Food bank could use a little help from its friends

With regional food banks changing their procedures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Point Roberts Food Bank is relying on local donations to make sure their clients keep getting a healthy variety of food.

“We are actually classified as a food pantry and we often have to use our own resources,” Point Roberts Food Bank volunteer Henry Rosenthal said. “The additional funds coming in do help.” One of his favorite examples of the community pitching in to support their programs is a patron of the senior lunches at the community center, now operating as a drive-through on Wednesdays. “They came to pick up one of Roger’s wonderful five dollar lunches and in the container they are to leave the money in they also left a check for the food bank!”

Rosenthal explained that Food Lifeline, the regional food bank they have relied for $1 a dozen eggs and 50-cent cans of tuna, has switched to providing “emergency boxes” only in response to the pandemic and changing health and safety guidelines. This means that, like any other Food Lifeline clients, the Point Roberts Food Bank can’t pick what they need but only receives a certain number of boxes of non-perishable items such as rice, mac and cheese, and cereal. They use their own funds and rely on donations from the Point Roberts Marketplace to make sure people who need their services can get eggs and fresh produce.

“We want to keep making sure people have what they need,” Rosenthal said.

The pickup day for the local food bank is Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the community center. Clients are met by a team of volunteers who supplement a box of basics with things they select. “They get a choice of loads and loads of good things including fresh produce,” Rosenthal said.

The local food bank is serving approximately 25 percent more people than before Covid-19 restrictions led to layoffs, Rosenthal said. “We don’t want anyone who needs a little help these days to hesitate to come to the food bank,” he said.

Donations to the food bank can be made at either Umpqua Bank or Banner Bank, sent to 323 Evergreen Way, Point Roberts WA 98281, or dropped off at the community center when you drive by to pick up your senior program lunch!