Program areas at Clark County Food Bank
Food collection and distribution - Clark County Food Bank provided emergency Food to hungry individuals and families through distribution of bulk Food to 47 partners at over 100 distribution sites. During the 2024 fiscal year, the organization distributed about 8.7 million pounds of Food products to partner agencies, resulting in over 150,000 individuals receiving Food at our distributions and partner agency sites.
Community outreach - there are two main ways we engage with our community. One is for us to simply go when invited to grocery stores, schools, businesses and community events. Another way is by providing educational and volunteer opportunities to those in our community. Events like elementary school tours, i-tech day, kids first, and youth efforts against hunger are especially focused on engaging with the youth in our community.
Community kitchen - Clark County Food Bank operates two Food pantry sites, one in the fruit valley neighborhood and the other in walnut grove. These locations have been serving Food and restoring hope in these neighborhoods for countless families who struggle with hunger because they do not have adequate access to healthy food.supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) - to help alleviate hunger, Clark County Food Bank assists individuals in applying for the Washington state basic Food assistance program.continued on schedule o. This program provides funds to families with low incomes to purchase groceries. Qualifying applicants receive a prepaid ebt card that works like a debit card and gets reloaded monthly. This card can be used at most grocery stores and farmers' markets on Food items. People who receive snap benefits can still visit their local Food pantry and receive Food assistance.
Nutrition education - to help alleviate the root cause of hunger and going beyond hand-outs, Clark County Food Bank strives to provide skills, resources, knowledge, and the confidence necessary to prepare, shop and plan for healthy, low-cost and easily prepared meals through our four educational programs.
Farming and gleaning - Clark County Food Bank is committed to provide fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables by growing them. With the help of volunteers, a ten-acre plot at heritage farm produces and local donated ground produces over 100,000 pounds of fresh vegetables for the Food Bank each year. Gleaning events, involving numerous volunteers, growers, farmers' markets and donors, help connect Clark County Food pantries with local growers, utilizing Food that otherwise may go to waste.