White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Throughout its third-anniversary-celebration day on Monday, Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center was hopping – we took the photo above at 8:30 that night! And as noted here, they were planning to donate to the White Center Food Bank the equivalent of the ice cream sold that day. So, the verdict’s in, according to the WC Food Bank Facebook page – “Results are in: 200 pints of ice cream are coming to WCFB from Full Tilt’s Monday anniversary celebration/ice cream raiser for WCFB. Thanks to Full Tilt and everyone that came out to buy ice cream!”

P.S. WC Food Bank is one of many local nonprofits that you can support with an online $ donation today through the Seattle Foundation’s one-day GiveBIG drive. Find them (and other eligible White Center orgs, including WCCDA) on this list – and follow the links there to donate today and make them eligible for “stretch” dollars – gotta do it by midnight!

In case you missed the story on our partner site West Seattle Blog late last night – today, Full Tilt Ice Cream is celebrating its third anniversary. (WCN didn’t launch till later that summer, so our first report about FT was on WSB, and it seemed fitting to publish the anniversary story there.) Right now, they’re open Mondays for the first time – and they’re going to donate the equivalent of today’s ice-cream purchases to the White Center Food Bank. You’ve got till 10 pm to go be part of the tasty fun.

From volunteer coordinator Audrey Zemke at White Center Food Bank:

We still need 3 or 4 volunteers for June 18 from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. Volunteers will be settting up for food distribution, handing food out to clients, and helping clean up. Please let us know by Friday, June 17 at 5:00 pm at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or 206-762-2848 if you can help.

From White Center Food Bank volunteer coordinator Audrey Zemke:

Do you want to help out the White Center Food Bank? The food bank is looking for volunteers (groups or individuals) to help out on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:00 am to 1:15 pm. This is our one Saturday distribution of the month. Volunteers will be setting up, handing out food and cleaning up. We need help June 18, July 16, August 20 and September 17. You want to make a difference for the 60 families who come to get food. Contact Audrey Zemke, Volunteer/Resource Coordinator (audrey@whitecenterfoodbank or 762-2848) if you or your group thinks you can help out. Families are welcome. Students, this is a great opportunity to get your school hours in.

(Courtesy Aguero Photo)
Two months ago, West Seattle’s Avalon Glassworks announced its Feed The Core Fundraiser for White Center Food Bank was close to a milestone … $10,000! Each golden blown-glass apple goes for $80, with half of that covering production costs, half of it going to the WC Food Bank, which can buy 200 pounds of food for that much money. Shannon Felix of Avalon Glassworks tells us they have just reached the $10,000 milestone – 250 apples sold, and 25 tons of food for hungry people in our community. But you can still buy an apple – go here!

That’s our video from this morning’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce awards banquet at Salty’s on Alki, as White Center Food Bank executive director Rick Jump was honored as Westsider of the Year. “I see the face of hunger every day – that’s what keeps me going,” Jump said, as he told the story of a recent encounter with one such “face.”

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Audrey Zemke, Volunteer Coordinator for the White Center Food Bank took a peek to see if WCFB’s brand new hens had laid any eggs on Tuesday. The count was three!

The chicken coop and three hens (Henrietta, Henrietta and Henrietta, respectively) were donated by a couple who were moving out of state and have only been on site since Friday.
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Audrey says they still have some research to do about how the hens will participate as new members of the WCFB, but it is certain the hens will be used in an education program for those interested in backyard farming.

As recently noted in a Washington Post article posted on the food bank’s Facebook page, the cost of staple groceries, especially milk and eggs, has risen 16 percent globally. Whether the food bank ultimately provides eggs to their clients is not known, but the rise in certain grocery products might be reason for some to try their hand at raising chickens for their eggs.

The food bank now has four food gardens which are providing community members instruction in how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Now, those folks will have a place to learn all about urban chicken husbandry, if they have the interest.

More information on the White Center Food Bank can always be found on their Facebook page or their website whitecenterfoodbank.org. And remember that since it’s Feinstein Challenge time through the end of April, any donation you make now counts extra.

For the second year in a row, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is giving its Westsider of the Year award to someone whose organization is actually based in White Center: Last year it was Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby; this year, as just announced this afternoon, it’s Rick Jump of the White Center Food Bank. He’ll be honored at a breakfast event on April 6th; here’s the full story of the WSCC’s announcement today.

From Audrey at the White Center Food Bank:

Want to garden in White Center? Applications are now available for 16 raised beds at the White Center Heights Park Community Garden. The garden is in its 4th season and is located at 102nd SW and SW 7th. You can use an organic raised bed to grow your own food or flowers. There is no cost to use the bed. Gardeners will be picked by a lottery process. To get an application, contact Audrey at the White Center Food Bank (audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or (206) 762-2848 or stop by 10829 8th Ave SW). Applications must be returned by March 30 and those who will be able to garden will be notified within two weeks. The White Center Food Bank is working to get donations of organic compost, seeds and starts for use by the gardeners.

Cross-posted from partner site West Seattle Blog – it’s the annual announcement of the two-month period when food-bank donations can count for more than face value, because of the Feinstein Challenge! Here’s the joint announcement from the White Center and West Seattle Food Banks:

The White Center Food Bank and West Seattle Food Bank are seeing a record number of families come to their doors for assistance. During March and April your donations to help neighbors in need can go farther.

For the 14th consecutive year, Allan Shawn Feinstein will divide $1,000,000 among hunger relief agencies nationwide through his Feinstein Challenge. All donations made between March 1 and April 30th, 2011, and that are specifically designated “Feinstein Challenge,” will count towards the challenge total and help these agencies receive a larger percentage of the million dollars.

For the White Center Food Bank, donations may be mailed to 10829 8th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98146. To make a donation online or for information about the White Center Food Bank’s programs benefited by the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.whitecenterfoodbank.org or contact Rick Jump at (206) 762-2848, or e-mail rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org.

For the West Seattle Food Bank, donations may be mailed to 3419 SW Morgan, Seattle, WA 98126. To make a donation online or for information about the West Seattle Food Bank’s programs benefited by the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.westseattlefoodbank.org or contact Fran Yeatts at (206) 932-9023, or e-mail fran@westseattlefoodbank.org.

For information about the Feinstein Foundation and the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org

As the need for our services continues to increase significantly, your donations are now more important than ever.

The White Center Food Bank just put out the call for volunteer help. From volunteer coordinator Audrey Zemke:

The White Center Food Bank needs help this coming week handing out food to clients. The most urgently needed shift is 3:30 to 6:30 pm Monday, December 20. In addition we could use help Wednesday, December 22 from 12:30 to 3:30. Please contact me by e-mail (audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org) to sign up.

From Audrey at White Center Food Bank:

Because of the weather, we could use a few volunteers for the 9:30-12:30 and 12:30-3:30 shifts handing out food to clients. I don’t know how many clients will brave the weather but I want to make sure we can give them their holiday food if they do.

From Audrey at White Center Food Bank (we’re still checking on what food they need):

The White Center Food Bank needs volunteers to help hand out holiday food the following shifts

Mon., November 22 – 12:30 to 3:30 and possibly 3:30 to 6:30
Tue., November 23 – 9:00 to 12:30, 12:30 to 3:30, and possibly 3:30 to 6:30
Wed., November 24 – 12:30 to 3:30, 4:30 to 8:30

Mon., December 20 – 12:30 to 3:30 and 3:30 to 6:30
Tue., December 21 – 9:00 to 12:30, 12:30 to 3:30, 3:30 to 6:30
Wed., December 22 – 12:30 to 3:30

Families, individuals or groups are welcome to contact me at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or 206-762-2848.