The McKenzies Remember Ballard Food Bank And Look Forward To Its Future
Our our dream of welcoming the community into our new home has come true! During this transition, we want to look back and reflect on the history of the food bank and the people who got us to where we are today.
We recently had the pleasure to speak with two Ballardites who have been connected to the food bank in many ways over the last two decades. Tim and Sharon McKenzie shared their experiences of working and volunteering at the food bank in our current and previous locations.
Tim and Sharon at Ballard Food Bank’s new home, signing a beam that’s now part of the new building.
What are you most excited about when it comes to the new home for Ballard Food Bank?
Tim: “Your question moves me to tears. It will be wonderful for Ballard Food Bank to have their own building with no threat of the lease ending. The overriding concerns of the past are over and now the food bank can put more energy behind its mission.”
Sharon: “I think clients will really appreciate it a lot and it will allow you to help more people. We were only serving certain zip codes. We gave no-cook bags to people, but we could not serve everyone. It used to be ‘Help yourself, but next time, you need to go to the food bank in your zip code.’”
What inspired you both to join the food bank?
Sharon grew up in Ballard, and Tim moved here in the 1960s after meeting Sharon. They both agree that the community in Ballard is very special. They have a daughter who still lives in Ballard, and a son, daughter in law, and granddaughter in Lynnwood.
Tim was able to retire early; Sharon was a stay-at-home mom who loved volunteering at schools and church, and she served on all kinds of committees. Both were very closely connected to the NW Christian Church. One Sunday, the then-executive director of Ballard Food Bank came to church and talked about the food bank. Both Tim and Sharon quickly jumped at the chance to volunteer. That was in the spring of 2000.
Tim and Sharon at the old food bank site.
Both of you have worked with Ballard Food Bank in many capacities. Can you highlight your favorite roles at the food bank?
Tim and Sharon: “There hasn’t been a job we haven’t done!”
Sharon had many different volunteer roles in the office—helping to provide and coordinate gas vouchers, motel vouchers, as well as referrals; she also collaborated with other food banks and assisted people getting state IDs and drivers’ licenses. Her favorite job was helping people with their utilities and rent.
Tim was a volunteer van driver when he started, delivering food to homes and helping with food recovery from local grocery stores. He joined the board at Ballard Food Bank, and from there eventually became president of the board. Afterwards he was operations manager (twice!).
Out of all his positions at the food bank, Tim loved doing home delivery. He drove two routes twice a week and dropped food off to 70-80 people. He found it extremely rewarding, especially since his deliveries led to 70-80 wonderful new friends in town. “They were sweet, interesting people. There were lots of elderly people and single mothers.”
The old food bank site on 24th Ave NW in 2004
What are the big differences between working and volunteering at the food bank two decades ago and now?
Before 2010, Ballard Food Bank was located at what is now Mabel Coffee Shop on 24th Street in Ballard. Tim and Sharon describe the building as totally inadequate for our community’s needs, the tasks of the food bank, and the number of clients we served. But it was a bustling place and being there you could really see how much the food bank was needed and how rewarding it was to contribute time, money, and love.
When Tim and Sharon started volunteering, all of the groceries were bagged for clients and there was no choice in what they received. Lots of food got wasted because people didn’t want what was in their bag. As operations manager, Tim helped change this system to a self-service line and clients were overjoyed. This was a tremendous improvement! When the food bank moved to the big blue building on Leary Ave., we integrated shopping carts, which improved client experiences even more.
Sharon started in the office at the same time Ballard Food Bank’s mail service first began. There were originally three people receiving mail and it was just kept in the desk drawer. Soon after, the food bank had to get file cabinets because there were 600+ people getting mail at the food bank.
Another part of the story during this time was a major transition for the board of directors. When Tim and Sharon first started as volunteers, the organization was called North End Emergency Fund/Ballard Magnolia Food Bank, and initially, the board consisted of people who were recruited from the volunteer corps. Tim describes them as “retired folks with good hearts and strong backs.”
But the board needed different expertise and insights and Tim and the board began recruiting folks with a variety of different backgrounds. The name change to Ballard Food Bank was a huge accomplishment and helped the food bank transition from a neighborhood group to a dynamic, professional, well-managed operation.
Do you have any fond memories you’d like to share?
Sharon notes that the old site had a tiny kitchen. It was a crowded place where people could get a warm meal. Lots of characters came in. One client she remembers was a woman who brought her Great Dane service dog. The dog was huge and standing in the kitchen, wagging his tail, he swept people’s lunches off the table.
Sharon and Tim are impressed by the spirit and resilience of Ballard Food Bank’s clients, many of whom they consider friends. They have a special bond with a formerly homeless couple in Ballard. The couple struggled with alcoholism and they were both surviving in abandoned cars around the neighborhood for years. Tim and Sharon befriended them and, over the years, they were both able to become sober. Today they are married and own their own home. The couples stay in touch and visit each other when they’re in their respective towns.
Another relationship Tim had made through volunteering was getting to know a single mother with six children. He would drop off their food and make sure that there was enough in his deliveries for the whole family as well as treats for the kids. Tim said that the mom was eventually able to go to school and support her family.
Ballard Food Bank is deeply grateful for all the people we serve, our volunteers, and organizations that carry our mission forward in feeding and bringing hope to our neighbors. Tim and Sharon McKenzie were very kind to share their stories of Ballard Food Bank and their experiences supporting community. We would not be the same without their compassion and drive to care for our entire neighborhood and beyond. Thank you, Tim and Sharon and all of the volunteers and staff who have given their time, energy, and compassion to make Ballard Food Bank what it has become today, a Hub for Hope.