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Thurston County Food Bank Wins Agency Excellence Award

We recently presented the Thurston County Food Bank with an Agency Excellence Award for their amazing work serving the community through some very exciting projects!

One such endeavor is the Lacey Food Bank project, which provides a unique blend of opportunities and services for Thurston County residents. This project has been designated by the Lacey City Council, the North Thurston School District Board, and the Lacey Chamber of Commerce as the first “Compassionate Community Project.” Their hope was that this project would foster ideas that will engage students in community service. A penny drive that they led with North Thurston School District raised awareness and $27,000 for the project.

Thurston County Food Bank also launched The Victory Farm, a therapeutic garden for veterans and service members, developed in partnership with the nonprofit Garden-Raised Urban Bounty. This is a safe environment where veterans, active duty service members, and their families work shoulder to shoulder, immersed in the healing nature of the outdoors and agriculture. Victory Farmers also share peer support opportunities including monthly councils, skill-building workshops, and resource referrals.

Thurston County Food Bank is opening a new campus in Lacey this year. The Lacey Food Bank mirrors that of their Olympia location, providing a shopping experience that allows clients to choose their own foods. This practice preserves the dignity of their clients and allows them to choose the foods most appropriate to their dietary needs and cultural preferences. To help meet their whole community’s needs, populations such as seniors, those with disabilities, families with young children, veterans, and active duty personnel will be served with special hours and days of service.

This year they will also open a seasonal farm stand. This will provide weekly access to freshly harvested produce along with produce grown throughout Washington and beyond.

All of their incredible work is truly helping to make Lacey a ‘Compassionate Community’ and we are so thrilled to be able to support them. Nice job Thurston County Food Bank!