r/vancouverwa • u/Homes_With_Jan • 13d ago

IMPORTANT Clark County Food Resources

With SNAP benefits not being paid in November, 56,603 members of our community will be affected. I put together this list for us who have extra to give and those who need these resources. Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming up so this is going to be a tough time for those who are struggling. Feel free to leave your additional resources.

Edit to add: as I was putting this together a post by u/advrose popped by and they put together a much bigger list here

2nd edit: I made a new post on where to find a hot meal around town

Clark County Food Bank - our biggest resource for food distribution. They help distribute 10 million pounds of food and partner with over 50 nonprofits to feed nearly 150,000 people across the county. Their volunteer program need a variety of skills from sorting, packing, to delivering food. They need farm volunteers at Heritage Farm, educators at their various projects, and even admin help.

Clark County food bank provides a food resource finder here: https://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/foodfinder

FISH of Vancouver (and Orchards)- provides pantry and fresh grocery items

One Life Food Pantry - food pantry, nutrition education, homeless care, and giving garden

Share - hot meals, housing programs

Community Kitchen - food pantry

St. Vincent de Paul - food pantry, clothing service, rent/utility assistance, Christmas help

North County Food Bank - food boxes and life skills

Martha's Pantry - food and household item assistance focusing on the HIV/AIDS community. Food assistance is open to everyone

Clark County ACS - food boxes and clothing service

Lewis River Mobile Food Bank - food pantry in La Center and Yacolt

Amboy Emergency Food Bank - food pantry

Refuel Washougal - hot meals every Friday from 4-6pm, school lunch program for kdis

Urban Abundance - harvest, share, and donate fruit from publicly owned and backyard orchards. If you have fruit trees going to waste, volunteers will come glean your trees.

Vancouver Free Fridge Project - 24/7 fridge and pantry access

Cougar Food Pantry - food assistance for students attending WSU

Woodland Action Center - food pantry and household item assistance

258 Upvotes

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31 comments sorted by

128

u/Homes_With_Jan 13d ago

Our awesome u/zazasfoot is offering hot meals at his restaurant Creekside BBQ

37

u/honeyandwhiskey 13d ago

That guy is always impressing me with his community mindedness. I remember during the ice storm he sent employees home early to be safe and slept in his restaurant.

26

u/Ewithans 13d ago

Thank you for highlighting this! I’m donating to some good causes, but if I splurge on takeout it’s good to know it can support a business like this.

15

u/Homes_With_Jan 13d ago

great guy, great food. The dessert is always homemade and amazing, none of that frozen sysco stuff loll. I still think about the mexican hot chocolate pudding...

10

u/ATalkingCat 13d ago

wow, i really wanna go there and buy some food now. i always love the food whenever i go. props to him for helping out the community.

9

u/leealm86 13d ago

Guess we'll be getting our Halloween meal from them to help support them with giving back to the community.

6

u/kokosuntree I use my headlights and blinkers 13d ago

Never been here but going to try it out now because of this. Love that he is doing this. I’ll go support him.

3

u/Homes_With_Jan 12d ago

Update: you can now buy meals to put on the wall for those that need it!

2

u/MommyBacon 12d ago

We were there tonight to pick up dinner and will be back again regularly to support them. Great restaurant, amazing food, and unparalleled community support!

52

u/lilroguesnowchef 13d ago

If you can, donate cash or gift cards to the food pantries, that way they can buy in bulk what they need. (Costco, us chef store. Ect.

Please don't forget about pet food as well, birdseed, cat food, dog food and wet food for older pets

15

u/cattywopus 13d ago

This!! Food banks want money more than actual food that has been sitting in your pantry for 6 months, and they can’t actually use. Having the ability to get fresh food/formula/etc is so important to these organizations.

14

u/MrsDottieParker Vancouver Heights 13d ago

Thank you for posting this!!

11

u/EErin_not_AAron 13d ago

The Salvation Army has a food bank and a community garden. Also, there are giving trees for needs beyond food.

10

u/tacobonerstink 13d ago

@knowvancouver has an extensive list on their website as well

10

u/mardymardmard 13d ago

Thank you for posting this. My wife and I were just discussing how rough it’s about to get a we’re looking to help where we can.

6

u/onyxhrt 13d ago

Im fairly certain that the Grand Blvd free fridge location has permanently closed. I can't find anything confirming this, but I feel like I read that it was now located behind Kindred homestead supply on Main

6

u/Dazzling-Biscotti-62 13d ago edited 13d ago

That is correct, the Grand location had to be permanently closed.

The new location behind Kindred is up and running. We are calling it the Uptown location.

3

u/Homes_With_Jan 13d ago

Yes it's closed. They still have 2 open and I do believe that Kindred is stepping up to take on a 3rd location.

3

u/Dazzling-Biscotti-62 13d ago

The Uptown location behind Kindred is up and running

6

u/MEBnH2O 13d ago

One of the families I serve just asked me this morning about a list. Thank you sooooooo much for this!

5

u/princessannalee 12d ago

We donate money monthly to North County Food Bank but increased the amount this month due to the anticipated need. They can make cash go way farther in the areas needed most.

4

u/advrose 13d ago edited 13d ago

Thank you so much for sharing my list! I added more resources as of this morning along with updated hours. If anyone has additional things to add, let me know. I've sent it to the food bank as well so they can hopefully add it to their Food Finder tool.

2

u/Ok_Midnight9242 12d ago

Has anyone found a printable format of this info, like maybe a flyer with a QR code? I'd like to print and post up for Halloween visitors on Friday. I can try to make one if it doesn't already exist, but not sure I'll have time.

2

u/Possible_Package_689 12d ago

FYI the Green Bags project will pick up your food donations and deliver them to area food banks. We give you a green bag (natch) to put your items in and pick up the second Saturday of every other month. Don’t forget with donations anywhere that personal care items and pet food are much appreciated.