NEWS & EVENTS

FOOD LIFELINE NEWS & ISSUES

Recent News:

There are Just a Few Days Left!

Thursday, March 11 is the last day of the 2010 State Legislative Session. These next few days are a key decision-making time and legislators want your input while making these vital choices. Currently, there are many important programs at stake in the budget. Now is the time to let your lawmaker know that these programs are a priority.

 

Draft Budgets Released by the House and Senate

On February 23, the House and Senate released their versions of the State Budget. Thanks to phone calls and emails from concerned individuals like you, both the House and Senate preserved all funding for local food banks and tribal food bank voucher programs.  While the House version of the budget protected almost all of the hunger relief and safety net funding, the Senate budget made some troubling cuts to vital programs.

 

The 2010 Legislative Session is in Full Swing

On January 29, over 150 people from across the state gathered in Olympia for Hunger Action Day, the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition’s annual lobby day. The day was a tremendous success. Advocates from 32 of the 49 districts met with their lawmakers to urge them to protect funding for hunger relief programs and prioritize nutrition when difficult decisions are being made. Thank you to all those who participated, either in Olympia or by writing or calling your lawmakers!

 

Chef Thierry Rautureau is on Top Chef Masters!

We have exciting news! Renowned Chef Thierry Rautureau, a Food Lifeline board member and avid supporter, will be showing off his magnificent skills on Top Chef Masters Season 2. Read more information and be sure to tune into the show on Bravo, April 7th at 11p.m.

 

Jamar Adams, Kevin Calabro discuss Food Lifeline on 710 ESPN

Food Lifeline is honored by the Seattle Seahawks Bonneville Seattle as Charity of the Month for January, 2010. We were lucky enough to have Jamar Adams, Seattle Seahawks safety, and Bonneville Seattle employees, including Kevin Calabro from The Kevin Calabro Show, present us with the award at our Shoreline warehouse. Listen to Jamar talk about Food Lifeline on The Kevin Calabro Show on 710 ESPN Seattle!
 

Your Support During the Holidays

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide more than 37,300 holiday meals for hungry people in local communities. The special “Giving Opportunities” email we sent you last month was a huge success because of your support, and we raised more than $9,300! On behalf of the more than 675,000 people we serve, thank you. Donate now if you missed the email or didn’t have the chance!

 

Food Lifeline is Excited to be Involved in the Pound for Pound Challenge!

Now in its second year, this exciting fundraising program was formed by a partnership of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, General Mills and Feeding America to encourage Americans to “Lose Nationally, Feed Locally.”  Sign up and pledge your weight loss goals at www.pfpchallenge.com.

 

Take Action and Join Us for Hunger Action Day 2010

The 2010 Washington State legislative session begins January 11! In these challenging economic times, the State Legislature is faced with a deficit of $2.6 billion and must make difficult decisions in order to balance the budget. Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget makes cuts to many programs that support low income people. These cuts to vital services combined with the difficult economic climate will result in even longer lines at food banks and meal programs across the state. Therefore, we must urge our State lawmakers to protect these hunger relief programs when they are needed most.

 

Sharing Food, Smiles and Thanks

Nearly 350 individuals from local Food Lifeline meal programs shared a hot meal at the Thanksgiving Gathering Day hosted at Rock Bottom Restaurant. The turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy were passed abundantly, and there was no short supply of smiles and gratitude.

 

The Numbers Are In

Washingtonians are struggling to feed their families. One in nine, (or 11.1%) of Washington’s households are “food insecure,” meaning they lack the resources to ensure that all family members will not go hungry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest report on food security. In addition, 4.3% have “very low food security,” meaning at least one family member has gone hungry due to a lack of resources for food.

 

Food Banks Go High-Tech to Feed the Hungry

Food banks across the country are undergoing a high-tech revolution, adopting sophisticated databases, bar coding, GPS tracking, automated warehouses and other technologies used in the food industry that increasingly supplies their goods.

 

Food Lifeline's 2009 Holiday Card Now Available

Do you send out cards every year during the holidays? We have a great way for you to make yours stand out in the crowd! Food Lifeline’s holiday card is now available for you to order. This is a great way for you to support your neighbors in need this winter as you wish your friends and family a warm and happy holiday season.

 

Take Action to Save Human Service Funding in King County

These budget cuts would be detrimental to several vital services and the people who use them, including domestic violence shelters, senior centers, homeless shelters, legal advocates for victims of sexual assault, programs for youth at risk, as well as Food Lifeline and the hunger relief services we provide. In these tough economic times, these important services are needed now more than ever and cutting them would impact us all.

