Visitors to the Northwest Trek wildlife park near Eatonville contributed to 3,691 pounds of donated food during a Tacoma Metro Parks-hosted food drive for Emergency Food Network. The drive was conducted Nov. 4-20 at Northwest Trek and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, which are operated by Metro Parks. Visitors who brought in two or more shelf-stable items of food were offered half-off general admission prices. The 3,691 pounds of food - a figure approaching two tons - is impressive, said Merrit Reed, coordinator of volunteer activities for Emergency Food Network. “Together, this is equivalent to 2,950 meals that are now ready for distribution to our neighbors in need this holiday season,” Reed wrote in a thank-you note to Northwest Trek and zoo officials, who said the real credit goes to the visitors who made the donations. Many arrived with food by the armload, including children carrying cans of vegetables and soups, jars of baby food and boxes of stuffing and pasta, among other items. Officials at Emergency Food Network (EFN), which s based in Pierce County, say food drives play a crucial role in helping the agency meet the needs of the public. According to Reed, more than 117,000 visits are made each year to emergency meals sites that are supported by EFN, including food banks in Eatonville and Graham. Emergency Food Network distributes more than 16 million pounds of food annually to 70 food banks, hot-meal sites, and shelters in Pierce County.
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