Food bank celebrating 15th anniversary with open house and food drive
Food banks help bridge the gap for many people or families that may require supplemental food resources in a time of need and the Winnemucca Food Bank (WFB) is no exception. On April 15, the WFB will be celebrating its 15th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with raffles and prizes, donations, and education.
“We would like people to just come in and see what the Food Bank is like because it’s no longer going to get a box of food and leaving like it used to be,” explained WFB Director Barbara Sealy.
The anniversary event will feature a tour of the WFB, located at 150 S. Bridge Street, and for every pound of food donated by participants, an entry into a raffle will be given with prizes donated by local businesses. There will also be booths from other important community partners and flyers with great information about food—like expiration dates. Learn what the difference between a “best by” and “use by” date is and what it means for groceries and food supply. Also learn how to help.
Sealy said that clients come in and choose their own food and produce at the WFB, cutting down on food waste and personalizing groceries for each person or family and giving people a regular grocery shopping experience.
The WFB serves approximately 450-550 people each month, but need in the community is increasing in the aftermath of extra funds no longer being funneled into households after the pandemic, combined with inflation and other factors.
“The pandemic didn’t affect us at the time, as much as it is now….I think having the event will help [the community] better understand what they can contribute to help us as well as how much need there actually is in our community,” said Sealy.
The WFB is 100 percent funded by the generosity of local grocery stores and other local businesses and individuals. Government grants and other funding often have very strict regulations and can require a tremendous amount of work to attain. Without the need to follow restrictive guidelines, the WFB can help provide food to families that may or may not fall into low-income categories on paper.
“It gives us flexibility… If people end up out of work, or they have a major illness in their family, or some other unforeseen circumstances that comes up that crimps their budget for a little while, we can still help them, even though on paper, they may not qualify,” explained Sealy.
The WFB works to meet the special needs of the community. Celebrating the WFB 15th Anniversary is for the community to learn more about the WFB and to learn who and how the food bank can help.
“We want the community to know that we are a part of the community. We are not government funded, or government sponsored, so everything that the community donates, both in food and money, stays local... We hope that people never needs us but we are here if they do,” said Sealy.