Clark County Food Bank And Fish Of Vancouver Volunteer Opportunities
Please call or email the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program to volunteer in one of these great opportunities 360-735-3683, @hsc-wa.org.
Clark County Food Bank
Volunteer at the farm: In the summer and fall, Clark County Food Bank cultivates and harvests more than 100,000 pounds of carrots, squash, and other vegetables at the 78th Street Heritage Farm plot, as well as with many community growers. They rely on hundreds of volunteers annually to sustain this important hunger relief effort. Farm work parties are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through the months of June to November. Individuals, families and groups of all ages are welcome!
Volunteer with nutrition education: CCFB works to alleviate the root causes of hunger through its Nutrition Education programs. Providing nutrition knowledge paired with cooking, gardening, and grocery shopping skills to empower clients in need. Volunteers can help facilitate classes, translate teaching, conduct cooking demonstrations, and assist with event food prep. Classes are held throughout Clark County and at various times throughout the day.
FISH of Vancouver
FISH of Vancouver provides emergency, nutritionally-balanced food and clothing without charge to families and individuals declaring their need. Help build a healthy future for all by volunteering!
Lobby hots/hostess: Provide cheerful customer service to clients while ensuring food bank rules are followed by all.
Clark County Food Bank
Volunteers are a big part of the Clark County Food Bank. They assist with everything, including packaging and sorting food, cleaning facilities and making deliveries.
According to Aubrey Kaahanui, volunteer coordinator at the Clark County Food Bank, the number of volunteers at the organization ebbs and flows as COVID-19 cases rise and fall. During this latest surge, however, many new volunteers have joined to help at a time of great need.
Meals On Wheels People
While not a food bank, Meals on Wheels People in Clark County is also experiencing challenges due to the omicron surge. Staffing is its biggest challenge.
Each week, we receive calls from staff who are out either because they are sick or are isolating because they came in contact with someone who had COVID, said Meals on Wheels People Executive Director Suzanne Washington.
The Diner Vancouver, the restaurant run by the organization at 5303 E. Mill Plain Blvd., had to close for about a week in January due to staffing shortages, Washington said.
Its difficult to hire on-call employees to cover for all the staff who are out due to the training needed, she said. With that said, we are hanging in there and hopeful things will get back on track soon.
Supply chain issues and inflation have also impacted the organization.
Along with delays in deliveries, weve had to be flexible in order to purchase quality food, Washington said. With the cost of food doubling, tripling in some cases, our need to fundraise only increases.
To accommodate its clients with fewer volunteers, the organization has had to make some changes.
During the pandemic, we adjusted our daily food delivery to once a week delivering larger quantities of food to homebound older adults, Washington said. This has allowed us to maintain our current volunteer drivers while ensuring each of our clients has enough food each week.
Recommended Reading: Non Perishable Foods To Donate
Clark County Where To Donate Food
If you would like to donate food they ask you to stop by their warehouse located at 6502 NE 47th Ave, or drop food off at one of their partner organizations. There are many other ways that you can support Clark County Food Bank too!
Clark County Food Bank and mail to: 6502 NE 47th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661
How Do I Donate Food
Charitable Food Donation. As communities work to address issues of homelessness, many individuals or groups seek to help on a personal level. Some wish to offer food to those experiencing homelessness or who are otherwise in need, prompting questions of safety and food service permitting. Clark County Public Health is charged with protecting the health of
Also Check: Food Banks In Jacksonville Florida
Fresh Alliance Truck Driving Or Ride Along/helping
CCFB could not function without the faithful dedication of its truck drivers and truck riders. These shifts are scheduled Monday-Friday from 7:30 am-12:00 pm and involve either driving or riding along in one of our 20 ft. trucks. Routes travel throughout Clark County and stop at various local grocery stores that partner with our Fresh Alliance Program. Other duties include filling out donation slips and lifting 40-50 pound boxes. No CDL license is required.
Thank You Clark County
Saturday December 3rd over 2,200 volunteers helped pick up food from homes across the county. Our one day collection total was over 125,000 lbs of food. We will continue to collect food for the next week from our barrel locations.
If we missed your pickup, we apologize. Please consider taking your food to one of our many barrel locations around the county, including all Riverview Bank, Les Schwab or Cost Less Auto Parts locations.
Also Check: Good Samaritan Act Food Donation
Elks Care Elks Share With Clark County Food Bank Donations
Recently, Vancouver Elks Officers and their Past Exalted Ruler Association loaded up three cars with 629 pounds of food and two checks totaling $3,000 to be delivered to the Clark County Food Bank.
According to Ali Iskenderian, Elks member, The Elks National Foundation is so important to us as a lodge, and the money that our members donate to the program is given back many times over to us, for us to do our good works in our local community. The Vancouver Elks Lodge received the ENF Gratitude Grant that allowed us to make this donation.
Our lodge is also blessed with a wonderful PERA group that continues to fundraise and help our lodge and our community. Thank you to our members for contributing either food, money, or supporting our lodge fundraisers so that we are able to help those who need help. All our members play a role in these donations, whether pictured or not.
More information about the Elks donation activities in the community can be found on the Elks 823 website.
Donation Station With Clark County Food Bank
- Donation Station with Clark County Food Bank
There are seven farmers markets in Clark County. Currently, there are two produce recovery stations: one at the downtown Vancouver Farmers market and another at the Salmon Creek Farmers Market. Together, these markets have over 300 vendors and attract thousands of patrons every year. This is a great way to reach out to farmers and patrons about the food bank. Stop by every farmers market in your target area to meet with farmers and discuss the gleaning program.
