The Tukwila Pantry is a food bank established in 2001 to relieve the effects of hunger in Tukwila. One benchmark of the problem is the percentage of children in the schools receiving free and reduced lunch, which has risen from 28% in 1990 to a high mark of 81% in 2004 in some Tukwila schools.
Sabey Employees, Friends and Associates put Fundraising over the Top for the Tukwila Pantry!
Supported by our fabulous network of friends and associates, Sabey brought in $30,000 from the auction held on February 28th at Sabey headquarters in Tukwila, putting the total raised for the Pantry at $47,264, blowing by the goal set at $15,000.
With approximately 170 people in attendance, bidding was strong on a wide variety of items donated by generous business and personal associates of Sabey Corporation and its employees. Highlights of the live auction segment were an oversized NFL football signed by Matt Hasselbeck, and a certificate to paint a house. Joe Tice, Executive Director of the Tukwila Pantry beamed throughout the event; several Board members were present, including Mayor Mullet of Tukwila.
Experiences like this remind us of the value of our relationships. To those people, we want to express our appreciation for the simple fact that you came forward when we called on you. There is nothing more powerful than relationships with people who share our values and on whom we can count. We hold those relationships in the highest esteem.
Compassion with commitment can change the world. It starts with the people in our community. Thanks again for your great efforts!
Facts about hunger in our community:
- 40% choose between food and rent
- 40% choose between food and paying for medicine or medical care
- In the winter, 51% of hungry people choose between food and paying for heat
- Nearly 45% of people using a food bank, meal program or shelter have some form of post-secondary education - only 15% are actually homeless
- The barriers to their success are many; in a typical food bank population, 10% of the clients do not have a kitchen, 20% have no phone and 44% have no vehicle
- Washington has the 9th highest rate of hunger in the nation