Life Manor food drive
Mar 31, 2010

Joan Cronk
Senior Scene

Sarah Sommerman, Program Manager for Life Manor Retirement Community in Tacoma, was clearly excited about the food drive to benefit FISH Food Bank.

"This is something we did last year," said Sommerman who asked other communities in the area to join in.

"One in 10 households in the U.S. experiences hunger and the children in those homes experience health problems," said Sommerman, who encouraged everyone to participate.

They held their kick off for the event on Feb. 2 at Life Manor and urged residents and family members to join in and help raise donations of food for the food bank.

Life Manor took their residents on trips to the grocery store and armed them with lists of the most needed food and items.

Beth Elliott, Executive Director of FISH Food Banks of Pierce County, was on hand to encourage the crowd and said raising donations for FISH Food Bank is, "more important than ever before. We served 34% more people in 2009 than in 2008. Elliott anticipates 2010 will bring an even greater need. In 2009 the FISH Food Bank provided food for over 313,000 people.

FISH is an acronym for "Friends in Service to Him" said Elliott. It has been in existence for 35 years. FISH Food Bank makes every effort to be sure anyone who walks through their doors leaves with enough food to last them for three days.

Also participating in the food drive was Cascade Park Communities in Tacoma. Gloria Tucci, administrator, said many of their residents were active folks and anxious to bring donations. Cascade Park had donation boxes placed throughout their large facility and Tucci said, "In this particular era of time, when we have such a need in the public, it is absolutely essential that we help those less fortunate."

The CEO of Weldco-Beales Manufacturing on Marine View Drive in Tacoma contacted Elliott and said that, even though their business is down 75 percent, they haven't laid anyone off yet and they wanted to jump on board and help FISH Food Bank. Each week food bank volunteers go to that business and pick up a large amount of food said Elliott, who was very grateful for their participation.

Every can of food that is donated to FISH Food Bank goes out the door and Elliott said drives such as the one led by Life Manor and Cascade Park helps keep the shelves stocked.

Derek Barcial, In-Store Senior Banker with US Bank located inside Top Foods said that they supported the food drive last year and, "We are pleased to do it again this year." Top Food had food donation bins inside their bank and, since they are located inside Top Foods, they thought it should be easy for folks to drop off a few cans at the end of their shopping trip.

All of these efforts paid off handsomely when the weigh in took place on Feb. 27. Life Manor donated 475 pounds of food and Cascade Park donated 49 pounds, making it a grand total of 524 pounds of food to donated to FISH Food Bank.