Tacoma food bank overwhelmed as need surges during government shutdown

It is an unfortunate sign of the times as pop-up emergency food distribution centers attempt to provide food assistance to those in need, especially during a period of rising prices, inflation, job furloughs, a government shutdown, and, at least for now, the end of government food assistance programs, such as SNAP.

“We generally see about 82,000 people per month, and move about 1.9 million pounds of food,” Andrea Blue, the president of Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank in Tacoma, said. “We’ve already surpassed that. We believe we will be over 100,000 people this month, and more than 2.5 million pounds of food.”

Eloise’s Cook Pot Food Bank sponsored a pop-up food distribution event. She expected to see about 400 cars, but more than 800 cars showed up, and they keep coming.

“They’ve driven across other counties, from Olympia, from Kitsap County, from Seattle, to come get food at this distribution,” Blue said.

Many of the people here are already on food assistance programs. For others, this is their family’s first time of need. Many feel left out and forgotten.

“Why should we pay millions of dollars to support all these other countries when our country needs it? Our homeless need it. Our veterans need it. You got all these people here who need food,” Erica Smith, a parent, said. “I work two jobs and can barely even afford to put food on my table, so it’s pretty bad.”

Each car receives a box containing nine meals, along with some fresh produce, including celery, lettuce, butternut squash, chicken, potatoes, and onions. They also get a home cleaning product.

Eloise’s also providing aid to JBLM

Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank also has a team at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) to provide food for the families of military personnel who are currently working without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown.

“This don’t make no sense,” Ernestine Wiggins, another parent, said. “Everything is going to be out of control next month, and I hate to see it.”

Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank aims to continue delivering as long as there is a need, and Blue says help is welcome. They need volunteers to hand out food and donations to make sure they have enough to fill the need for as long as it’s needed.

If you’d like to volunteer or donate, call Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank in Tacoma.

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