No Waste, No Hunger is an initiative to encourage individual citizens, professionals in particular, to contribute food stuffs, pet and hygiene items to local food banks, subsidized food providers, and emergency meal providers. The need became greater in 2020 when the Federal Government increased restrictions on the SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) program. How can you help?
Up to one year past “best use”
Most agencies will accept non-perishable food which is up to one year past it’s “best use” date. Please note the product date may “Sell by,” “Best if used by,” “Use by,” “Expiration date” and “Quality assurance date.” If you are not sure if your item is okay to donate, just ask when you drop it off.
Small donations make a big difference
A box with a few items will get put into a a location with similar donations. Those all get sorted by volunteers and either put out on shelves or put into food boxes for pick up or delivery to people.
A few unique items are very helpful
Most food banks offer the usual staples, like cream of tomato soup, but they don’t necessarily offer a lot of variety. A can of your favorite soup, a single jar of Tikka Masala sauce, or one pack of cookies can be a special treat for someone struggling to meet their basic food needs. if 50 professionals each drop off one unique item per month, 50 families will get a special monthly treat. It might a daily or weekly pleasure for you, and a special gift of kindness to someone else.
No Waste, No Hunger also helps fight climate change
According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, 30 percent of food is wasted globally across the supply chain, contributing 8 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would come in third after the United States and China in terms of impact on global warming.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/07/31/food-waste/
There are number of ways to give
You can drop an item or box food items at:
- Port Angeles Food Bank, (regional food distribution center)
- NEW LOCATION: 632 N. Oakridge, Port Angeles (past McCrorie’s by Walmart)
- Sequim Food Bank, 144 W Alder St
- Serenity House
- The Answer 4 Youth (TAFY), 826 East First Street, Port Angeles
- Neighborhood Food Shelf (consider building your own, talk to your neighbors!)
- [Other locations listed below]
Please note, the Port Angeles Food Bank is now a regional distribution center. It receives and provides food to 13+ food pantries (including Serenity House, the food banks listed below, Makah Food Bank, Healthy Families and Mariposa House shelters, etc.). Check your local drop off facility for available drop off times and other details.
What to give and collect
You can buy a 2-pack of something at the store, and share one. You can clear out your pantry of food you haven’t and might not eat, before it gets too far past the “best use” date. You buy one extra can of something you love and work on filling up your own donation box over the month. You can set out a food donation box in your office and ask clients to consider pitching in, then dropping off the box as it fills up. If you have sympathetic neighbors, visit them once a month to get a single item to go into your box.
Agencies providing emergency food support
Food Banks
Port Angeles Food Bank
(360) 452-8568
402 S Valley St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
https://www.portangelesfoodbank.org/
Needs: https://www.portangelesfoodbank.org/what-to-donate
pafoodbank@olypen.com
Support staff is available to receive food donations each weekday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donations up to one year past “best buy” date are accepted. No perishable or frozen food are accepted.
Sequim Food Bank
(360) 683-1205
144 W Alder St, Sequim, WA 98382
sequimfoodbank@olypen.com
Open Monday, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00am – Noon.
Olympic Community Action Programs (OLYCAP)
Port Angeles: (360) 452-4726
Forks: (360) 374-6193 421 5th Ave, Forks, WA 98331
Port Townsend: (360) 385-2571
823 Commerce Loop, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Hope Food Bank, Clallam Bay
(360) 963-2424
16693 WA-112, Clallam Bay, WA 98326
Tri-Area Food Bank, Chimacum
(360) 385-9462
760 Chimacum Rd, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Quilcene Food Bank
(360) 765-0904
294952 US-101, Quilcene, WA 98376
Low income, homeless and Emergency agencies
Serenity House
(360)-452-7224, general inquiries
(360)-565-5041, housing inquiries
2321 W 18th St, Port Angeles, WA 98363
serenity@serenityhouseclallam.org
Provides: 50-100 breakfast and dinner meals provided daily to emergency shelter residents.
Needs: Anything but beans and rice. Eggs, milk, bread, vegetables, canned goods, olives, cookies, bottled water, even single serving items like a can soup which they can use in a lunch pack to go. Also cleaning and hygiene products, socks and warm clothes. Drop off at Serenity House emergency shelter.
Salvation Army, Port Angeles
(360) 452-7679
206 S Peabody St, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
The Answer 4 Youth (TAFY)
(360) 670-4363
826 East First Street, Port Angeles, Washington 98362
https://www.theanswer4youth.org/
Needs: https://www.theanswer4youth.org/needs.php
Provides: Spending about $1,000/month, TAFY serves 900 dinners each month. Food donations are critical. Free hot and cold meals are served during regular open hours, Monday/Wednesday/Friday 3:00-7:00 p.m. and Saturday 4:00-7:00 p.m, and also during AA and NA meetings.
Susan’s Free Store: provides everything the homeless need for free. Donations can left by rear-East door.
Senior Centers
Port Angeles Senior Center (PASC)
(360) 457-7004
328 E. 7th Street
paseniorcenter@olypen.com
The PASC offers a coffee house lounge as well as Dinners at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The PASC Coffee House lounge is open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and offers refreshments, snacks, soups and sandwiches at nominal costs. The lounge also offers an opportunity for good social contact and conversation. Dinners require a reservation (call 360-457-8921), and the suggested voluntary donation amount is $5 for people 60 and over. Membership at the PASC is NOT required to eat at the center. PASC is seeking Coffee Lounge volunteer workers for 2-4 hour shifts.
Shipley Center, Sequim
(360) 683-6806
3527, 921 E Hammond St, Sequim, WA 98382
info@shipleycenter.org
Shipley Center Café. Open Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. “We are open to the public and all ages are welcome. Come in and enjoy our daily specials and homemade soups! No tipping environment (donations are accepted) and volunteer staff help us keep the menu affordable. Come in and have a seat, or call in to place your “to go” order!”
Sequim Senior Nutrition Program
(360) 683-8491
251 S 5th Ave, Sequim, WA 98382
sequimfoodbank@olypen.com
No Waste, No Hunger: participating professional firms
(The Following North Olympic lawyers and professionals pledged to donate food and/or supplies at least twice a year. Let us know if you want to participate and be listed.)
James Rodriguez, Attorney and Counselor at Law
Mark K. Baumann, Attorney at Law PS
Please contribute
Be a drop off point, give food, give financial assistance to the Port Angeles Food Bank. They buy food cheaper than you can through a number of different programs. Please consider sending us an article to post about local services, needs, accomplishments, or events.
Thank you for reading and considering to contribute.
Mark Baumann
360-452-8688