By Susan Riemer
For The Beachcomber
The island’s food bank has provided more than 2,700 meals for children and adults in the first three weeks of Picnics to Go, a collaboration with the Vashon Island School District.
Since 2014, the Vashon Food Bank has offered free lunches and activities throughout the summer as part of its popular Picnics in the Parks program. The pandemic put an end to large gatherings, so food bank leaders revamped the program, providing free sack lunches Monday through Friday for pickup at Vashon High School and via delivery on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at a dozen stops around the island. Lisa Cyra, a professional chef who has headed the school lunch program for a decade, is managing the summer program, assisted by a crew of several district food service workers, who are volunteering their time. The district is providing its professional kitchen for meal preparation at a greatly reduced rate, about $500 for the summer, Scott said, and First Student bus company is providing a bus and driver for delivery at a low cost.
“The way it has rolled out, it really would not be possible without the school district. … It could not have happened without them, that is for sure,” Scott said.
School Superintendent Slade McSheehy noted the district is glad to provide the support.
“We are thrilled that this partnership can help so many in our community who may need assistance,” he said.
Islanders line up to receive a free lunch at Vashon Island High School. The island’s food bank has provided more than 2,700 meals for children and adults in the first three weeks of Picnics to Go, in collaboration with the school district (Courtesy Photo).
Lunches are similar to what the district had been providing after schools closed in March, with sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and snack items. Arts and crafts items are also being provided for free. There are no eligibility requirements; people who want a lunch are invited to simply show up at Vashon High School weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. or at a scheduled stop on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
The program began on June 22 and will continue until Aug. 21. Program statistics show the lowest number of meals provided in a day is 113 and the highest is 279. In all, more than 2,100 meals went to kids in the first three weeks, while adults received nearly 600.
The program is being funded through donations to the food bank, as well as support from the Vashon COVID Relief Fund, administered by VashonBePrepared.
“In a humanitarian crisis, people really dug into their pockets to support basic human needs. Among all the terrible things going on now, it is heartening to see,” Scott said.
At participating restaurants, donations to a new campaign, Take Out Hunger, will also go to the program. Additionally, the Food Access Partnership, a program of the Vashon Island Growers Association, provided Fresh Bucks for distribution with the lunches to help islanders purchase food at farm stands.
For more information about Picnics to Go, including the 12 island distribution stops, see Vashonfoodbank.org.
Susan Riemer is a communications specialist with the Vashon Island School District and a former editor of The Beachcomber.