 

Your Voice as a Donation

Are you interested in donating something in addition to your donation of time or money during Hunger Action Month? You can donate your voice to give hungry children access to nutritious food so they can grow strong and learn well in school. Many of the families we serve utilize federal nutritional programs for children, including school meals, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

 

Volunteering is for All Ages

Maybe you’re a little too old for playing with dolls and toy trucks. Maybe you’re just getting ready to enter high school, but you aren’t yet old enough for your own car or a full time job. For all the young adults and teens out there looking for activities to keep you busy, don’t worry because Food Lifeline has plenty volunteer opportunities for you!
 

Seeing Food Lifeline Everywhere You Go!

You might not see our name on billboards or on the front pages of magazines, but you may be seeing more of Food Lifeline as you are out around town. Some of the ways you can help Food Lifeline may include making a pit-stop to try some delicious, melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake, or taking in a movie at a dinner theater and testing some of Julia Child's recipes while you enjoy the movie Julie and Julia. Learn more about how you can help Food Lifeline through activities you can easily incorporate into your daily life, and have a little fun too.
 

Speak Up and Help Out!

Food Lifeline’s Speaker’s Bureau is looking for talented, communications-savvy individuals like you to help spread the word about Food Lifeline and hunger in our communities. The Speaker’s Bureau is a unique volunteer experience for the chitchat-inclined to help us communicate with the public.
 

You Helped Us Break Records in King County!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 17th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive on May 9th. Generous postal customers in King County broke records as they donated more than 890,750 pounds of food to Food Lifeline during the food drive with the National Association of Letter Carriers.
 

Thank Your State Lawmakers for Supporting Hunger-Relief!

The 2009 Washington State legislative session came to a close late in the night of Sunday April 26th. Faced with a budget deficit over $9 billion, lawmakers had to make tough choices and hard cuts while crafting a biennial 2009-2011 budget. Together, advocates across the state raised our voices louder than ever, and our work truly made a difference.
 

Food Lifeline Receives National Recognition

Food Lifeline is the proud recipient of two national awards from Feeding America. The awards were announced last week during the Hunger’s Hope Ceremony at the Feeding America Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.
 

Peanut Recalls: What happens when a food bank staple is pulled from the shelves

Peanuts have caused quite a stir among food banks and food distribution organizations throughout the entire nation. Who would have thought that a little nut could be the root of hundreds of food recalls? At Food Lifeline, we are prepared for situations like this...
 
Food Lifeline Releases Missing Meals Report
Hunger is a serious issue in our communities as more and more people go without food on a daily basis, and as food and gas prices continue to increase. Just to give us an idea...
 

America's Second Harvest is now Feeding America
Food Lifeline is a part of the national Food Bank Network formerly known as America’s Second Harvest. As of September 1, 2008, America’s Second Harvest will be called Feeding America...

 

Western Washington Hunger in America 2006 Results
Every four years, America's Second Harvest, the Nation's Food Bank Network, conducts a comprehensive nationwide study on the state of hunger in America. As the Western Washington...

 

Statewide Results from Hunger in America 2006
Every four years, America's Second Harvest, the Nation's Food Bank Network, conducts a comprehensive nationwide study on the state of hunger in America. Both the Western Washington...

Food Lifeline Privacy Policy
Food Lifeline is committed to your privacy and not only maintains strict customer privacy policies, but also ensures a safe environment when you make a donation. We are also proud...

Newsletters:

Winter 2010 Newsletter
The Winter 2010 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in early March 2010. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
Fall 2009 Newsletter
The Fall 2009 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in early December 2009. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
Summer 2009 Newsletter
The Summer 2009 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in August 2009. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
Spring 2009 Newsletter
The Spring 2009 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in early June 2009. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
2008 Accountability Report
Food Lifeline's 2008 Accountability Report hit mailboxes in early May 2009. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
Winter 2009 Newsletter
The Winter 2009 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in mid-February 2009. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
Fall 2008 Newsletter
The Fall 2008 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in October 2008. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.
 
Food Lifeline's Form 990
Food Lifeline is a private nonprofit, but we hold ourselves accountable to our volunteers, our donors, and the public. We are proud to deliver 95% of every donation right back...

Spring 2008 Newsletter
The Spring 2008 issue of Food Lifeline's Network News hit mailboxes in early May 2008. If you didn't receive a copy, you can see it here.

2007 Accountability Report
Food Lifeline is a private nonprofit, but we hold ourselves accountable to our volunteers, our donors, and the public. We are proud to deliver 95% of every donation right back...

Profiles in Ending Hunger: The Many Faces of Ben Morris
When you watch Ben Morris, Volunteer Operations Coordinator extraordinaire, in action you will immediately notice his amazing sense of rapport with every single volunteer that...

Profiles in Ending Hunger: Food Lifeline's Product Recovery Center
Hank Nguyen and Sam Butay, the maestros behind the magic of Food Lifeline's Product Recovery Center (PRC), are safety and quality control experts that, together, have been running...