-Sumner Community Food Bank-

Recently, EFN has taken on the challenge of increasing our capacity to match the growing demand for food in Pierce County, and we aren’t alone in these efforts. 

Sumner Community Food Bank (SCFB) has been experiencing their own increase in demand and responding in kind. SCFB began in the mid-1980s as a garage-based effort, and has since expanded after being gifted their current location by the Sumner Rotary. With a staff of 7 and a volunteer base of 65-70 people, SCFB has been constantly adapting to the expanding needs of their community.

SCFB serves over 75 guests daily. To give guests a respectful and supportive experience, SCFB redesigned the operation of their food bank. One approach is giving their guests the power to choose their food, just as they would in a grocery store, through their volunteer-run marketplace. They coordinate community events, such as monthly dental clinics in partnership with Multicare and Family Support info sessions from various community partners. SCFB also runs a backpack program for local students, where students from the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District volunteer to build bags to be distributed to their peers. “It’s about dignity and respect that extend beyond the food we provide,” SCFB’s Executive Director, Anthony Apeles emphasized, and the community feels the impact. One guest shared with us that the support they receive at SCFB is “a blessing” and that they have always felt welcomed.
 
In addition to their marketplace and backpack distribution, SCFB also serves as a distributor for their partners, similar to EFN. A key component to this is truckers. Since Sumner is close to many logistics centers in the Puyallup Valley, trucks often stop by with loads of food that would otherwise be taken to a landfill. With SCFB’s large intake of food, it is important for them to be able to send it to their partners when there is no room left in their market. Anthony told us, “It’s not about holding onto product, but it’s all about getting food onto the plates of people in need.” This practice helps reduce food waste at SCFB. When combined with SCFB’s other waste-reduction practices (solar panels, HVAC temperature regulation, back-up generators, and produce spoilage to pig farmers), less than 1% of food typically ends up in the landfill.
 
With the breadth of SCFB’s operations and an increase of 300-400% in demand within the past few years, it is no surprise that SCFB is now facing the challenge of expansion. When describing the need for expansion, Anthony stated, “We’ve maxed out our facility…We’re bursting at the seams.” The future of SCFB needs more market space, more on-site warehouse space, and a better parking lot to improve flow efficiency for pedestrian and vehicle traffic.  SCFB has been doing their best with timed visits using restaurant buzzers, but they have recognized this may only be a temporary solution. SCFB’s priority is to meet the demand of their community, as they progress towards expansion. A site development committee has been put together to oversee the planning and development of SCFB’s future facilities.
 
For Anthony, SCFB staff, and volunteers, serving at the food bank is answering a call to support their community. If you would like to volunteer or support SCFB, please go to https://www.sumnerfoodbank.org/ or reach out to them at community@sumnerfoodbank.org or call 253-863-3793. We are proud to partner with Sumner Community Food Bank to provide food to our neighbors in need in Pierce County! From all of us at EFN, thank you to Sumner Community Food Bank for their incredible work.

By: Moira Gaffney, EFN Summer 2023 Development Intern