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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Rotary First Harvest

Working in the Community
Working for the Community


Rotary First Harvest, District 5030
Yesterday I spent the morning volunteering at Northwest Harvest. I was one of more than a hundred volunteers who showed up to help process the enormous amount of donated food.

For three hours several large rooms of the warehouse in Kent were a hive of activity as volunteers repackaged frozen peas, oranges, grapefruits and lemons into small boxes for distribution to local food banks, who in turn pass the boxes on individual families.

Food banks and nutrition programs provided by Northwest Harvest play a vital role in the social fabric of our communities.
In 2010, one in seven households in Washington struggled to provide enough food for their family. This year, the state’s budget crisis will result in the elimination or significant reductions of critical services that help struggling families meet their basic needs, like keeping food on the table.
One in seven. Chances are you know someone being helped by one of the programs of Northwest Harvest. Perhaps it's your neighbor. Or the single mom at the coffee kiosk. Or the fellow who's been looking for work since 2008. Perhaps it's you.

These are tough times for many in our community, and for many it is tough through no fault of their own. Northwest Harvest and its affiliates provide more than 680,000 food services each month, and 93% of their budget goes to food distribution. They
provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. [Their] vision is ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington State.
Northwest Harvest relies on donations and volunteers.

I got involved through the Rotary Club of Sammamish, and there were large groups from many local Rotary clubs there yesterday, as there are many weekends. You can bring your group too! Or contact me and join us the next day we go. You can help; it makes an immediate and powerful difference in people's lives. It's a great activity to do with your kids too.

Update:

Here is the team from the Rotary Club of Sammamish—Rotarians and friends!

The Rotary Club of Sammamish and friends at Northwest Harvest

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