Thurston County Food Bank

😎 High Summer Greetings from the Olympia Kiwanis Food Bank Gardens team! We are in full swing out on the farms growing all types of vegetable crops for the community. We are always looking to have interested community members join us in the fields/greenhouses/gleaning — whether it's building gardening skills, community connections, or just a deep desire to get your paws in the soil. We'd love to have you join us!

🍅 Look out for upcoming shifts at the Gardens and for Gleaning at https://thurston-county-food-bank.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/ or email our Field to Food Bank Coordinator ([email protected]) to sign up for our weekly newsletter and transplant yourself into the gardens!

📢 IMPORTANT Service Notice Reminder!

Our downtown Olympia Food Pantry is CLOSED on Monday, August 19th and will be closed every 3rd Monday of the month for organizational development.

We will be back to our regular schedule on Tuesday the 20th. Thank you for your understanding!

Come see us on Thursday or Friday this week!:

🛒 Lacey Food Pantry (inside shopping):
Thursday 15th from 10:00am–2:00pm
7027 Martin Way E, Olympia, WA 98516

🛒 Downtown Olympia Food Pantry (inside shopping):
Friday 16th from 10:30am–3:00pm
220 Thurston Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501

Additionally, we have 17 Satellite Food Bank locations. Visit tcfb.org/locations/pick-up/ for a map of locations and schedules.

Children love tasting kale and chive flowers during their school field trip and tour of the St. Mark Community Garden! Even though the chives taste like onions or garlic, the kids eat them anyway! They love the kale flowers and always remark how sweet they are...

These gorgeous snacks are prepared by church volunteers — over 600 snacks provided to children during their one-hour field trips. The entire school helps plant the Food Bank garden that ultimately grows about 12,000 pounds of fresh produce each year for Thurston County Food Bank families!

Learn more at https://www.stmarklacey.org/community-garden/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064481422840&locale=en_GB Mark Lutheran Church (Lacey, WA)

🌱 Come farm with us at the Olympia Kiwanis Food Bank Gardens! We often plant, harvest, and w**d together to accomplish other farm tasks, bringing fresh, organically produced vegetables to distribute through the food bank. Bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes. We have snacks, water, sunscreen, and tools available but feel free to bring your own. Previous garden experience is optional, and we work to accommodate all ability levels. The gardens are an inclusive space for all.

🌿 Look out for upcoming shifts at the Gardens and for Gleaning at https://thurston-county-food-bank.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/ or email our Field to Food Bank Coordinator ([email protected]) to sign up for our weekly newsletter and transplant yourself into the gardens!

Thurston County Resource Hub and Molina Healthcare will be hosting a Community Fair on August 15! This event will offer veterinary services (grooming, nail care, pet food), Hepatitis C testing, food, free barber services, music, free hot dog lunch, and more!

Thurston County Resource Hub Community Fair:
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
910 24th Way SW, Olympia

The Thurston County Humane Society, Inc., an organization dedicated to supporting community and one of TCFB's long-time supporters, will be at the event along with TCFB volunteers! For years, the Thurston County Humane Society has provided TCFB with bulk dog and cat food, along with bags for repackaging. At the Community Resource Fair, they will not only be supplying pet food but they will also be collaborating with Covenant Creatures to offer veterinary services. Stop by for a visit!

Pictured from left to right are Dean Crabapple, Director of Operations at TCFB's Warehouse & Distribution Center; Judy Jones, TCFB's Senior Director of Operations; and Carlos Alaniz, Executive Director, Thurston County Humane Society.

Thurston County Washington

🌞 We always seem to be low on bags! If you are able to bring your own shopping bags while shopping at our Food Pantries, that is super helpful. Thanks so much!

🌞 While you're visiting, why not ask us about SNAP/EBT benefits? TCFB's team of Client Advocates can answer your questions and help you apply!

🌞 ¡Siempre parece que nos faltan bolsas! Si puede traer sus propias bolsas de compras cuando hace compras en nuestras despensas de alimentos, será de gran ayuda. ¡Muchas gracias!

