Rotary turns over Mill Ceek Food Bank keys

On October 15^th 2012, the Mill Creek Food Bank will officially become part of the Food Bank Services of the Volunteers of America system.  Volunteers of America services span across Snohomish County including the   Everett Food Bank, Greenwood Food Bank, Senior Home Food Delivery, Snohomish Co. Distribution Center, and the Sultan Food Bank.

Over 48,000 individuals will visit a food bank in Snohomish County alone this month, and Mill Creek is no exception.   Food banks across our region are seeing increased demand and private contributions volunteers are the backbone of our service.

Volunteers of America Food Banks in Everett, Sultan, Greenwood/North Seattle, and now Mill Creek distribute emergency food to families, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

The Mill Creek Food Bank was formed by a team consisting of a community whose desire is to help those in need.   Rotary’s involvement was extensive. It stretched across four clubs and two districts and in less than four months the Mill Creek Food Bank opened its doors.

To make this happen it took a whole community effort. First of all, the Rotary Club of Mill Creek formed a new Interact Club within Jackson High School students and staff providing a long term structure that the students will follow in collecting and organizing the food.

The Everett School District allowed us space to store food and to distribute the food at Jackson High School.

The City of Mill Creek issued special variances for use of school property. The Rotary Club of Mill Creek, local newspapers and Jackson High School spearheaded recruiting and trained volunteers within the community.

Rotarian Michael Jeffery was able to have Northwestern Mutual donate a computer to connect to the VOA data base, and finally Costco donated shelving (another Rotary Connection).

The Mill Creek Food Bank remains a Rotary Club of Mill Creek community project until the formal agreement with the Volunteers of America is consummated.

The Mill Creek Food Bank was the whole community working together.
(Volunteers help restock the shelves at the Mill Creek Food Bank)