Quarterly Newsletter | Winter 2022
FAST FACT!

60% of the people we provide food for are children and seniors. This is why we've developed special programs that meet the unique needs of these populations, like Power Packs and Groceries to Go.
Directors Note: BIG News!

After 11 years of service, Cori Walters has stepped down from her role as Executive Director. During the time she led our organization, she facilitated more significant changes than any other period of time in our 50-year history and we are thankful to have had her for as long as we did! Cori looked at our mission from a perspective that brought impactful changes to how we honor those seeking resources, the quality of those resources, and the efficiency of our operations. We're thrilled at how she's positioned the organization for ongoing success and we will continue building on the foundation she built.

Please join us in appreciation of Cori's service to our community by recording a quick video Tribute that will be part of a compilation of messages from people who's lives she has impacted. This opportunity will be open until Thursday, March 10th.

Since Cori wasn't able to reach out to everyone personally, she shared this letter. READ CORI'S LETTER HERE
Meet our Interim Executive Director, Laura Skelton

We're thrilled to have Laura join our team to keep momentum on some exciting projects and assist the Board as they conduct a thorough search for our new, permanent Executive Director. As a senior consultant with the Valtas Group, Laura brings 15 years of non-profit executive leadership experience serving in a variety of roles from Board Member to Executive Director. As a Little Free Pantry steward, she knows that food insecurity can affect anyone in any neighborhood and she's excited to be able to participate in the amazing work being done through the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank. She welcomes the opportunity to chat with anyone who's interested and can be reached via e-mail here.

Client Story: "A Safety Net for Single Moms"
By Karen Garcia, Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank recipient
I learned of the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank five years ago after moving back to town with my five children as a single mother. I lived down the road from it and signed up for their services when they were doing a food giveaway one summer.

Our family was very blessed to receive support from...READ MORE.
Mid-Winter Lunch for the Break
Thanks to your compassion and generosity, we were able to provide supplemental food for children while they were out of school for Mid-Winter Break in February. Over 400 children received healthy fruits, veggies, cheese, eggs, bacon, cereal, and other kid-friendly foods to ensure they had the nutrition needed without putting undue stress on already stretched family budgets.

Our next Lunch for the Break is coming up in April. Click here to learn more about this great program!
Champion Spotlight - Pete & Susan Super
By Brooke Wiles, Donor Engagement Officer
 
“On call for anything”
 
Do you know people who are just up for anything, ready to jump in and help as needed at a moment’s notice? Meet longtime volunteers Pete and Susan Super. They are a superhero couple (pun intended) who roll up their sleeves to take on almost anything that is needed for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.  
 
After relocating to Issaquah to be closer to their children and grandchildren in 2014, the Supers became aware of the food bank after reading about it in an Issaquah Reporter article featuring...READ MORE.
2021 BEST OF ISSAQUAH - 1st Place Non-Profit
This kind of honor is truly a reflection of YOU, our donors, volunteers, and community partners. Together, we are demonstrating what it means to work together to create a healthier, more resilient community and for that we are incredibly proud! Thank you for making it all possible and thank you to our partners at the Issaquah Reporter.

You are all "1st Place" in our book!


COVID-19 and The Unsheltered
By Rebecca Rice, Community & Social Services Manager

At the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, we have thought a lot about how to keep our shoppers, volunteers, and staff safe from COVID-19. You have likely seen some of our efforts – reduced staff and volunteers in the building, extra cleaning and sanitation, and when necessary, no shoppers inside the building.

These efforts have been very successful at keeping the majority of our constituents safe and healthy. However, there is a group we serve who are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 infection due to their living situation - people who are unsheltered. This group may be in...READ MORE.
Food Collection Dates

Thank you for supporting the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank with your in-kind giving! Your donation of specifically needed items is crucial to augmenting supply chain issues and ensuring equity amongst our shoppers. We have two food donation drop-off dates this Spring:

  • Tuesday, March 8th - 1:00 to 3:00 pm
  • Saturday, April 9th - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Please only bring food items that are on our Needs List as we are extremely limited on space and storage. All donations must be brought to our warehouse:

AtWork

Thank you so much for supporting our shoppers by providing items according to what is needed in our community! Learn more here.
Operations Update

After altering our service model to reduce exposure
opportunities during the Omicron surge in January and February, we are thrilled to be opening back up for in-store shopping the week of February 28th. Special thanks to our skeleton crew of volunteers who made it possible and for all our patient volunteers who've been chomping at the bit to come back. We've missed everyone and are happy to welcome people back inside the building again!

If you're interested in volunteering, please visit our website to find our most up to date information about these opportunities, thank you!
Support the Food Bank using Amazon Smile!

Do you shop on Amazon?
You can support the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank using Amazon Smile! Select the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank as your non-profit of choice, and a portion of all of your purchases will automatically be donated on behalf of the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank. Thank you!
Issaquah Sammamish Food Project

Are you looking for an easy way to donate food items or get more involved during the pandemic?

Join dozens of neighbors in their efforts to collect and donate food through the Issaquah Sammamish Food Project! Visit their website to learn more.