FISH strengthens communities and creates opportunity by addressing hunger now and working toward a future without it. Along with community partners and generous public and private support, FISH welcomes all people to food, education, and wellness services. Partners know that FISH values every dollar and every minute supporters invest in building community wellness. FISH will continue to nurture stronger central Washington communities with innovative thinking and a passion for compassion that clients feel with each visit.
Through the generosity of FISH’s donors and the efforts of the staff and volunteers, in 2022 FISH was able to:
- Provide 23,313 individuals with more than 1.5 million pounds of food from FISH’s Ellensburg Food Pantry and Mobile Pantry distribution sites.
- Provide 550 families with diapers, formula, and other baby essentials from the Diaper Bank.
- Provide Christmas gifts for 832 children and seniors.
- Serve 50,620 meals to Kittitas County seniors through our Senior Nutrition and Meals on Wheels programs.
- Reopen Community Lunch service to anyone in need of a meal.
- Help provide 5,000 weekend meals to children at risk of hunger on weekends.
- Provide 11,743 meals county-wide to children during the summer break from school.
- Provide education on the benefits of good nutrition and healthy eating to children and adults.
- Educate people about Basic Food (SNAP) benefits and register many of them for services
Additionally, the Food Bank’s contract with the Washington State Department of Agriculture provides food and funding to supplement the food pantries in Kittitas County. In 2022, through that funding, the FISH Food Bank provided 30,000 pounds of food and $46,182.54 in funding to offset the monthly expenses for the HopeSource Food Pantry in Cle Elum, Apoyo in Ellensburg, and the Pantry in Easton.
Our volunteers have served 10,234 hours during that same time, making all this impact possible.