Food banks respond to coronavirus

Local food banks are preparing for uncertainty as the coronavirus has put their volunteers, clients and supply chain at risk.

COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is causing concern and potential disruptions for many of the local organizations.

Both the Marysville Community Food Bank and the Arlington Community Food Bank are moving to a model where clients receive a package of food and do not enter the building.

“You come here, take a number, head back to your car, and when your number is called we will bring you food,” said Dell Deierling, director of the Marysville Community Food Bank. “The building will only be accessible to the volunteers."

Arlington is on a similar model that serves clients out of the building.

“With our clients for food distribution, they don’t touch the food. There’s no point of contact,” said Carla Gastineau, director of the Arlington Community Food Bank.

She said it is a priority for the food banks to stay safe so that they can remain open in uncertain economic times.

“All food banks are going to this model because one food bank in our coalition [in Edmonds] is closed and quarantined, because they had a case,” said Gastineau.

A large number of local food bank volunteers are elderly and/or retired, which has put additional risk to some.

“Many of our regular volunteers are seniors, so they have stepped away and I have gotten some newer volunteers who are currently out of work,” said Gastineau.

Deierling said they have seen some reduction in volunteers in Marysville.

“We’ve seen a little bit of a drop off and we’re not certain where that is going to land right now,” Deierling said.

“Starting tomorrow [March 13] we’ll be putting in some changes so that the people who are more reluctant to come in feel safer,” he said.

Although Gastineau added that the food bank has also seen an influx of new volunteers.

“There’s a great response from the public to come and volunteer, although that puts us at higher risk,” she said.

She hopes to run with as few volunteers as possible to reduce the risks of infection.

“I’m compiling a list of people and we’ll call as needed,” she said.

If the coronavirus continues to spread things could get more difficult for the local organizations.

“We are very concerned about what our supply coming in is going to be and what our demand at the door will be,” said Deierling.

“We are expecting an increase because people are out of work,” said Gastineau.

The Arlington Community Food Bank has had to cut back on the size of their portions, said Gastineau, although she added they are still sufficient to sustain an individual or family.

“We’re making sure people have enough,” she said.

Local food banks may also be receiving less food.

“The grocery stores are being heavily shopped, and we get a lot of food resources from those grocery stores, so we are already seeing less food come to us,” said Gastineau.

She recommends those who want to donate provide cash assistance instead of food. She said cash will help keep their food sources safer and bring fewer people directly to the food bank.

“Let’s work together to get through this and support each other,” said Deierling. “Supporting local organizations is a great thing to do at this time,” he said.