Kiwanis Club of Mukilteo has increased their duties at the Mukilteo Food Bank. In addition to bagging staples such as cereal, beans, pasta, soup, and canned vegetables, they are now working in other areas of the food distribution process.

What other items does a family need? And what other areas of the process might someone be able to assist in filling? Who keeps track of the families who receive assistance? How are the goods delivered or disbursed?

It is true that the food bank provides more than dry goods to families in need. They also offer meat, dairy, bread, vegetables other items of necessity. Some items are purchased in bulk from monetary donations; some items are donated from local businesses. The food bank as a #nonprofit works hard to provide the best items available, while at the same time doing so as economically and efficiently as possible.

So how does a cycle work? In addition to the foodstuffs already purchased and shelved on site, volunteers go to the local stores to collect donations. They come back and weigh each type of product (dairy, meat, etc.), log in the donation, and then store it appropriately.

On disbursement day (previously registered) families come to the food bank. They come through a line with their assigned number. Based on the registration in the computer, volunteers load their vehicle with a dry foods bag, a refrigerated foods bag, and other assorted items (baby formula for example) according to the size of the family. A volunteer inside is monitoring and logging in each family that is served.

Over time, Kiwanians have branched out and some are driving the food van, some are picking up donations. Some are parking attendants during disbursement day, and some are offering computer skills to track families and log in new clients. Many are still filling the original grocery bags. ALL are privileged to be helping our #community to continue to thrive and survive!