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This food bank’s on a roll

Trailer of groceries responds to growing needs across north county

By Dave Kern
Published: January 24, 2011, 12:00am
3 Photos
The Lewis River Mobile Food Bank trailer is part of a regional network of food banks facing record demand this year.
The Lewis River Mobile Food Bank trailer is part of a regional network of food banks facing record demand this year. Photo Gallery

LA CENTER — In north Clark County, where the needs of the hungry seem to have quadrupled in the past year, the store is waiting on Sundays to help.

But clients don’t have far to travel because this store — food bank — is on wheels.

• What: Lewis River Mobile Food Bank

• When: 2 to 4 p.m. four Sundays a month.

• Where: View Fire Station, 37604 N.E. 119th Ave., on the first Sunday of the month; Fire District 2 Station, 314 N.W. 389th St., on second Sunday; Yacolt Free Evangelical Church, 509 W. Cushman, Yacolt, on the third Sunday; and La Center Free Evangelical Church, 111 E. Fifth St., La Center, on the fourth Sunday.

• Volunteers: They are associated with the Clark County Food Bank, Oregon Food Bank, Messiah Lutheran Church and Highland Lutheran Church.

&#8226; What: Lewis River Mobile Food Bank

&#8226; When: 2 to 4 p.m. four Sundays a month.

&#8226; Where: View Fire Station, 37604 N.E. 119th Ave., on the first Sunday of the month; Fire District 2 Station, 314 N.W. 389th St., on second Sunday; Yacolt Free Evangelical Church, 509 W. Cushman, Yacolt, on the third Sunday; and La Center Free Evangelical Church, 111 E. Fifth St., La Center, on the fourth Sunday.

&#8226; Volunteers: They are associated with the Clark County Food Bank, Oregon Food Bank, Messiah Lutheran Church and Highland Lutheran Church.

&#8226; Finances: Supported by Community Foundation for Southwest Washington; La Center Casinos Charitable Fund; Kuechmann Family Advised Fund; Meyer Memorial Trust; TDS Telecom; Thrivent Financial Services; Highland Lutheran Church; individuals and fundraisers.

&#8226; Chairwoman: Candice Howell, 360-225-9662.

• Finances: Supported by Community Foundation for Southwest Washington; La Center Casinos Charitable Fund; Kuechmann Family Advised Fund; Meyer Memorial Trust; TDS Telecom; Thrivent Financial Services; Highland Lutheran Church; individuals and fundraisers.

• Chairwoman: Candice Howell, 360-225-9662.

“I think we’ve been swept up in the spirit of our church,” volunteer Jay Price said Sunday about the 16-foot trailer that goes around the north county on Sundays. That church is Highland Lutheran Church in La Center. The mobile food bank was the brainchild of church members Janet Borst and Julie Bracken, who founded the effort in November 2009.

“The trailer is set up just like a grocery store,” Price explained on Sunday, as the trailer was at the La Center Free Evangelical Church. He said volunteers discovered that families would rather pick out foods than be given a prepared box.

The store is stocked with a variety of canned goods and “we’ve got mac and cheese, which is always good with kids,” Price said. There are also fresh vegetables. And on Sunday, the food bank had coats for those in need.

Price, who is retired from Frito-Lay, said people are discovering the mobile food bank. In January 2010, about 1,500 pounds of food was provided. Last month, that number jumped to about 4,700 pounds. As for clients, about 100 were served in January 2010 and more than 350 last month.

The value of that food exceeded $55,000 in 2010.

Robert Balderree, 43, of Battle Ground, pulled up in his pickup on Sunday. He told Price he’s been out of work and asked if he and his mother could get help. The answer was yes.

“That I hear so much … I’ve been out of work for three months, six months, a year,” Price said.

He said many first-timers are embarrassed and he tells them, “Hey, this could happen to anybody.”

“This is the first time I’ve been here, I can tell you that,” Balderee said. “We could both use a little assistance.”

His mother, who lives a few blocks from the La Center church, said, “This is the best food bank they have. People are so nice.”

A grandmother who asked that her name not be used said she was shopping for a family of five, including two boys, 18 and 14.

“We’re doing all right, thanks to the food bank,” she said. She said the mother is working but “money just goes, especially when you’ve got kids. You know boys, they can eat a lot.”

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The mobile food bank operates on the honor system. Clients are asked if they live in Clark County when they sign in.

Maggie Vickoren of La Center was at the sign-in table in the church on Sunday. “It’s rewarding,” she said of being a volunteer. “It’s giving a hand up rather than a hand out. Maybe helping them get past a hard time.”

Volunteer Bill Czech said he understands many of the people who come for help because he was laid off his job at Boise-Cascade in 1996 and had two years of retraining before he was back in the work force. During that period, he went “deeply into debt” and didn’t know there were food banks.

Today he is working, and “I feel good helping out wherever I can,” he said.

As for 2011, Price, who is the group’s treasurer, said, “We’re funded for at least half the year.” He said the group will continue writing grants in hopes of keeping its operation going.

Price said clients heap praise on food bank volunteers. He said some tell him, “You’ve changed my life.”

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