Your Gift Makes Lasting Change in Our Community
More than 63,000 people visit food banks in Pierce County each month. Of those, 43% are employed but unable to make ends meet. This growing need has greatly stretched the capacity of our local food banks. In 2006, United Way of Pierce County and Emergency Food Network (EFN) partnered to work on the problem.
One of the major problems facing our local food banks was keeping perishable foods safe. Donations of perishable foods were available, but many banks had no way to transport or store them.
Last year, Pierce County food banks had the opportunity to change that. However, EFN learned it would take more than $90,000 in upgraded facilities to do this.
United Way of Pierce County and EFN teamed up to find a solution. Within a month, EFN received a grant made possible by United Way to make the system upgrade.
As a result, 11 food banks in Pierce County have purchased box trucks or vans to transport food, walk-in freezers and refrigerators to store food, and electric pallet jacks to move food. The changes will not only allow the food banks to accept the perishable food donations but provide nutritious fruits, vegetables and meats to those in need.
You & United Way—Changing Reality
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