Congresswoman DelBene visits East Whatcom Mobile Pantry
A few weeks before Christmas, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene visited Food Lifeline’s Mobile Food Pantry in East Whatcom County. It was one of the busiest months in the two years of the program – a record 116 families with 377 family members visited. Congresswoman DelBene was there before set-up started to take a tour of the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center and learn more about the programs offered, then got right to work, bagging up squash, putting yogurt in coolers, and anything else that needed to be done.
“It’s vital that as a community, we ensure families and individuals have access to local, healthy foods,” DelBene said. “I was honored to join Food Lifeline and Foothills Food Bank to help distribute food in eastern Whatcom County. Their important work helps feed more than 700,000 Washington families that are struggling. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I will continue fighting for nutrition programs because they are one of the best ways to help people get back on their feet and thrive.”
Once the distribution started she was up at the front of the line, helping clients choose among a large selection of frozen proteins. It was a great opportunity for her to talk directly with clients and also learn more about issues facing the region. The Resource Center is currently in a fundraising campaign to add a second building to the site, which would have a space for the Foothills Food Bank, with freezer and cooler included! There is definitely a lot going on in the area, and everyone was thankful for the chance to share both the challenges and opportunities for addressing the challenges to getting food in the area.