Helping Our Neighbors

Written by Kara W.

Kara enjoys volunteering with her whole family.

From morning until late afternoon, Ballard Food Bank is buzzing with activity. Music plays on the speakers, fans hum throughout the warehouse and a small army of volunteers and staff tackle every task necessary to deliver healthy meals to people in need throughout North Seattle.  

I joined this brigade of dedicated volunteers last summer. After some initial hesitation about volunteering during the coronavirus outbreak, I decided to volunteer. The environment is safe and COVID protections are taken seriously. Each person wears a mask and gloves and maintains appropriate social distancing.

The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. You are never a stranger for long at Ballard Food Bank. The volunteers are as diverse as the clients. I may work with students, parents or seniors during a shift. I often bring my children, which is a fulfilling and fun experience for all of us. Volunteers can choose the days and times they come in from Monday through Thursday, easily accommodating busy work and family schedules.

Each day is filled with different tasks. I may fill bags with fresh produce for people who receive home delivery of food and supplies, assemble hygiene kits, or sort and distribute nonperishable items for those who use the food bank’s drive-up services. Other days I distribute food directly to clients, load crates with fresh vegetables or sort large bags of rice into portions for individuals and families. Each small task is a critical step toward putting food on the table for our neighbors striving to feed themselves and their families.

During these times of economic uncertainty and high unemployment, Ballard Food Bank’s mission is more critical than ever. The number of people using the food bank has skyrocketed since the COVID outbreak began. People often tell me how grateful they are for the foodbank’s services. Many would not be able to feed their families nutritious meals each week without assistance.

Besides providing food to people via drive up, walk up and home delivery services, Ballard Food Bank also holds mail for clients and provides emergency financial assistance for eviction notices, utility shut-offs, lost IDs, and driver's licenses. There are even visits from veterinarians to ensure that pets stay healthy. These services will expand when the foodbank moves into its new, larger home in October.

I am honored to help the most vulnerable neighbors in our community. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering at Ballard Food Bank, please visit www.ballardfoodbank.org/volunteer.