Fighting for a Spot in the Bonney Lake Food Bank Parking Lot

Times are hard for Bonney Lake residents and it can’t get more obvious during food distribution hours at the downtown Bread of Life Food Bank.

“When I took over the food bank in September 2007, we were serving approximately 100 families a month. Now, we are serving almost 600 families a month,” said food bank director Stu Bowen.

The influx of people has taken its toll on the parking lot and its obvious the food bank has outgrown its current location, noted members of the Bonney Lake City Council at their regular meeting on Sept. 27.

Councilmembers said citizens have mentioned feeling “uncomfortable” visiting surrounding businesses because the food bank clients are “rude.”

“The food bank is probably being used excessively but we need to protect the local businesses,” said councilmember Mark Hamilton.

The issue, said Hamilton, has the potential of becoming a public safety problem.

“It’s not a comfortable place. The crowds are large,” said Police Chief Dana Powers. “We’ve outgrown that spot and it’s very crowded over there when food is getting distributed.”

The crunch for space is felt at the neighboring CJ’s Deli, where employees battle for parking every day in their own lot.

“[Food bank clients] always park in our spot, which sucks, and then they’re rude about it,” said Jolinn Fischer, an employee at CJ’s Deli. “It’s constantly an issue, and they eyeball you when you walk across the parking lot.”

Fellow CJ’s employee Lois Buffington agreed.

“They portray an attitude that it’s their parking lot and give you a bad look when you park there,” said Buffington. “It’s a real hassle. And, there are always boxes and garbage laying around.” She pointed at a bruise on her leg, which she endured earlier in the week after falling on some boxes left outside the food bank.

Bowen was not present at the council meeting and was surprised when asked if he knew of issues in the parking lot.

“This is the first I’ve heard of any problems. We know parking is tight, but I’ve always tried to keep the lane open for police and fire to come in and out,” said Bowen. “None of the local business people have come and talked to me about clients being rude or taking up their parking.”

Bowen said that he asks his clients to park in the gravel lot across the street and pull their cars around the front to load up before they leave.

While there have not been any documented incidents in the parking lot, Police Chief Dana Powers acknowledged that the issue is on her staff’s radar.

“We don’t have a case report, we’re just trying to be proactive,” said Powers. “I sent our officers an email, saying that we need to look at this area. We will just drive by or park in the parking lot. Just being visible cuts down on aggressive rudeness and anything that’s happening.”

The best outcome, said Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson, would be a new home for the food bank. The city is interested in acquiring the empty building in the same lot as the old Diamond Lounge for the food bank, but has not succeeded in doing so.

“We really have no solutions for where the food bank goes. The property the city is supposed to acquire is not acquired,” said Johnson. “We are very limited right now.”

He also noted that the food bank is overwhelmed with Pierce County residents and people from neighboring cities.

"We need to keep in mind that the Food Bank serves a greater population than just Bonney Lake," said Johnson. "The issue of a new location needs to be more of a regional discussion with Pierce County and surrounding cities."

Bowen agrees that it’s time for Bonney Lake to consider a new location for what is quickly becoming a much-needed resource for an increased number of residents.

“If there are people in the community willing to help us to relocate, raise funds or something, we really need to have a bigger facility with better parking,” said Bowen. “We need the community’s help. This is a giving community and we need those who are able to give, to give us a building.”