SEATTLE — One of Seattle’s busiest food banks is getting a facelift with hopes of serving more clients.
Despite a massive construction zone, the Rainier Valley Food Bank is still serving the community.
“We're from Seattle, we're used to it and the people are hungry and we're going to make sure they get fed," said Otis Pimpleton, Rainier Valley Food Bank food services manager.
Pimpleton along with his staff and volunteers have been working out of three large tents since March, after moving out of its space just north of Genesee Street.
"We're making about 350 home deliveries every Wednesday," Pimpleton said. "Thursdays we're doing around 400 home deliveries we also do two pop-ups and feed about 200-300 people twice a week at the popups."
According to the food bank, it serves about 25% of the total number of people who go to food banks in Seattle. The neighborhoods it serves also have the greatest percentage of low-income residents in the city.
"This will be Rainier Valley Food Bank, this will be our processing center kind of the heartbeat of our whole organization," said Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Rainier Valley Food Bank executive director.
Hatcher-Mays and her team have been working to move into this new 11,000-foot space off Rainier Avenue South for years. She believes the space will be a more welcoming space that will allow them to serve many more people.
"Also having a commercial kitchen and meeting space so people can convene, be part of community, talk about issues that are important to them and get connected up to social services and support as well," Hatcher-Mays said.
Construction is expected to be complete by next summer. A grand opening is planned for September.
"Definitely going to be worth the wait," Hatcher-Mays said. "Everyone will be invited. We expect to give out a lot of food."
How to help
Click here to donate online through Northwest Harvest between now and the end of the year.
Through Dec. 31, donate $5, $10, or $12 towards grocery cards at your local Safeway store.
In-person donations will also be accepted at several locations on Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drive-up donations will be accepted at the following locations:
- Rainier Beach Safeway, 9262 Rainier Avenue S, Seattle
- Eloise's Cooking Pot, 10303 Portland Ave E, Tacoma
- Feeding Feasible Feasts, Bothell United Methodist Church, 18515 92nd Avenue NE, Bothell
Walk-up donations only will be accepted at Lumen Field in Seattle before the Seahawks game that day.
Tune in to KING 5 on Sunday at 9 a.m. for a one-hour broadcast special to see how your support for Home Team Harvest helps change lives in our community.