Partner Program Highlight: Eloise’s Cooking Pot

At Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank (ECP), the only qualification to receive food is to ask for it. In 2009, Eloise’s began “no questions asked” food distribution to the communities of East and South Tacoma, Washington. Making A Difference Foundation Founder, President, and CEO, Ahndrea Blue, named the Eloise’s Cooking Pot project after her grandmother, whose humble home was a place where a person in need could always receive a hot meal. Today, Eloise’s Cooking Pot is one of the largest independent food pantries in Pierce County.

Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank distributes 150,000 pounds of food each month with dignity and respect to thousands of guests. In November and December 2020, ECP served 49,000 and 39,640 guests, respectively. In 2019, they served over 180,000 clients and over 1.5 million meals served.

Like many local organizations, the pandemic has affected ECP’s ability to serve the community. Prior to COVID-19, food was distributed using a self-select shopping method – guests shopped for their groceries much like they would at the supermarket. Now, in order to follow social distancing guidelines, food is prepacked and distributed curbside for quick, easy pick-up.

When asked what motivates her to do the difficult work of distributing emergency food, Ahndrea expressed that she has the best job in the world because she gets to wake up every day and make a difference.

If you’d like to volunteer your time or resources with MADF and Eloise’s Cooking Pot, please email: info@themadfseattle.org.