🌞 Mientras nos visita, ¿por qué no nos pregunta sobre los beneficios de SNAP/EBT? ¡El equipo de servicio al cliente de TCFB puede responder a tus preguntas y ayudarlo a completar su solicitud de SNAP!

🌻 Join us for School Garden Work Parties, Wednesdays in August at Lydia Hawk Elementary School! Help us make the gardens beautiful for children returning to school in September!

🌿 Lydia Hawk Elementary School
• 7600 5th Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503
• Wednesdays in August, the 14th, 21st & 28th
• 9:00–11:00 am
• The garden is on the left side of the school as you’re driving up the hill.

Are you curious about school gardens? Would you like to learn more about how to get involved? Learn about our wonderful garden recess program and plans to build an outdoor classroom! Let’s chat while we w**d, harvest seeds and plant a fall crop!

For more information, call Michaela Winkley, TCFB School Garden Coordinator, 360-352-8597 Ext. 223, or email her at [email protected].

North Thurston Public Schools Olympia School District Tumwater School District

🌱 Join us for School Garden Work Parties, Tuesdays in August at Mountain View Elementary School! Help us make the gardens beautiful for children returning to school in September!

🌻 Mountain View Elementary School
• 1900 College St SE, Lacey, WA 98503
• Tuesdays in August, the 13th, 20th & 27th
• 9:00–11:00 am
• The garden is on the left side of the school near the portables.

Are you curious about school gardens? Would you like to learn more about how to get involved? Learn about our wonderful field trip program, where the entire school helps plant a Food Bank Garden that produces 13,000 pounds of fresh produce yearly for the Food Bank! Learn about the little vegetable garden and the prairie pollinator garden used for science. Let’s chat while we w**d, harvest seeds and plant a fall crop!

For more information, call Michaela Winkley, TCFB School Garden Coordinator, 360-352-8597 Ext. 223, or email her at [email protected].

Olympia School District Tumwater School District North Thurston Public Schools

We have a hard time saying goodbye to our wonderful AmeriCorps service members when their terms at TCFB come to a close. This time we say a heartfelt thank you and fond farewell to Crystal and Ben! They were such awesome members of our team. We are sad to see their AmeriCorps terms end, but are excited to see them take the next steps in their careers. We wish Crystal and Ben all the luck and hope this isn't the last time we get to work together!

Washington Service Corps

🧅 OPEN THIS WEEKEND, August 10th 🧅

✨️ INTERESTED IN FREE PRODUCE?
Come visit the Lacey Farm Stand! Visiting the Lacey Farm Stand will not count towards your weekly visits, and is completely free.

We will be OPEN on Saturday, August 10th! (We'll be inside the food pantry building.)

Saturdays, 11am – 1pm
7027 Martin Way E
Olympia, WA 98516
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
✨️ ¿INTERESADO EN FRUTAS Y VERDURAS GRATIS? ¡Ven visitenos en Lacey Puesto de Frutas y Verduras!
Visitas al puesto no contaran contará sus visitas semanales, son gratis.

¡Estaremos ABIERTO el sábado 10 de agosto! (Estaremos dentro del edificio de la despensa de alimentos.)

Los Sábados, 11am – 1pm
7027 Martin Way E
Olympia, WA 98516

THANK YOU to all the volunteers and Thurston County Fair-goers who supported the Food Bank during One-Buck Wednesday! Your efforts brought in 5,229 pounds of non-perishable food and $806 to support our hunger-relief work in the community. Thank you!

Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center

Reminding folks that there are just 3 DAYS LEFT for this wonderful school supplies drive — happening through Friday, August 9th!

Charter College is partnering with Thurston County Food Bank to collect donated school supplies and necessities to benefit our most vulnerable students. Charter College has also committed to match donated school supplies dropped off at Charter College-Lacey up to $500 — and stores have mega sales on school supplies right now!

Donation drop-off information:
July 1st–August 9th | Monday–Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Charter College, 4520 Lacey Blvd SE #40 Lacey, WA 98503

SUGGESTED DONATED ITEMS:
📓 Spiral/Composition notebooks
🖍 Crayola crayons
✏ Pens & Colored pencils
📃 Glue/glue sticks
✂ Scissors

💙 Thank you so much for your support!!

