Volunteers Needed: Eastside Food Drive Begins Next Month

Hundreds of volunteers will be stationed outside Eastside grocery stores next month for an important cause: Feeding the hungry. It’s all part of the Eastside Food Drive, an annual effort that provides needed donations to several local nonprofits.

For people like Preston Ballou, a senior at the , it’s a rewarding effort. He has devoted 110 hours of community service, and will spend more hours on two September Saturdays. 

“I like working with food because everybody needs food,” the Kirkland resident said. “And working with the basic necessities is really rewarding. I really get a chance to connect with people. I like to know that I’m helping people. It’s always fun if you have people helping you too, working with you. Especially if you see smiles on their faces. That lets you know you are helping.”

Last year, the Eastside Food Drive raised $11,000 and collected more than 60,000 pounds of food, enough to feed 100 people for more than five months.

Brian Anderson, operations manager for the nonprofit Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle/King County, said food drives are popular during the holidays, but the need is year-round. "Our shelves start to dwindle as we get through the summer,” he said. “When we get to fall, we’re in need of a little help.”

More volunteers are needed. If you can help, please follow this link.

—Information from a City of Kirkland press release.