A great way to meet both vendors and other potential donors is to set up a booth at a farmers market to serve as both outreach and a method of produce recovery. Farmers market donation stations are a place where the community can donate their backyard produce and farmers can donate their surplus produce to the food bank. It is recommended to have a person at the donation station as much as possible, but the beginning of the season is of the utmost importance. Arrange for a local emergency food agency to pick up the food after the market closes. Farmers that have not previously donated to the food bank typically find it to be a convenient way to donate their surplus.
Recommended Reading: Second Harvest Food Bank Logo
Shopping Style Food Pantry
Our shopping style food pantry provides a well-balanced healthy emergency food box to individuals and families who live in Clark County. When visiting our site you will be able to choose your food as you shop with one of our volunteers. Many of our offerings include fresh produce, meat, dairy and can goods. Click for more info.
How Often Can You Use Food Bank
How many times can I visit a food bank? You can normally get up to four food bank vouchers issued, as it’s meant to be a short-term solution. Some food banks will be flexible and may be able to provide more. If you’re struggling with financial issues get in touch with us for support on how to manage your money.
Recommended Reading: Restaurants That Donate Food To Events
How Can I Donate To The Clark County Food Bank
Donate Clark County Food Bank Donate Online Every dollar you give goes directly to hunger relief efforts for vulnerable families and individuals in Clark County, Washington. OTHER WAYS TO MAKE A FINANCIAL GIFT Mail a check or cash to: 6502 NE 47th Ave Vancouver, WA 98661 *checks can be made payable to Clark County Food Bank 2.
Additional Free Food Assistance Programs In Clark County Nevada
Dial 702 644-3663 to find the locations and addresses of additional pantries as well as free soup kitchens in Las Vegas and Clark County. Many of the centers also have staff on site who can help people apply for government food assistance and other public aid. Get help in applying for free school lunches or breakfast, SNAP food stamps, Meals on Wheels for the elderly and other resources.
Don’t Miss: Northern Indiana Mobile Food Bank Schedule
Food Bank Will Remain Open And Functioning With Volunteers Still Able To Help And Donations Still Accepted
CLARK COUNTY Hope travels on food. This is the heart of Clark County Food Bank , even during a pandemic.
As the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continue to rise, so too are the efforts of CCFB and its many community partners. During COVID-19, CCFB has set forth a strategy to make sure hunger is not a factor for the some 500,000 residents of Clark County.
Theres a lot of things to worry about right now, but food just shouldnt be one of them, said Holly Jones, development manager at CCFB. We want to make sure that people are being served in that way and that they have access to food through this trying time. If we can provide food to people who need it, then were also providing hope to them that they can get through whatever it is that might be weighing them down.
In order to abide by Gov. Jay Inslees Stay Home order and social distancing, CCFB is still allowing volunteers but with a strictly limited number in their facilities at any given time. They are also maintaining their over 20 public-facing food pantries and continuing partnerships with area churches and schools.
Jones said the organization, much like others, has been taking the situation one day at a time, and continually reevaluated how they can best operate. With the restrictions, only 20 volunteers are currently working in the large warehouse facility at a time, which is usually closer to 50. There is also a volunteer crew that is disinfecting the facility to maintain cleanliness.
What Can I Do To Help Fight Hunger In Clark County
To donate funds, you can do so in the method most convenient to you: donate online, stop by our office, give us a call , or mail a check/cash. *For mailed donations, make check payable to Clark County Food Bank and mail to: 6502 NE 47th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661. Want to be a continued part of our mission?
Also Check: Central Food Bank Of Alabama
Food Donations: Clark County Food Bank
As a Professional Organizer, I am committed to making sure that all client donations go to places where they will be used and appreciated. And that includes food donations!
Clark County Food Banks mission is to alleviate hunger and its root causes. In addition to distributing over 8 million pounds of food and 6.7 million meals a year, they also have a farming and gleaning program that produces hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables.
Clark County Food Bank supports 43 partners at 130 distribution sites located throughout Clark County.
Your Monthly Donation Will Be Immediately Put To Use
As soon as you complete your donation, your gift will start its journey. First your money will be turned into food, and then sent to one of the over 120 countries where people are most vulnerable. Every single day, WFP has 5,600 trucks, 30 ships and nearly 100 planes ready to deliver the food you send. Because you can’t go there and hand out the food yourself, we do it for you.
Please send food to save a life today and join the fight against hunger.
Read Also: Donate Food To Homeless Shelter
How Does It Work
The Penguin Pantry currently provides monthly food boxes to students. Food box pick-up will be by appointment when classes are in session on the dates listed below.
To request a monthly pre-packaged food box:
Winter Quarter Distribution Dates:
*Deadline to submit requests is the Friday prior to distribution.If you need immediate assistance with food, housing and/or other basic needs, please visit the following Clark County Community Resources:
How To Donate To Clark County Food Bank
If you would like to donate food they ask you to stop by their warehouse located at 6502 NE 47th Ave, or drop food off at one of their partner organizations.
There are many other ways that you can support Clark County Food Bank too! You can donate food or funds and volunteer your time. Learn more here!
Happy Organizing!
Also Check: Volunteering At Food Bank Experience
Surge Strains Clark County Organizations As Volunteers Donations Drop Off
Food banks in Clark County are experiencing a shortage of volunteers as the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread widely throughout the community.
Regular volunteers are calling out sick at greater rates, and some are staying home to minimize contact with others until the surge abates. Additionally, supply chain issues are impacting food supply, and many food banks are having to make do with less.
Local food banks including the Clark County Food Bank and FISH of Vancouver have been grappling with these issues since the beginning of the pandemic. Through trial and error, they have learned how to deal with fewer volunteers and a diminished food supply, but the latest surge is still impacting operations.