The Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank is working to stock its shelves and continue providing close to 1,500 monthly customers with nutritious meals at its “Be a Soup-er Hero” canned soup drive in preparation for the upcoming winter season.
“Our food bank is a community staple,” said Ellen Pronin, the food bank’s marketing and development manager. “We’ve been around for a decade and want to continue providing resources and being there for those who need us.”
With a collection goal of at least 2,000 pop-top soup cans by Oct. 18, the food bank hopes to offer each family one can per week for two months.
“Donations are vital to our operations,” Pronin said. “A lot of our funding, some of the COVID funding specifically, is running out, so donations are becoming more and more vital to support everyone we see coming through.”
According to the event flyer, pop-top cans are a “perfect option” to donate, unlike cans that require a can opener, as they are accessible to everyone, including kids and those with arthritis.
“Don’t be a bystander — be a soup-er hero and save the day,” the food bank wrote on its website. “Together, we can fill bowls with warmth and hope.”
Monetary donations that allow the food bank to purchase soups at a discounted price are accepted at snoqualmievalleyfoodbank.org. Items purchased from the food bank’s Amazon Wish List will be sent directly to the food bank.
Soup can donations are accepted at the following locations:
Snoqualmie: Mini Treehouse, The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, Church on the Ridge, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, Snoqualmie Valley Health Ridge Medical Clinic, Arbor Eyecare, The Swirl.
North Bend: Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, ACE Hardware, Les Schwab Tire Center, Mt. Si Gymnastics, Pet Place Market, Umpqua Bank, City Hall.
The food bank is also hosting a lunch fundraiser on Oct. 27, dubbed the Empty Bowl Fundraiser.
“The concept of the Empty Bowl is simple yet powerful: while our bowls are full, someone else’s remains empty,” Pronin said. “Guests will be able to enjoy a variety of bowl-friendly dishes from local restaurants and play Bingo for a Cause to help us fill the empty bowls and win fun prizes.”
Tickets for the fundraiser will be available on the food bank’s website soon.
