This month, we join hunger relief organizations across the country in recognizing National Nutrition Month and Celebrating a World of Flavor. Food Lifeline is focused on “embracing global cultures, cuisines and inclusivity,” making sure our diverse communities—including Black, Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and communities of color—have access to nutritious and culturally relevant foods. Food plays a central role in connecting us to our cultures, our history, and our communities. Everyone should have access to the food that celebrates their culture while also supporting their health, which is why we are happy to recognize Delta Dental of Washington and Arcora Foundation as our Corporate Donor of the Month for their commitment to our mission and to promoting health for all!
Since 1954, Delta Dental of Washington has been supporting the health of our communities through dental plans offering coverage to meet the needs of individuals, families, and employers across Washington state. Their vision is a future where “all people can enjoy good oral and overall health with no one left behind,” a vision shared with their philanthropic arm, Arcora Foundation, the largest foundation in Washington state dedicated to improving oral health equity.
When they saw how communities of color were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, Arcora Foundation made two generous gifts for a total of $60,000 to support our work as we prioritized those hit hardest by the pandemic.
In 2020, Delta Dental and Arcora Foundation decided to expand their longstanding employee giving campaign, previously dedicated to supporting United Way, to also include the option to donate to Food Lifeline and our sister food bank 2nd Harvest. After seeing record donations, they continued to support Food Lifeline and 2nd Harvest in 2021. With matching funds provided by Delta Dental of Washington, employee donations were matched dollar-for-dollar, including donations over $1,000 being matched 1.5 to 1. Together, their employees raised more than $35,000 for Food Lifeline alone!
The money raised by Delta Dental and Arcora Foundation employees is critical to helping us provide nutritious and culturally relevant foods. Items like halal meats, masa harina, and napa cabbage are staple ingredients for some cuisines but are not always found in our donation streams. Funds from our corporate donors allow us to purchase these items so we can provide them to our agency partners across Western Washington.
Their support also allows us to move forward with necessary improvements to our operation like our recent freezer and cooler expansion. Helping our warehouse grow means we can store and provide more healthy proteins, dairy, and fresh produce for families whose only alternative may be processed foods that impact oral and overall health.
We are proud to recognize Delta Dental of Washington and Arcora Foundation as our Corporate Donor of the Month and are grateful to have a partner with a dedication to promoting health in our community.
