Providing food for individuals in need with compassion, dignity and respect

• Working Poor: More than 45% of the individuals using a food bank, meal program or shelter in Western Washington have some form of post-secondary education. Only 9% are actually homeless.*

• Seniors: Most Americans (51.4 percent) will live in poverty at some point before age 65.** The fastest growing group among FISH clients is people over 55.

• Children: More than one in five children in the United States is at risk of hunger. 40% of the people FISH serves are children under the age of 18.

• The average client visits the food bank twice a month.

• Do you know the facts about hunger? Take this quiz from Feeding America.

*Source: 2010 Hunger in America Study
**Source: Urban Institute, Transitioning In and Out of Poverty, 2007. (via Bread for the World)

It takes a widespread effort and many partners to provide food to individuals and families in need. FISH Food Banks receives donated food from individuals, schools, churches, local grocery stores and partner organizations like Northwest Harvest and the Emergency Food Network. FISH also makes strategic purchases of food to ensure a nutritionally balanced food supply for our clients.

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, FISH distributes this food through seven fixed food bank locations and a mobile food bank which makes several stops each week.

Our FISH Food Banks operate on a self-serve model, allowing clients to select the foods that best meet their family’s needs. Clients are asked to limit their visits to once every seven days, but no one needing assistance is turned away.

How FISH receives and distributes food

FISH Food Banks is committed to ongoing advocacy on behalf of those struggling to put food on the table here in Pierce County and throughout Washington state. Here are just a few of the many organizations working to fight hunger and poverty locally, nationally and globally:
Washington Food Coalition

Washington State Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition
Children’s Alliance
Bread for the World

End Childhood Hunger
Results: The Power to End Poverty
Hunger Action Center

Bowden Gang Party for Lakes FISH

On Saturday, Oct. 20, the Law Offices of Barbara Bowden will hold a benefit for Lakes Area FISH at Lucky Silver, 2605 South Tacoma Way. The event will be held from 7:00 p.m. to close; 10% of all food ordered will go to Lakes Area FISH. There will also be a prize wheel: sing a song or donate $2 to Lakes Area FISH. Bring a non-perishable food item and receive $.25 off a non-food item.

'Elvis' Concert to benefit Edgewood Fish Food Bank on Saturday, April 27th

Danny Vernon’s award-winning show “Illusion of Elvis” to benefit the Edgewood Community FISH Food Bank!
 Mountain View Community Center, Edgewood
6:30 pm - Food Bank Tours
7:00 pm - Event Doors Open
7:30 pm - Elvis takes the stage!