This is the last week to donate! Get your school supplies over to our Lacey location before Friday at 5:30 PM and be part of this important drive in partnership with Thurston County Food Bank.
Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3yrlcsZ

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Thurston County Fair's Berry Best Pie Contest last Saturday! With sponsorship by Spooner Berry Farms-Olympia, and the support of pie bakers (23 pies!), volunteers, pie judges, and pie purchasers, this delicious fundraiser raised $317 to benefit the Thurston County Food Bank. Thanks all!

Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center

We invite you to join us for our upcoming Volunteer Orientation! You'll learn about the many ways you can help provide hunger relief in our community. We hope you will join our amazing TCFB volunteer team!

• Wednesday, August 7 from 4:30–5:30pm
• Lacey Food Pantry @ 7027 Martin Way E

🧡 Hope to see you there! More info and an application are at: https://tcfb.org/volunteer/ 💛

Orientations are also offered on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at our Olympia Food Pantry from 2–3:30 pm! The next one will be held on August 20th (220 Thurston Ave NE).

If you don't have time to bake a pie by tomorrow.... there's still time to EAT pie!

The 2024 Thurston County Fair’s Berry Best Pie Contest is this Saturday, August 3rd! Pie slices will be available for purchase (after judging at 2 pm) for a $3.00 – $5.00 donation, and all proceeds benefit Thurston County Food Bank.

Here are the details if you plan to bake a pie!

🥧 Each contestant will receive FREE admission into the fair for that day. Parking fee is NOT INCLUDED!
🥇 Youth and adult winners will receive ribbons and monetary prizes donated by contest sponsor Spooner Berry Farms-Olympia.

CONTEST RULES:
🍓 Bring your “Berry Best” pie to the Expo Center at the Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center on Saturday, August 3rd between 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm
🍒 Bake it in an 8” or 9” disposable round pie tin
🍓 Berries must be the main ingredient
🍒 Pies CANNOT CONTAIN: cream, cream cheese, custard, Jell-O, or eggs
🍓 Submit a 3" x 5" index card accompanying each pie with the contestant’s recipe [with the type of berry(ies) used], name, address and phone number

🥧 Final Judging is at 2:00 pm in the Expo Center. Prizes will be announced immediately following the judging. (Need not be present to win.)

Extending a final thank you to ALL who supported our 2024 Thrive Children's Campaign breakfast event!

A huge shout-out to:
• Our Bronze Sponsors: Clear Risk Solutions; Doug Mah & Associates; Illuminated Journey Psychotherapy
• Our Silver Sponsors: Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning; Panorama
• Our Gold Sponsors: Capital Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric; Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Jeff Kopp; Johnson, Stone & Pagano, P.S.; OlyFed | BANKING THAT'S MUTUAL (Olympia Federal Savings); Realty One Group Bold (ROG Bold - Lacey)
• All breakfast attendees and donors
• Our Board of Directors
• Our Keynote Speaker, Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Dancing Goats® Coffee for donating coffee
• Olympia Kiwanis Food Bank Gardens for providing the flowers
• Senior Services For South Sound for catering the event at a reduced cost
• TCFB volunteers and staff for supporting in so many ways

💙 We greatly appreciate your generous support of our Children's Programs! 💛

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Dancing Goats Coffee Tasting Room Dancing Goats Coffee

YUM! The 2024 Thurston County Fair’s Berry Best Pie Contest is THIS Saturday, August 3rd! Pie slices will be available for purchase with the proceeds benefitting Thurston County Food Bank. We are looking for pie bakers!!

🥧 Each contestant will receive FREE admission into the fair for that day. Parking fee is NOT INCLUDED!
🥇 Youth and adult winners will receive ribbons and monetary prizes donated by contest sponsor Spooner Berry Farms!

CONTEST RULES:
🍓 Bring your “Berry Best” pie to the Expo Center at the Thurston County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 3rd between 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm
🍒 Bake it in an 8” or 9” disposable round pie tin
🍓 Berries must be the main ingredient
🍒 Pies CANNOT CONTAIN: cream, cream cheese, custard, Jell-O, or eggs
🍓 Submit a 3" x 5" index card accompanying each pie with the contestant’s recipe [with the type of berry(ies) used], name, address and phone number

🥧 Final Judging is at 2:00 pm in the Expo Center. Prizes will be announced immediately following the judging. (Need not be present to win.)

