Nonprofit FISH of Vancouver recently completed the expansion of its downtown food pantry.
FISH, or Friends in Service to Humanity, operates a warehouse and food pantry at 906 Harney St., where it distributes more than 2 million pounds of food each year.
The expansion project, which began in July 2023, doubled the size of the warehouse and expanded the food pantry by 50 percent, bringing the total facility space to 10,000 square feet.
The project was part of FISH’s effort to meet the growing needs of Clark County residents. On Oct. 10, the nonprofit hosted a celebration to showcase the new space and thank the donors who contributed to the project, which cost $1 million.
“We realized with the growth we were seeing, having the extra space was really imperative to keep fulfilling our mission to keep serving the community,” FISH Executive Director James Fitzgerald said.
TO HELP
FISH of Vancouver accepts donations at its website: fishvancouver.org/give
FISH accepts donations of nonperishable food items, toiletries and other essentials at 906 Harney St., Vancouver
Sign up to volunteer at fishvancouver.org/volunteer/
GET HELP
FISH of Vancouver is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. The food pantry will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
Learn more about FISH’s assistance programs at fishvancouver.org/get-help
The expansion has improved the overall shopping experience for clients, Fitzgerald said. The facility now includes an outdoor walkway to shield clients from the weather while they wait in line. The larger space allows FISH to serve more clients at once to reduce wait times.
In addition, FISH added a new produce section and expanded its monthly shopping area to include more shelf space.
In previous years, FISH served clients with food boxes that included preselected items. But now, FISH has adopted a shopping-style model to ensure clients feel dignified during their experience.
“When somebody comes and they’re in need, to just assume what they want is not best,” Fitzgerald said. “This really raises the dignity level. They go away with what they need, versus what we think they need.”
A bigger need
The FISH food pantry bustled on a sunny but cold Wednesday morning. About 20 clients were already waiting in line outside of the facility ahead of its opening at 10 a.m.
On super busy mornings, the line wraps around the entire parking lot, Fitzgerald said.
Even with greater capacity and improvements, the need in Vancouver continues to grow, Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said the long lines at the food pantry are due to the rising costs of housing and food, as well as the end of a pandemic-era program that increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps.
FISH serves an average of 200 families a day — up 27 percent from last year. Just before the pandemic, the nonprofit served close to 75 families per day.
Although FISH has the capacity to serve the greater number of families, it is indicative of a larger issue: Many people are still experiencing food insecurity, Fitzgerald said.
“In the last six years, we have seen such extreme growth,” he said. “But sometimes, you wish it wasn’t necessary that this was here, because it means there’s a lot of need in the county. It’s awesome that we’re able to help and that we’ve been able to keep up, but the demand keeps going up. Something has to give.”
Many of the people FISH serves are low-income families, seniors and people experiencing homelessness.
The nonprofit has implemented a new concept for homeless people: a grab-and-go window that lets them choose food items that don’t require cooking.
Additionally, FISH’s mobile food pantry, which launched in July 2023, travels to low-income apartment complexes, senior centers and health clinics to distribute nonperishable food.
“We had a day this past month that we had 268 families come through in one day,” Fitzgerald said. “That was kind of a wake-up call. We’re doing whatever it takes to just keep our heads above water.”
Volunteer impact
Volunteers keep FISH going, Fitzgerald said.
In the first 10 months of 2024, FISH volunteers logged 17,645 hours — an average of 1,765 hours per month. From stocking shelves with food to unloading pallets and sorting out donations, volunteers ensure FISH operates smoothly and efficiently, Fitzgerald said.
Edri Geiger, who’s been volunteering at FISH for two years, said she understands the struggles of families facing food insecurity, because she also grew up in that environment.
It’s why she gives back.
“You just have to make certain that you help others,” Geiger said. “It could be us. It could be family members or friends. We love having our people come in here and knowing they can get something to make their homes better and their tummies as well.”
Joe and Joda Jackson, whom FISH recently highlighted in its annual report, have volunteered at the nonprofit for more than six years. Joe Jackson, who served 739 volunteer hours in 2024, dedicates four days a week to stocking the pantry and making deliveries. Every week, Joda Jackson bakes fresh cookies and bread for FISH volunteers.
Fitzgerald said he is proud to be part of an organization whose purpose is to help people. In 2025, he hopes FISH can continue to meet the needs of the community and that more people can overcome food insecurity.
“I think the design we’ve come up with has been very successful,” Fitzgerald said. “We want to make sure we’re serving the community the best we can.”
FISH is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. The food pantry will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
