The Food Bank

"To aid the hungry of the Astoria area, through the Oregon Food Bank network and through Clatsop Community Action."

Clatsop Emergency Food Bank, located in our church basement, has been running since 1971 and was incorporated in 1975. All service is done through volunteers, about 80-90 people involved during a year's time. Most of these volunteers come from 6 or 7 Astoria churches, and 6 of the current 8 board members are from First Presbyterian.

The Food Bank is open Monday through Friday, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, and shelves are restocked by volunteers five days a week. Food is obtained from several sources:

1. Clatsop Community Action's regional distribution center (the warehouse), where truckloads from the Oregon Food Bank arrive twice each month.
2. Local businesses, including Safeway, Fred Meyer, Franz Bread, Danish Maid Bakery, and Loaves and Fishes.
3. Food drives from local churches, Coast Guard events, the annual Letter Carriers' food drive, etc.
4. Purchases using donated funds from individuals, churches and businesses, as well as grants from businesses with grant programs. About 99% of funds received are used to purchase food for distribution to the needy.

Our food bank serves about 20-25% of the population of the Astoria area during a year's time, with at least 2500 people receiving food baskets at least once and many of those receiving them monthly. In the past year almost 95,000 pounds of food was distributed.