Spooner Berry Farms-Olympia Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center

4 hours left! $1 admission to the Fair today with a donation to TCFB!

Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center

Don't forget it's $1 admission day with a donation of food to the Thurston County Food Bank! Buzz on over and enjoy the opening day of the fair, from 10am - 9pm!

DONATE a CROP to Thurston County Food Bank!

Do you have extra fruit that ends up falling from your trees? Sign up to get your fruit tree or berry bush harvested by a TCFB Gleaning Crew:

tcfb.org/donate-your-crop

Fruit Sources will be vetted for quantity and quality and become “TCFB-approved”. We coordinate with homeowners to send a crew of staff and volunteers to harvest the fruit for distribution at Thurston County Food Bank!

Learn about our Gleaning Program at tcfb.org/services/community-services/gleaning-program/.
For more information contact: [email protected] or 360-584-2402

Tomorrow is the day! On Wednesday, July 31st, help "Can Hunger" by supporting the Thurston County Food Bank on "One-Buck Wednesday" at the Thurston County Fair!

Admission for all ages is only ONE DOLLAR* with a non-perishable food donation (per person) for the Thurston County Food Bank! ​(*parking fee not included)

Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center
3054 Carpenter Road, Lacey, WA 98503
360-786-5453

More info & fair tickets at https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/buzz-down-2024-thurston-county-fair-july-31-august-4

Wednesday, July 31st is the final day of Lacey Grocery Outlet's Independence from Hunger campaign. All proceeds go directly to the Thurston County Food Bank and All Kids Win to fight food insecurity in our community!

When you donate just $5, you get a $5 coupon for your next visit, give 5 get 5 — a win-win!

Stop on by to support the cause — and while you're at it, pick up a can of food to get into the Thurston County Fair on One Buck Wednesday for $1 with a food donation for TCFB! (More details in July 19 post.)

Thank you Lacey Grocery Outlet and all who participated!!

Grocery Outlet

🌞 Questions about SNAP/EBT benefits? TCFB's team of Client Advocates can help you apply! Call us at 360-352-8597 to schedule an appointment, or visit us at either of our Food Pantries, located in downtown Olympia and Lacey, to speak with one of our Client Services team members.

🌞 ¿Preguntas sobre los beneficios SNAP/EBT? ¡El equipo de servicio al cliente de TCFB puede ayudarlo a completar su solicitud de SNAP! Llámenos al 360-352-8597 para hacer una cita, o visítenos en cualquiera de nuestras despensas de alimentos en Olympia y en Lacey para hablar con un miembro de nuestro equipo de servicio al cliente.

TCFB's 2024 annual campaign breakfast focused on supporting our Children's Programs — to ensure that the children in our community have access to the nutritious meals and resources they need to thrive. Thanks to all who sponsored and donated to the campaign! We are thanking all our sponsors throughout the week:

A shout-out today to one of our Gold Level Sponsors!
💙 Realty One Group Bold

We deeply appreciate your support!

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email Amanda Muñoz at [email protected] or visit our website for more details:
/tcfb.org/support-us/thrive-childrens-campaign-sponsorship/

ROG Bold - Lacey

TCFB's 2024 annual campaign breakfast focused on supporting our Children's Programs — to ensure that the children in our community have access to the nutritious meals and resources they need to thrive. Thanks to all who sponsored and donated to the campaign! We are thanking all our sponsors throughout the week — stay tuned!

A shout-out today to one of our Gold Level Sponsors!
💚 OlyFed | BANKING THAT'S MUTUAL

We deeply appreciate your support!

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email Amanda Muñoz at [email protected] or visit our website for more details:
/tcfb.org/support-us/thrive-childrens-campaign-sponsorship/

Olympia Federal Savings

🌞🌻 UPDATE!! TCFB's Free Summer Lunch Program is underway and there has been a change to the schedule at Tolmie Cove Apartments. Please see below:

FREE lunches for children ages 18 and under will be offered Monday–Friday between June 24 and August 30 (*see exceptions for Tolmie Cove and ROOF below). Times vary at each site, so please check the schedule below.

