Sky Valley Food Bank turns 40

By Aleah Bright Monitor summer intern

The Sky Valley Food Bank is celebrating its 40th year of providing food and supplies to those in need.

Julia Morris founded the food bank in 1976, first in her home and then the basement of the United Methodist Church. What began from one woman's vision of simply sharing with her hungry neighbors is now a strong source of outreach to those in need in the community.

The food bank moved to its current location at 233 Sky River Parkway in the late 1980s and was taken over by Morris' daughter, Julie. The food bank's current building was built and continues to be maintained by the city of Monroe. Neil Watkins has served as executive director of the Sky Valley Food Bank for more than six years.

The Sky Valley Food Bank has expanded over the years, responding to a 51-percent increase in food needs over the past decade. Today, it provides food for more than 1,200 families each month; that's more than 80,000 pounds of food. A family of four will receive an average of 70 pounds of food each week.

"It's a thing of beauty. It's a big family here.GÇ¥ Watkins said. "It's a tremendous thing to be a part of.GÇ¥

The food bank provides an average of 550 backpacks for its clients' children each year. The room usually filled with toys for children around Christmas time is now brimming with backpacks and school supplies ready to be filled by volunteers. The volunteers will work hours to fill the backpacks with pencils, pens, paper, notebook and other school supplies for the giveaway.

The school district provides the food bank with a list for each grade, to know the number of supplies needed each year and ratio of backpacks for boys and girls. This is a colossal endeavor for the Sky Valley Food Bank to fulfill annually and thousands of dollars are put into the purchase of school supplies each year. Distribution of the backpacks will be the last two weeks of August at the Sky Valley Food Bank, starting Monday, Aug. 22.

"I want the community to know how much we appreciate their support,GÇ¥ Watkins said. "We survive because of their donations and their support. We're able to take care of, on average, 325 families a week. Without the community, we wouldn't be here.GÇ¥

The backpack giveaway is a huge expense for the food bank and is possible only through the generous monetary donations received. Ninety-two cents to every dollar donated is used to directly serve clients. Monetary donations can be made through the food bank website at www.svfoodbank.org or by mail at P.O. Box 724 in Monroe.

One million pounds of food was distributed to more 50,000 individuals last year, and more than 70 volunteers put their time into serving at the food bank each week. All distribution, drivers and warehouse work is done by volunteers, many being seniors. The only day volunteers aren't working is Christmas.

"(The volunteers) see the need in the community and want to contribute toward solving that need,GÇ¥ Watkins said.

As a celebration of the 40th anniversary of its service to the community, the food bank is planning a fun day of celebration for its clients.

On Aug. 22, 24 and 26, Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon will be bringing his Big Dog's Food Truck to the Sky Valley Food Bank to provide breakfast sandwiches for free to all clients during the backpack giveaway.

The Sky Valley Food Bank will be participating in the Fair Days Parade, to thank and celebrate the community and volunteers that make it all possible.

Once again the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition will be at the Evergreen State Fair gates 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, and Friday, Sept. 2. Three cans of food per person will provide free admission to the fair. All food donated will go to food banks throughout Snohomish County.

City proclamation

By Chris Hendrickson Monitor staff writer

Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas and members of the Monroe City Council applauded the efforts of the Sky Valley Food Bank last week, in recognition of the organization's 40 years of service to the community.

Thomas read a formal proclamation in front of Sky Valley Food Bank Director Neil Watkins and several members of the board of directors to commemorate the occasion on Tuesday, Aug. 16, during the Monroe City Council meeting.

Founded in 1976, the Sky Valley Food Bank is a nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity in Monroe. It's governed by an 11-member board of directors, and serves an average of over 300 families per week while distributing over 80,000 pounds of food per month.

Additionally, the food bank delivers 700 pounds of food to the Skykomish Food Bank every month, serves 30 Index families every week, provides weekend food and school supplies for close to 600 elementary school-age children in Monroe and supplies healthy snacks to support Monroe nonprofit Take the Next Step's Kidz Club program, held twice a week during the school year.

Watkins gave councilmembers a brief glimpse into the food bank's history.

"Forty years ago, a woman named Julia Morris saw the need in this city,Gǥ Watkins said. "GǪ She saw a need and in the basement of United Methodist Church she began a food bank, that at that time served a handful of people.Gǥ

Councilmembers Kevin Hanford and Jeff Rasmussen expressed their gratitude for everything the food bank does to support the community. Councilmember Jim Kamp made a motion to provide for a special insertion into the council meeting minutes to reflect the council's support.

The motion passed unanimously.

"I really appreciate what they do in our community,GÇ¥ Hanford said.