News
4/23/2012 - Grow Produce for the Food Bank
Local gardeners are asked to think of families in need when they plan their gardens this spring, and add an extra row of produce for MSC's Federal Way Food Bank.
The Multi-Service Center Federal Way Food Bank’s “Grow a Row” campaign is to encourage residents to donate any extra produce from their gardens or fruit trees to the food bank. Got too many tomatoes or zucchini? Don’t know what to do with all that squash? Can’t use all the fruit from your trees? Donate it to the food bank.
“Whether you have only a few extras or bushel baskets overflowing with produce, people who use the food bank are eager to have all kinds of fresh produce in their diets,” said Terri Turner, food bank manager. “Whatever you can do to help will be welcomed.”
The food bank tries to have fresh produce available each day to supplement the canned and packaged food it distributes. Produce comes from Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline and Produce for the People, but it doesn’t always arrive in optimal condition.
“Often, by the time the produce gets to us, it won’t last for more than a day,” said Turner. “We prefer to have produce that isn’t so ripe that we have to move it fast. We like it when more people can have access to it.”
Donations can be accepted between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the food bank warehouse, located at 1200 S. 336th Street, Federal Way. (Just off the alley behind our main program building).
If you’d like more information about the food bank’s “Grow a Row” campaign and how you can get involved, contact Terri Turner at (253) 838-6810, or territ@multi-servicecenter.com.