The "big deal" about food is when you don't have any. Many of your Queen Anne neighbors don't have enough to feed themselves and their children. "The closure of the Bethany Queen Anne Food Bank in September 2004 has put an additional burden for food on Queen Anne Helpline," according to Helpline director Patricia Sobeck. The agency has experienced a significant increase in the number of calls for help with food, at least 60 for food alone so far this year. (These are the individuals who are not too proud to request help. There are many who do not.)
"The Queen Anne Helpline is not a food bank; we do not have the resources to fill that gap," Sobeck went on to say.
"We do try to meet the need, but we're not set up to provide fresh food, meat, milk, etc.," added longtime volunteer Donna Hegstrom.
According to the 2000 census, more than 3,000 individuals living in the Queen Anne/Magnolia area were below the federal poverty level. Of those, almost 250 were children under 11 years old. The Federal Poverty Level is defined as having an income of $ 1,720 per month for a family of four. What is left after rent? These families and individuals often need help with food. Local elementary schools Coe and John Hay provide free and reduced lunches to some of those children. What about the rest? What about their siblings and parents?
The Helpline does try to help fill the emergency food gap, working with the Greater Church Council of Seattle's Emergency Feeding Program to provide a variety of nonperishable foods to individuals in need. Working together, these two agencies have provided more than 60 bags of food in the past six months. Such bags are heavy, and disabled individuals are often unable to carry them. During the winter months the need is expected to increase. Food banks are not easily accessed and may require taking more than one bus and consuming much of the day in transit.
So far this year, local residents have received more than 80 vouchers to local markets for fresh food. With the holidays approaching, monetary donations for vouchers and donations of food gift cards for local markets are greatly needed. The Helpline will see that local families receive food.
The agency's office also has limited shelving on which are stored donated, nonperishable food items. Clients may each take a few items as supplies are limited. The shelves are often empty.
Merrill Gardens Retirement and Assisted Living Program has come to the rescue! Herrill Gardens has a history of providing assistance to their Queen Anne from Nov. 1 through 20. Canned soups, sauces, meats, fruits, milk, vegetables, beans (canned and dried), rice, pasta, boxed meals, juice drinks, energy bars, peanut butter and macaroni-and-cheese are all really helpful to families in need. Merrill Gardens is located at 805 Fourth Ave. N. on Queen Anne. They are happily accepting donations in their lobby.
-Submitted by Suzanne H. McCallum, M.A.[[In-content Ad]]