No registration is needed. Please note that per USDA guidelines, children are required to eat their meal ON SITE.

MEAL SITES and TIMES:

🍏 *New site!: Tolmie Cove Apartments, JULY 15 – AUGUST 29:
7245 32nd Ave NE, Lacey WA 98516
*Monday–Thursday:
Lunch: 11:00 – 12:00

🍎 Courtside Apartments:
515 Courtside St SW, Olympia 98502
Lunch: 11:00 – 11:20

🍏 Deschutes Cove Apartments:
7201 Henderson Blvd SE B, Olympia, WA 98501 (Tumwater)
Lunch: 11:40 – 12:00

🍎 College Glen Apartments:
4870 55th Ln SE, Lacey 98503
Lunch: 12:15 – 12:35

🍏 Surrey Lanes Apartments:
2810 Ruddell Rd SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Lunch: 12:45 – 1:05

🍎 Tony's Mobile Home Park:
6831 Martin Way E, Olympia, WA 98516
Lunch: 1:15 – 1:35

🍏 *ROOF Community Services:
10140 Hwy 12 SW, Rochester 98579
*Monday–Thursday:
Lunch: 11:30 – 12:00
Snack: 3:45 – 4:10
*Friday:
Snack: 3:45 – 4:10

For more information and a map of summer lunch meal sites, please visit our website at bit.ly/TCFB-Summer-Lunch-Sites.

See you there! 🌞🌻

ROOF Community Services North Thurston Public Schools Olympia School District Tumwater School District City of Lacey, Washington - Government, City of Olympia - Government City of Tumwater, WA - Government

🌞🌻 ¡ACTUALIZAR! ¡El Programa de Almuerzo de Verano Gratuito del TCFB está en marcha y ha habido un cambio en el horario de Tolmie Cove Apartments. Vea a continuación: 🌻🌞

Entre el 24 de junio y el 30 de agosto, todos los niños 18 años de edad o menos se le ofrecerá almuerzo GRATUITO en las siguientes localizaciones de lunes a viernes (*véase el calendario de Tolmie Cove y ROOF más abajo para las excepciónes). Los horarios varían en cada localización, así que consulte el horario a continuación.

No es necesario registrarse. Por favor tenga en cuenta que, de acuerdo con las directrices del USDA, los niños deben comer EN EL LUGAR DE ENTREGA.

LOCALIZACIONES y HORAS de ENTREGA:

🍏 *¡Nuevo sitio!: Tolmie Cove Apartments, 15 julio-29 agosto:
7245 32nd Ave NE, Lacey WA 98516
*lunes–jueves:
Hora de comer: 11:00 – 12:00

🍎 Courtside Apartments:
515 Courtside St SW, Olympia 98502
Hora de comer: 11:00 – 11:20

🍏 Deschutes Cove Apartments:
7201 Henderson Blvd SE B, Olympia, WA 98501 (Tumwater)
Hora de comer: 11:40 – 12:00

🍎 College Glen Apartments:
4870 55th Ln SE, Lacey 98503
Hora de comer: 12:15 – 12:35

🍏 Surrey Lanes Apartments:
2810 Ruddell Rd SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Hora de comer: 12:45 – 1:05

🍎 Tony's Mobile Home Park:
6831 Martin Way E, Olympia, WA 98516
Hora de comer: 1:15 – 1:35

🍏 *ROOF Community Services:
10140 Hwy 12 SW, Rochester 98579
*lunes–jueves:
Hora de comer: 11:30 – 12:00
Hora de la merienda: 3:45 – 4:10
*viernes:
Hora de la merienda: 3:45 – 4:10

Para obtener más información y un mapa de los lugares donde se sirven los almuerzos de verano, visite nuestro sitio web en bit.ly/TCFB-Summer-Lunch-Sites.

¡Nos vemos allí! 🌞🌻

ROOF Community Services North Thurston Public Schools Olympia School District Tumwater School District City of Lacey, Washington - Government City of Olympia - Government City of Tumwater, WA - Government