During a time of year where proteins are crucial for the Clark County Food Bank, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated an entire semi-truck full of freshly frozen pork roast, beef roast and ground beef.
The semi-truck load of meat included over a thousand cases delivered to the food bank on Thursday, Nov. 13.
Clark County Food Bank Food and Warehouse Director Kieran Collins estimated the meat will be fully distributed in roughly three and a half weeks as the food bank has 51 partners in the county.
“We are truly the food bank,” Collins said. “So we bank the food and then we distribute to our partner agencies, which there is an ever-increasing number of currently, and that is at 51 that we distribute to directly. They either come to us or we go to them, but ultimately that’s how the food gets out.”
The Clark County Food Bank does have two pantries themselves, one being the Community Kitchen in Walnut Grove and the other in Fruit Valley.
“The tonnage really goes for our partner agencies,” Collins said. “We have some very large partner agencies, and we have some very small partner agencies.”
The Clark County Food Bank manages over 10 million pounds of food each year, an equivalent of 8.3 million meals for Clark County residents in need, its website states. To start November, Collins said roughly 50,000 to 60,000 pounds of food leaves the building in the heart of the county.
For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the fight to end food insecurity is a global battle. But the church has made massive efforts on the home front as of late, said Paul Gage, with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We know that there are people here in the U.S. that need food,” Gage said. “Salt Lake Bishop’s storehouse, when the SNAP thing came out, they just opened it up to the public and people came in and got what they needed. It’s a humanitarian thing. That’s what Christ would want us to do.”
Collins and Rachel Beck, Clark County Food Bank director of development, said each time the food bank and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have partnered, the outpouring of support is huge.
The impact of the food donation will likely reach tens of thousands of Clark County families. In 2024, the food bank’s partner agencies helped supply food to around 148,000 individuals, Beck said. When it comes to supplying meat and protein in general, often a supply is limited for food banks.
“With proteins, we do backhaul a considerable amount from the retailers and we sort that out and we package it accordingly and it goes out,” Collins said, adding that distribution is often limited based on the size of the partner agency and overall availability. “That is on a day-to-day basis and it is very difficult for us to keep ahead of demand on that. It’s almost impossible.”
The donation of 1,080 cases of meat will allow the food bank to ensure a hearty supply to all 51 agencies. With the recent uncertainty surrounding SNAP payments, November has been an escalation, Collins said.
“One of our largest agencies, their truck can hold 5,000 pounds, and it’ll be here every day,” he said. “They’re distributing over 10,000 pounds a day. So, it has to double up as far as supporting that.”
Beck added that there has been a substantial uptick in clients at pantries the food bank supports, as well as donations. For donations, canned protein, shelf-stable items that one would buy for their own family, are strongly encouraged. Beck also said monetary donations assist greatly.
“We’re just so grateful for the community showing us appreciation,” Beck said. “It’s very humbling.”
The Clark County Food Bank is located at 6502 Northeast 47th Ave. in Vancouver. The administrative office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Clark County Food Bank can be contacted by calling 360-693-0939 and by emailing info@clarkcountyfoodbank.org.
For information on donating, visit clarkcountyfoodbank.org/waystogive.
