DMLF Helps Our Local Area Food Bank
The middle of a pandemic is a terrible time for a food bank to start losing crucial vehicles. But it's also an exceedingly good time to have friends such as the Des Moines Legacy Foundation.
When one of the Des Moines Area Food Bank's critical pick-up and delivery vehicles, a 1998 van, decided to give up the ghost, the scramble to find a replacement was rather brief for Executive Director Kris Van Gasken and Associate Director Barb Shimizu. The Legacy Foundation quickly stepped into action to approve a $35,000 grant for the purchase of a much larger 2019 Ford Transit Van.
"We so appreciate the Legacy Foundation," Van Gasken said. "They've been supporting the community for years and are a great partner for the food bank."
The Legacy Foundation has been building community through philanthropy for 20 years and coming to the aid of a fellow non-profit as it battles the impact of the coronavirus dovetails completely with our mission."
Shimizu predicted the new van "will have a long legacy of service" with the Food Bank. "We like to name our vehicles and we've already decided to name this one 'Legacy One.'"
The Food Bank has been providing food for families in need since 1966. Its service area includes the city of Des Moines, most of the city of SeaTac and parts of Normandy Park and Kent's West Hill. The number of new families has grown significantly as the coronavirus pandemic has put more and more families at risk. Long known for its regular food service, cooking class, garden truck, backpack, after-school meals and summer meals programs, for or many, it is the first time they have ever used a food bank.
Located in the basement of the Des Moines United Methodist Church, the Food Bank in open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 11:45 a.m. It is also open the third Tuesdays of each month from 6 to 8 p.m.