Lake/Lake Tapps), or 98396 (Wilkeson).

In addition to the Food Bank, BLCR oversees the Plant a Row Community Garden, Snack Shack, and Backpack Program, supplying residents with healthy food and school children in need with nourishing lunches. “When a child doesn't have enough nourishing food, their health and ability to learn is impacted. With support from our partners, donors and volunteers, BLCR is working very hard to alleviate that problem,” Pulfrey says.

For a list of needed items or ways to help feed community members in need, go to the BLCR website at www.teamblcr.us.