SEATTLE — Three days a week, Northwest Harvest’s SODO Community Market opens its doors to anyone who needs a boost. The market-style food bank welcomes anyone in, with no information required, and lets them take whatever food they need.
It’s set up to feel like a no-cost grocery store. In small groups, people enter and grab a handbasket. They then choose whichever items are needed. The selections depend on the donations of the day, but there are typically multiple canned food displays, buckets of fresh produce, pastries and sandwiches donated by Starbucks, and more.
The volunteers are a huge part of the operation, which is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There are six paid staff members at the market, plus 20 volunteers who pass through each day. Northwest Harvest estimates that volunteers donate about 150,000 hours per year, which is close to the equivalent of 50 full-time staff.
One of the repeat volunteers is Danny Cisneros, who has volunteered every single week for ten years now.
He said for him, this is a way to connect with his community and also appreciate what he has.
“I should do my part. If everybody does their part, we’ll make the world a better place,” said Cisneros.
He and another volunteer, Andrea Davis, used the same word when describing the setup of the market that keeps them coming back: dignity.
“I love that NW Harvest believes there’s dignity in shopping for your own ingredients. What's important for you and your family, maybe what you eat is different than what your neighbor eat and that’s really incredible to be able to pick the items yourself like you’re going to the grocery store,” said Davis.
How to donate
Click here to donate online through Northwest Harvest between now and the end of the year.
In-person donations will also be accepted at a number of locations on Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those locations will be announced soon.
From Oct. 26 through Dec. 31, donate $5, $10 or $12 towards grocery cards at your local Safeway store.
Donations towards grocery cards will provide much-needed funding that will be distributed to Northwest Harvest and their partner programs across Washington. Grocery cards give clients the flexibility to visit their local Safeway store to purchase the items that are most important or most needed by them and their families.