This remodel was designed to both serve
the increasing number of people
coming to IFCB, and to improve
the shopping experience for
customers. By expanding the
service area, customers no
longer have to slowly move
through the Food Bank in a
single file line, but can instead
shop around as if they were in a
grocery store.
The Food Bank improvements fit
with the IFCB mission of
promoting self sufficiency by
putting the shopping decisions
back in the hands of our
customers, rather than staff or
volunteers.
Spring/
Summer
2016
The Issaquah Food and Clothing
Bank has had a dramatic remodel.
The food service area has been
expanded in order to allow for a
truer “grocery shopping” model,
where people can move around
freely, choose all their items and
use IFCB Salmon Bucks to check
out at the end. Salmon Bucks will
help in the check out process, and
will be distributed based on number
of people in the household.
While the construction was a
challenge—the food bank was
moved into the clothing bank for 3
weeks—the response from
customers, volunteers and staff has
been positive.
Facelift for the Food Bank Construction expands service area, improves flow
The Food Bank service area during and after construction
Page 2 Spring/Summer 2016
Lunch for the Break distributed more than
900 boxes of food during school breaks in
the 2015-16 school year! - Brand NEW
Program Success!
IFCB now has heating and air conditioning, thanks to
Kristonis & Lindor Windermere Real Estate. Thank you!
Summer Calendar:
Remodeled Food Bank Open House: June 2, 5-7pm
Summer Lunch: June 23-August 25
Tools 4 School: August 20
Donate to IFCB: anytime!
Share your thoughts / ideas / needs with us anytime!
Check in Updates and Highlights
Executive Report: Culture of Philanthropy In the true spirit of giving
I’d like to talk about our
beliefs about the culture of
philanthropy here at the
Issaquah Food and
Clothing Bank. First of all
we love and need you all
whether you volunteer
once a week, drop off a
bag of clothing
occasionally, contribute
$10 a month or $100 a
month. We thrive because
of our diverse
contributors’ spirit of
giving and connection to
our mission. I apologize if
you have heard my mantra
before but I’m going to say
it again… The IFCB is only
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
~Maya Angelou
Cori Walters, IFCB Executive
Director & Leadership Eastside
graduate
Photo by: Barbara Roser
part of the food security
solution. In order to
make profound change it
will require engagement,
partnership and support
from all areas and levels
of our community.
Our major strategic goal
for 2016 is outreach. We
want every community
member to know that
we are here in case they
have a need or know
someone who is
struggling or if they have
some time and talents to
share. One of the
greatest treasures you
can give the IFCB right
now is the gift of
sharing our message. If
you care about us, talk
about us! If you care
about us, share with us.
We want to hear your
ideas and explore your
passions for this work.
Sometimes it seems
like we never say thank
you enough.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for engaging
in our community by
supporting THE cause
YOU care about.
Maybe it’s early
childhood education,
maybe it’s senior
The members of 10U Purple baseball team from the Issaquah
Baseball Club help back 30 boxes for Lunch for the Break.
Page 2 Spring/Summer 2016
services, maybe it’s
animals or maybe it’s the
Issaquah Food and
Clothing Bank!
Page 3 Spring/Summer 2016
Customer Profile: Melisa’s Story Melisa Carey is a strong, smart, independent woman—a mother, a student and a wealth of information on things
health and nutrition related. She is also an Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank customer.
Melisa is a full time student at Ashford University, working toward her degree in integrated medicine. After she
graduates, she plans to channel her passion for healthy living into a consultant position, where she can help
people figure out ways to live and eat healthier. Melisa also works part time in her apartment complex, helping
elderly and disabled residents with cooking and cleaning. She takes this opportunity to get experience for her
future career and helps these residents live healthier lives through simple interventions like eating less processed
food and using fewer chemical products in the home.
These practices are in place in Melisa’s own home, thanks in part to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank.
Melisa doesn’t have a car and getting a bus to downtown and back home with groceries was a challenge. With
Groceries to Go, IFCB’s delivery program, Melisa orders her groceries online every week and they show up at
her door each Wednesday. Because she chooses the food in her order, she’s able to get the healthy food she
and her two teen boys need. She loves the
fact that she can get food from the Food
Bank that helps her teach her sons healthy
eating habits and provides good nutrition.
In addition to the food she receives, Melisa
loves the other programs IFCB offers, such as
the Holiday Gift Barn. She appreciates the
shopping model of the Holiday Gift Barn, and
that the program is offered to help ease the
burden on her and other parents during a
very stressful time of year. Lunch for the
Break, which provides food boxes during long
school breaks, is another of her favorite
programs, because it takes the burden off her
of feeding two ravenous teen boys during the
school breaks.
Melisa made the conscious decision to step
out of the work force to be home more with
her two sons. She doesn’t have the support
of a large family and keenly felt the
responsibility she has for raising her two
boys. For that reason, she had to step back
from being a donor to organizations like IFCB
and take advantage of the available services.
She knows first hand that donations and
volunteer time go to good use at IFCB—she
sees it every week in her Groceries to Go
delivery. “You never know when the tables
will turn and you’re on the other side,” she
said. With her perspective on both the giving
and receiving sides, Melisa said she is truly
grateful for the services that are available to
her. Melisa’s sons, Trey (left), 15 and Blaise, 13. Big smiles for healthy food!
“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Central Heat and AC come to the Food Bank Windermere Real Estate,
IFCB has central air that
keeps the building cool in
the summer and warm in
the winter.
This improvement, along
with the expansion of the
Food Bank service area,
is designed to make
IFCB’s space more
comfortable, gracious and
accessible to all
customers and
volunteers.
The Food Bank is a place
that should feel inviting
and welcoming—a place
people want to shop,
rather than need to shop.
Partner Highlight: Kristonis & Lindor Windermere Real Estate Fired Firework Show
The heat and air conditioning from the article above wouldn’t have been possible without the help of John Kritsonis & Karl Lindor
of Windermere Real Estate. For their annual 4th of July Lake Sammamish Fireworks show they asked for donations to IFCB in lieu
of donating to the cost of the fireworks, which totaled $22,000! This was enough to pay for a heating and air conditioning system
for IFCB. For the 2016 Fireworks show their goal is to raise $30,000 in support of IFCB’s Summer Lunch Program. Thank you!
In the past, the Issaquah
Food and Clothing Bank
has been...unpleasant
during any kind of cold
or hot weather.
Due to an old building
and no central heating
or air conditioning, it
was cold in the winter
and hot in the summer.
This made our space
less welcoming and
accessible to customers
and volunteers,
particularly the elderly
or very young.
But no more! Thanks to
a generous donation
from Kristonis & Lindor
Fast Facts Stats and more to keep you informed
Page 4 Spring/Summer 2016
In March 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics released their first statement ever on the negative
effects of poverty on children. Read the full article here, or access it via communitiescount.org.
The number of homeless students in King County increased 10.4% from the 2013-14 to the 2014-
15 school year. The highest percentage is in Tukwila, where 1 in 9 students is homeless.
King County is the 2nd wealthiest county in Washington, but that hides deep disparities. 5% of
Sammamish residents report their health as being poor, while 23% of Burien residents do.
*All data from communitiescount.org
IFCB staff (l-r) Megan Edwin, Mike Hatada, John Rittenhouse and Cori
Walters show off the new construction behind and the new heat/AC
above. Both projects are part of ongoing improvements at IFCB and
show ongoing commitment to improving operations.
MEET A VOLUNTEER: Sonia
“We can’t help
everyone, but
everyone can help
someone.”
~Ronald Reagan
Page 5 Spring/Summer 2016
ABAWD does not meet these
requirements, they are eligible to
receive SNAP for 3 months in a 36
month period before being cut off.
They will regain eligibility if they
start working, volunteering or are
no longer an ABAWD (if they have
a child, for example).
This waiver expiration is affecting
people across the county as well.
An estimated 500,000 to a million
people could lose food benefits in
2016. Requiring work or volunteer
service in return for food
benefits was a response to the
assumption that ABAWDs must
be taking advantage of the
system if they aren’t
working.
However, as many
IFCB volunteers and
donors know, that
often is not the case.
The ABAWD
requirements don’t
take into account that
people may be
unemployed and
looking for work, or
may have other
barriers such as being
homeless.
The requirements
can be waived for people who
are chronically homeless, but
that involves frequent bouts of
homelessness that not everyone
experiences.
*This article uses information from
dshs.wa.gov and nytimes.com
Starting in 2016, thousands of
people in King County may find
their SNAP benefits (food stamps)
suddenly cut off.
This is due to a 1996
welfare law that requires
able bodied adults without
dependents (ABAWD) to
meet work or volunteer
requirements.
Washington, along with
many other states, had
received a waiver from
this law during the
recession that was based
on unemployment rates.
As the unemployment
rate decreases, the
waivers are expiring The
waivers are determined by
county, so not all counties in
Washington will be affected.
This rule requires ABAWDs to
work 20 hours per week or
volunteer 16 hours per week or
participate in an approved school
or job training program. If an
Work Requirements Affect Food Stamps
Sonia Lam started volunteering with IFCB in March 2016.
She volunteers twice a week and has already volunteered
more than 100 hours since joining the team. She comes
from the corporate world and when asked why she
volunteers she explained that, "I want be able to give back
and find myself and what's important...life is about humans
and not a product, or selling a product." Sonia’s favorite volunteer story is about a boy who came
to the food bank with his mom. It was his birthday and his
mom asked if there were any birthday cakes. Before she
could get the cooler door open, she heard him wishing
aloud, “please let it be the hamburger cake.” She came out
of the cooler with cake in hand, and said, “you mean this
one?!” His face lit up with joy at the sight of the
hamburger cake. Thanks, Sonia!
Single adults without dependents have requirements reinstated for working or volunteering
Volunteer Sonia Lam in the
Food Bank
ISSAQUAH FOOD &
CLOTHING BANK
179 1st Ave. SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: 425-392-4123
Fax: 425-392-5836
www.issaquahfoodbank.org
THANK YOU to all our wonderful donors and
volunteers!
Our Mission
The Issaquah
Food and Clothing
Bank provides
basic needs to our
community members to
promote
self-sufficiency.
1. Volunteer We are in need of dedicated volunteers for the
Food and Clothing Bank. Register online at
issaquahfoodbank.org.
2. Donate Here’s how to deliver your wonderful donations:
Food: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
Clothing: 24-hour drop box on 1st Ave SE
Money: donate online at issaquahfoodbank.org
3. Hold a Drive Is there something you are particularly passionate about? Hold a
drive! You can collect clothing, baby formula, toiletries, food, and
more. For more ideas, email [email protected].
GET CONNECTED!
Non Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Permit #652
Issaquah, WA
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