Collecting for the "Eastside Month of Concern for the Hungry"

Two hundred thousand pounds of food, (200,000 lbs!)are needed to help eastsiders, think of it.  That’s a lot of weight and a lot of food.  On Saturday, people in Redmond rose to the challenge donating food and filling the donation cans on the kick-off day for the month long food drive, the “Eastside Month of Concern for the Hungry.”

September 26-October 24, 2009 has been declared “Eastside’s Month of Concern for the Hungry.”  Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Sammamish, Issaquah, and Mercer Island are taking on the challenge to raise the 200,000 lbs. of food for Hopelink, the Mercer Island Food Bank, ARAS of Sammamish, the Issaquah Food Bank, the World Impact Network Renewal Food Bank, and the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County.

Give what you can during this month long event.  The need on the eastside is great:

• Requests for food at local food banks are up almost 50% as compared to 18 months ago.

• Among the client households served 44% said they had to choose between paying for food and paying for rent or mortgage.

• 38% have at least one household member under the age of 18 years.

• While the need is surging, donations have been trending downward.

Everyone is asked to help those in need by donating non-perishable items.  Check the eastside forum link for a list of needed items and places to bring donations.  Let’s get those 200,000 lbs. of food.  If everyone gives something, it can be done.