In trying times, the local community is coming together to help Tukwila Pantry, the food bank that serves the Tukwila, Burien, SeaTac, and Boulevard Park, resolve an urgent need and serve those impacted by the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Tukwila Pantry is holding a ‘Get-A-Truck’ campaign to raise $15,000 in matching funds toward the purchase of a new delivery truck. Over its 15-year life, the Pantry’s current truck has delivered 1 million pounds of food, racked up over 575,000 miles, and served tens of thousands of households in Tukwila, Burien, SeaTac, and Boulevard Park. But that truck is nearing its final expiration date, and so the Pantry is starting this campaign to ensure the Pantry can continue to operate for years to come.
Over the course of the current crisis, the number of households coming to the Pantry for food has skyrocketed. The Pantry went from serving about 300 households per week to well over 1000. This reveals just how dependent so many families in our community are on a truck that is prone to breakdowns, is limited in range, and needs major expensive repairs. That’s why some donors have stepped up to help the Pantry get a new truck – but we need to raise enough matching funds to actually buy a truck!
The Pantry serves one of the State’s most diverse and most underserved communities, and its client base represents that fact. Over 80% of Tukwila Pantry’s clients in 2019 had an income below 30% of the area median. About 10% were experiencing homelessness. Almost a quarter were refugees or immigrants. At least 20% had limited English proficiency. This campaign will directly benefit many thousands in the Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Boulevard Park communities.
This campaign is spearheaded by the entire Tukwila community and represents a partnership between Tukwila Pantry and the Tukwila Children’s Foundation.
Learn more and donate here:
