As we celebrate Independence Day this July, many of us pause and reflect on what freedom means. For some, it’s about opportunity and self reliance. For others, it’s about stability, choice, and the dignity to meet one’s own needs.
At the Sequim Food Bank, we believe that true freedom includes freedom from hunger. Food security is one of the most powerful forms of independence.
Food is more than sustenance. It’s the foundation that allows families to plan ahead, children to grow and learn, and older adults to live with peace of mind. When neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food, they are better able to contribute to our shared community with strength and dignity.
This summer, we’re seeing that truth in action every day. Our team is working hard to meet seasonal needs, especially for children who rely on school meals during the academic year. Through our Summer Weekend Meal Bag Program, we provide bags filled with meals and snacks that ensure children stay nourished and supported on weekends during the summer, too.
We’re also expanding our Mobile Food Pantry Program, bringing groceries directly into neighborhoods and rural areas throughout Eastern Clallam County. With stops at apartment complexes, senior living communities, faith-based campuses, and tribal land, these mobile pantries reduce transportation barriers and offer a consistent, respectful presence.
We are proud to collaborate with these organizations, and others, to build a responsive, community-based support system. These partnerships are essential to our work. They allow us to stretch our resources, strengthen relationships, and meet people where they are — both literally and figuratively.
None of this work happens alone. It’s powered by partnerships with local farms that supply fresh produce through our Local Farm Purchasing Program, with volunteers who give their time week after week, and with donors and supporters who ensure our shelves stay full even during the summer.
This year, the need for our services has grown significantly. We’re seeing a 25% increase in visitors through the first half of the year. Families are navigating higher grocery bills, wages that aren’t keeping pace, increased healthcare costs, and limited access to affordable housing. In this environment, the food we provide can be a vital support that helps people stay afloat.
In response, we’ve adjusted and adapted – transforming how we distribute food to allow for more choice, focusing on cultural and dietary relevance, and expanding access through mobile and home delivery programs. We’re constantly evolving to meet the real-world needs of our neighbors with dignity and care.
As one food bank visitor recently shared, “It makes me so happy every time I come here. I feel welcomed. I’m so grateful you are all here at a time when I need it.” Those words remind us that there is a great deal more than food being given and received.
Goal met
And it’s all fueled by you. In last month’s article, we asked for your help, and you came through! Thanks to the incredible community generosity, we met our goal of collecting 5,000 jars of peanut butter during our annual peanut butter drive.
We’ve also received more than 1,500 pounds of food through our revolving community food drive program, the Full Pantry Project. And more and more of you are stepping up as monthly donors, helping to sustain this work throughout the year.
Every donated jar, every bag dropped off, every dollar given in support – is a piece of a larger promise: No one in our community has to face hunger alone.
As we reach the halfway point of the year, we invite you to stay connected. The need is steady, and our commitment is strong. Together, we’re building a more resilient community, one where freedom from hunger is not just a hope, but a shared reality.
Here are some ways you can participate:
• Start a Full Pantry Project team with your workplace, neighborhood, or faith community
• Become a monthly donor; even $20 a month makes a lasting impact
• Spread the word about the Sequim Food Bank’s services and programs
• Follow us on social media to stay informed and engaged
Food insecurity can touch anyone — our neighbor, our coworker, a classmate’s family. But so can generosity. The Sequim Food Bank is powered by a community that shows up again and again, and every act of support matters.
We’re excited as we look ahead. Stay tuned for more about a special “Meet the Food Bank” event coming early fall — an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and discover how you can be part of the vision that no one goes hungry in our community. To learn more or get involved, visit sequimfoodbank.org, or email info@sequimfoodbank.org.
Thank you for standing with us. Your support brings freedom, choice, and care to thousands of neighbors each month. That’s something worth celebrating, on Independence Day and all year long.
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Andra Smith is executive director of the Sequim Food Bank
