More than 50 volunteers from South Kitsap Helpline and both Albertson’s stores in Port Orchard gathered at the Albertson’s location on Sedgwick to sort pallets of surplus food items for the food bank.
A large semi-trailer arrived at the store during the morning hours of Sept. 27.
“We were only expecting a handful of volunteers to show up,” South Kitsap Helpline Executive Director Jennifer Hardison said. “We were so grateful for the turnout.”
She said there were volunteers that help unload and pack the surplus food from the South Kitsap High School Navy Junior ROTC, Delta Marine Builders, Hi-Tide Bar and Grill, Shari’s Café, and Ekklesia Church, along with the South Kitsap School District’s transportation department and SKHS Booster Club.
Hardison said the food items on the truck were surplus items that the Albertson’s stores accumulated over a period of time.
“We had eight full pallets of food donated from Albertson’s corporate when everything was sorted and boxed up,” she said.
She said the food bank picked up a couple of pallets for the food bank. Some were placed inside the Helpline’s storage unit, while a few will be picked up from the store as soon as there’s room for them at the food bank.
“This will go out as soon as it comes in,” Hardison said. “It will probably be gone before the holidays arrive. We could go through it by the end of October.”
Hardison said the food bank gives out about 100,000 pounds of food each month.
“We gave out 1.3 million pounds of food last year,” she noted. “Thanks for all the support we receive from the community. We’re able to give because of events like this. Everything helps right now.”
Hardison said Albertson’s has been a steady donator to the food bank each year.
She said during the early 2000s, Albertson’s would donate large amounts of food to Helpline.
SK Helpline started a new program called “Grocery Rescue” and a lot of the products that would have been among the large surplus were picked up daily.
Hardison said sign-up for assistance during the holidays by needy families began Oct. 1.
“People can signup to get a Thanksgiving and Christmas basket, that includes a turkey, side dishes and fresh vegetables,” she said.
