SEATTLE — Food banks across western Washington are seeing an increase in need. One north Seattle food bank is preparing to serve a large number of families this holiday season, and they need the public's help.
This weekend, North Helpline is at the Lake City Fred Meyer hoping to get help feeding and supporting local families this holiday season.
“We’re collecting turkeys, collecting gift cards for kids to have some holiday gifts that their parents are able to purchase for them, and lots of other assorted items, as well as recruiting volunteers,” said Kelly Brown, the executive director of North Helpline.
North Helpline has two food banks and also runs a homelessness prevention program.
Last year, they gave out more than 550 turkeys and other meats ahead of Thanksgiving. Brown said that this year they will be giving out even more, because the need for food has increased.
“Local families are just really working really hard to try and make ends meet,” said Brown. “We're actually seeing more people now than we did at the peak of the pandemic.”
Its two food banks in North Seattle serve around 1,600 people per week. Brown said that is 25% to 30% higher than this time last year. She said much of that increase is due to pandemic era SNAP benefits ending in March.
“We had seniors living on fixed incomes who were receiving about $240 in food benefits through SNAP that are now receiving about $20 in food benefits for SNAP a month, which doesn't feed anybody,” said Brown.
They are also facing more challenges this year, as Brown said one of the main donors for their holiday gift card program, which allows parents to buy their kids holiday gifts, went out of business.
“We're really scrambling this year, trying to make sure that we have enough gift cards to meet the need in our community,” said Brown.
North Helpline works to make sure people are fed on a regular basis, but say they want everyone in the community to have food and joy this holiday season.
“It takes everyone to make it happen,” said Brown.
North Helpline will be outside the Lake City Fred Meyer again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.
They will be giving out turkeys at the food bank in Lake City from Wednesday, Nov. 15 to Friday, Nov. 17.