WOODLAND – Wanting to harness the support of the local community and bring awareness, Woodland Action Center, a nonprofit food bank and community action organization, will be interrupting the fascination with food to bring focus to hunger.
We as Americans are always talking about the food we’re cooking and the meals we’re having. We discuss the restaurants we’re going to or want to visit with wild excitement. We photograph our food and share it on social media channels. Trending hashtags like #foodie, #nomnomnom and #yummy are common in our food-crazed lives.
Yet, as the foodie movement continues to gain momentum, so too does the usage of food banks. Since the reduction in SNAP benefits, which are the first line of defense for hunger, there has been an increase in food bank clients to Woodland Action Center.
Just last month, they reported an 8.4 percent increase in the number of children they serve, totaling 455 children from the ages of 3 to 18. The rise in need reflects the Washington state statistic of one in five Washingtonians rely upon their local food bank for their next meal. Woodland Action logged more than 11,474 household visits last year and has been struggling to keep up with the need since stopping Saturday distribution due to lack of volunteers.
“Hunger is an issue many people are not comfortable talking about,” said Executive Director Leslie Mohlman. “We are going to interrupt the food conversation so that the voice of hunger can be considered. Let’s give hunger a chance to be heard as loudly as possible this week.”
Woodland Action volunteers are prepared to share stories and realities of hunger on their social media channels and they would like people to join and share in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Stop by their Thrift Store and receive 20 percent off the entire week; each item Woodland Action sells helps support their local food bank and community services. They are located at 736 Davidson Ave., in Woodland. Learn more about them at woodlandaction.org.
Residents of Cowlitz and Clark counties are invited to participate in local events at the following neighboring businesses:
• Woodland Burgerville will give 10 percent of their proceeds to Woodland Action on May 31, from 4-8 p.m., located at 11120 Lewis River Road, Woodland.
• Two locations of the Woodland Rooster Brew will participate by offering 10 percent of the proceeds on Wednesday, June 1, from 4-6 p.m.
• Woodland Dairy Queen will support Woodland Action from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on June 2 and will give 10 percent of the proceeds for that day. Located at 1225 Lewis River Road, Woodland.
• Luckman’s Coffee has named a special coffee on behalf of Woodland Action to bring awareness to hunger. Customers can request it the entire week, located at 1230 Lewis River Road, Woodland.
• Woodland Farmers Market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, at 382 Lewis River Road, Woodland. Stop by the Woodland Action booth where they have potted succulents made from donated glass that they are selling to earn money for their resource room.
