AGENCY SPOTLIGHT: NORTH COUNTY FOOD PANTRY – SEPTEMBER 10
Author: Ben Prez
The North County Food Pantry has always been more than just an opportunity for free groceries. Located in Elk, WA about 30 miles north of downtown Spokane, the North County Food Pantry opens its doors every Monday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Individuals who utilize the pantry can shop in a way reminiscent to a grocery store experience, selecting what items they know they will use in what is commonly called a “client choice” distribution style. Sandy Harvey, director of the pantry, refers to her clients as shoppers or guests and while she is happy to share the many positives involved in running this pantry model, she is quick to share the other reasons that make North County Food Pantry special.
“It’s all about the people who come here. We get to interact with them and hear feedback on how this food is helping,” Harvey says.
Through a weekly delivery of fresh produce, dairy, meat, canned goods and bread from Second Harvest, The North County Food Pantry is able to stock their shelves with enough variety to make a balanced selection possible for every shopper.
“Second Harvest has always been there to keep our inventory up and we know the support is there.” Harvey says.
Sandy (far right) and her husband Joe (center back) became volunteers in 2004 after Sandy retired from a career with the postal service. They stuck around through the years, eventually becoming co-directors in 2016.
Sandy and her group of about 20 dedicated
volunteers worked hard to cultivate a pantry environment that offered dignity, plenty of healthy food, and a sense of community. They provide resources, connect clients to services, and even started a community garden behind the pantry. The 1-acre plot supplies between 3,000 – 5,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables each year for pantry clients.
The opportunity for choice gives shoppers a chance to pick items suited for their dietary needs, family preferences, and a sense of general dignity along with a significant decrease in wasted food.
Despite that varied client experience, Sandy always circles back to the warm, personable interaction between pantry guest and volunteers.
“We’re called the ‘gathering place’ because the community knows us and trusts us,” Sandy says. “When our numbers dipped, I started calling people and a lot of them said they weren’t coming back until they could shop again. I started the shopping style pantry a few years back and we believe in it and the people love it.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the pantry to move to a drive-up distribution style, but Sandy noticed a precipitous drop in households (as low as 10 on a Monday) paying them a visit. In June of 2021 they went back to the grocery store, “client choice”, style and Sandy says that immediately the numbers started to climb again. She believes this is partially due to swapping out the pre-built boxes in exchange for open pantry shopping again but also the warm and inviting environment provided.
“I’ve never seen a group of people as compassionate as this group of volunteers,” Harvey says. “Joe and I have been very fortunate over the years and now we get to give back.”
From The Kitchen: Cooking with dried beans, lentils and peas – March 8
Have you ever received dried goods, such as beans, lentils or split peas, and felt stumped on how to use them? Cooking with dried goods can seem daunting, especially if you’re used to using canned varieties. However, dried beans, lentils and split peas are affordable and often found in food pantries, so cooking with them is a great skill to gain confidence in. Continue reading for some tips and tricks on how to prepare dried ingredients and gain some cooking inspiration from Second Harvest recipes that utilize them.
National Agriculture Month: Celebrating Ag Partners and Friends – March 1
We take immense pleasure throughout the year in celebrating our agriculture partners and friends. But during National Agriculture Month, we take extra measures to recognize their continued support, contributions and commitment to Second Harvest’s mission of serving people facing hunger.
Our ag partners range from small, local farms to large industry farms, livestock operations, and the processing and manufacturing plants that support them.
Why I support Second Harvest: A donor’s story – February 23
Nothing is more important than having food on the table. To state the obvious, food—like shelter—is something without which we cannot survive. Second Harvest thus quite literally provides a lifeline for those whom my wife and I cannot feed directly. And it has done so for the nearly 40 years that we have supported Second Harvest. During this period we have seen not even a hint that their mission is diminishing in importance. On the contrary, the organization seems to be throwing out more and more lifelines to those in our midst who are in danger of sinking.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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