The Tacoma Farmers Market spent this summer giving free food to people who need it, and not just in Tacoma.
With the financial support of nearly a quarter-million dollars from the federal government, the Fresh Express Mobile Market visited three locations each week—Fridays at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center on South Tacoma Way and the Bay Terrace Apartments in Tacoma’s Hilltop area, and Thursdays at the fire station in Ashford about halfway between Eatonville and Mount Rainier National Park. At each location, fruit, vegetables and protein items such as eggs were handed out. The contents of each bag were valued at about $26.
Market officials said the Fresh Express serves low-income community members, including older adults, with fresh, healthy food from farms in Pierce County. Proof of income isn’t required. Anyone in need can just show up and take a bag home.
It’s free because of $200,000 in federal aid distributed to the market through Pierce County. The funding is part of $3.8 million the county received via the CARES Act passed by Congress for emergency needs brought on by the pandemic.
The Fresh Express is scheduled to end Oct. 30, but market officials hope to continue it next year. More information is available at tacomafarmersmarket.com and 253-272-7077.
More food help
In Pierce, Kitsap and King counties, food banks and home-delivered meal services are helping older adults and all other community members who need food assistance. Here’s a list of such services. The same information is also in the Where to Turn community resource guides—a separate one for each county—that are published in print copies by Senior Media Services and online at seniorscene.org.
PIERCE COUNTY
Food banks
Allen Food Pantry, 253-627-6855
BASH, 253-531-9600
Bread of Life at Bonney Lake, 360-897-9005
Bread of Life at Lake City, 253-582-2515
Buckley (Kiwanis), 253-266-7309
Community Christian Assembly, 253-537-4010
Eatonville Family Agency, 360-832-6805
Eatonville Living Word Assembly of God, 360-832-4220
Eloise Cooking Pot, 253-426-1994
Emmanuel Food Pantry, 253-863-3655
Nourish Pierce County Food Banks, 253-383-3164
- Browns Point …………….. 253-826-4654
- Edgewood, 253-826-4654
- Graham-South Hill. 253-846-3805
- Lakes, 253-581-1116
- NW Tacoma, 253-756-4974
- SE Tacoma, 253-531-4530
Food Connections, 253-383-5048
Gig Harbor Peninsula, 253-858-6179
Lakewood/Prince of Peace, 253-584-2565
Orting, 360-893-3150
Parkland First Baptist, 253-535-1293
Puyallup, 253-848-5240
Roy-McKenna, 253-843-3033
Salvation Army
- Puyallup, 253-841-1491
- Tacoma ………………. 253-572-8452
Samoan Family Support, 253-535-9616
Steilacoom, 253-581-1076
SE Asian diets, 253-472-7264
Sumner, 253-863-3793
Tacoma/Bounty, 253-475-7098
Tacoma Adventist Community Services/special diets, 253-272-8289
Trinity Lutheran, 253-537-0201
United Lutheran, 253-475-3175
University Place, 253-460-3134
Yelm, 360-458-4003
Food stamp program
State Department of Social and Health Services, 877-501-2233
Holy Family of Jesus (Cambodian Church), 253-471-9838
Korean Women’s Association, 253-535-4202
Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources, 253-798-4600
South Sound Outreach Services, 253-593-2111
Eatonville Family Agency, 360-832-6805
Home-delivered meals
All Saints Catholic Church (Puyallup), 253-848-2000
Lutheran Community Services Northwest, 253-272-8433
Catholic Community Services, 253-474-1300
KING COUNTY
Home-delivered meals
Catholic Community ServicES, 253-474-1300
Sound Generations, 206-448-5767
Food banks
Auburn Food Bank, 253-833-8925
Black Diamond Food Bank, 360-886-1011
Des Moines Food Bank, 206-878-2660
Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle-King County 206-329-0300
Enumclaw Kiwanis Food Bank, 360-825-6188
Federal Way Food Bank, 253-838-6810
Highline Food Bank, 206-433-9900
Hopelink Bellevue, 425-889-7880
Issaquah Food Bank, 425-392-4123
Kent Food Bank, 253-981-3145
Maple Valley Food Bank, 425-432-8139
Muckleshoot Food Bank, 253-876-3336
Salvation Army-Renton, 425-255-5969
Tukwila Pantry, 206-431-8293
Vashon-Maury Food Bank, 206-463-6332
Meal sites
Auburn Senior Center, 253-931-3016
Black Diamond Community Center, 360-886-2418
Des Moines Community Center, 206-870-6584
Enumclaw Senior Center, 360-825-4741
Federal Way Community Center, 253-835-6900
Issaquah Senior Center, 425-392-2381
North Bellevue Community Center, 425-452-7681
Renton Senior Activity Center, 425-430-6633
Peter Kirk Community Center (Kirkland), 425-587-3360
SeaTac Park Community Center, 206-973-4680
South Park Community Center, 206-684-7451
Redmond Senior Center, 425-556-2314
KITSAP COUNTY
Bainbridge Island Helpline House 206-842-7621
Bremerton Food Line Phone: 360-479-6188
Central Kitsap Food Bank 360-692-9818
DSHS Home and Community Services 360-842-2112
Kingston Food Bank 360-297-4861
Meals on Wheels Kitsap 360-377-8511
North Kitsap Fishline 360-779-5190
Salvation Army 360-373-5550
South Kitsap Helpline 360-876-4089
St. Vincent de Paul 360-377-2929