By Lynnette Hoffman
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 3:29 pm

The Drive n Drop Food Drive by the Winlock-Vader Food Bank is having this event instead of the Walk n Knock that was canceled due to the pandemic. Each year the food bank works tirelessly for the community, always helping anyone in need. This year has been no different, even more challenging due to COVID, but they never faltered.

Each year the food bank has received donations, but in 2019 it was just 3,800 lbs instead of the previous year of 13,000 lbs. During the pandemic, many have lost their jobs and have utilized the food bank inventory. The need for more food or money has definitely increased.

The food bank serves an average of 51 families with a total of 267 members each week. Per Holly Orbino, "75% of these are seniors with grown children who have moved in with them and their children." Prior to the pandemic, they were serving 29 to 35 families per week in 2019. The most families served per month was 245 families.

Holly Orbino, volunteer at the Winlock-Vader Food Bank stated, "The real need is for money. It allows us to purchase what we need such as fresh vegetables, bread, personal care products, and a variety of canned vegetables that don't get donated."

Orbino continued, "The need for food in our community remains high so we still need to do a food drive. The Drive n Drop" was very successful last year and brought in a lot of much needed food. The number of volunteers needed to run it was also greatly reduced so the board decided we should do it again! The Winlock-Vader Food Bank has continued to serve the community non-stop through the entire pandemic. The number of families utilizing the food bank is increasing each month so the need for donations is at an all time high."

You can drop off cash donations at the food bank on December 4 between 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can donate cash anyday to the following: Timberland Bank, Rowdy Rooster, the Winlock-Vader Food Bank, Little Crane or by mail to P.O. Box 304, Winlock Washington. If you wish to drop off food or cash donations on Saturday, November 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers will be set up at the corner of Front and Fir street and at Vader Assembly of God at 302 6th Street, in Vader. All you need to do is drive your donations to one of the locations and give the items to the volunteers
The highest need for donations is full size personal care products (shampoo, deodorant, Toothpaste, etc).

If you can give a cash donation, the foodbank can purchase food for as low as $.10 a pound, they have the ability to buy food wholesale. They can not accept canned food that is past the due date.

For more information, please contact the Winlock-Vader Food Bank at 360-785-6399.