How You Can Help Fight Looming Food Insecurity

Our food banks face a perfect storm in which loss of individual food assistance programs will drive more people to food banks, while cuts to federal inputs will drastically lower the banks’ ability to feed people.

Our local food bank, Helpline House, will have its commodities supply cut by 40 percent, including meat, dairy, and fresh fruit. They are also losing funds that allow them to buy from local farms. 

Don’t assume that Helpline, because of its location on Bainbridge Island, is relatively well off compared to food banks elsewhere.. Although our local grocery stores are generous, our small geographic area means there are many fewer commercial donation sources here than in communities with more stores. 

What You Can Do

You can help by growing food for Helpline. Here are three ways to grow, even if you have no garden:

• Help at a farm or garden that grows for Helpline. They’re right here on Bainbridge, and they need all hands on deck asap. Peaceful Morning Farm grows tons of food exclusively for local food banks. Email John Chang to volunteer. Rock Farm Community Garden currently grows about a ton of food for Helpline. The garden could grow more but only with your help. Email Anita to volunteer.

• Grow in your home garden. You’ll be joining a land army that collectively makes a big difference. Learn from Veg Club how to grow a lot more food in the time and space you have.

• Donate your unused veg beds OR tend an unused garden. Do you have garden beds but not enough time to tend them? Are you an experienced grower who’d love more space to grow for donation? We can help you connect with a growing partner. Email us here.

Get lots of info. about how, where, and why to get involved here.

Helpline Needs

Lianne Ristow, manager of Helpine's food bank, notes that clients ask about and appreciate locally grown food. They want all types of vegetables you'd find at a typical grocery store, but they do tend to get too much lettuce in early summer.

Clients prefer the same varieties that are popular in stores. For example, they can more easily use green beans than Romano beans or slicing cucumbers more than lemon cucumbers. Save exotic varieties for your own table. 

Let’s show Helpline and our neighbors that we’re here for them!