South Park Fresh Starts (SPFS) is a partnership project between Yard Farmers and the Providence Regina House Food Bank in South Park.
The purpose of the program is to distribute vegetable plant starts to food bank clients. We provide educational materials in both Spanish and English, opportunities to ask questions of professional growers, and supplies for growing vegetables inside.
SPFS is a program designed to supplement the produce available to local food bank clients. With more people finding themselves in tight economic situations, the Providence Regina House Food Bank in South Park has seen their amount of patrons sky-rocket to record setting numbers. Talking with community members made me realize that there was a lot of untapped agricultural knowledge in South Park. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that most of this neighborhood was farmland. Seeing this trend and understanding the local history, all while trying to imagine creative solutions, it occurred to me that I already had the skills to help.
Next door to the food bank is a small greenhouse that had gone unused for several years. With some help from Kathy Pryor, the Sustainable Communities Advocate at Washington Toxics Coalition, we were able to get the greenhouse in working order. Currently we have more than 1600 plants growing, with the opportunity for more on the way. In about a month we will start distributing these on Saturday mornings during the regular food bank hours.
Food Banks typically have a difficult time obtaining fresh, nutritious produce from donors, so this project is attempting to fill that gap by empowering clients to supplement their diet with hyper-local, healthy vegetables.
-Todd
Where is your bank located and what are your hours of operation?
Where is your food bank located and what are your hours of operation?
Denise,
The food bank is located at Providence Regina House: 8201 10th Ave. S. #6, Seattle, WA 98108 in the South Park Neighborhood Center.
More info here:
Providence Regina House operates a weekly food and clothing bank out of the South Park Neighborhood Center on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Every person who walks through the doors of Regina House is served, no matter where they reside. However, the majority of food and clothing bank visitors do live in the South Park neighborhood. Regina House also offers emergency food, clothing and referral information during the week.
The food bank provides families with a wide range of both perishable and non-perishable food items including fresh, organic produce from Marra Farm, South Park’s own one acre farm. On a rotating basis, the following additional items are provided:
1st Saturday of the month: Baby Cupboard (Infant food, formula, diapers and clothing)
3rd Saturday of the month: Toddler Feeding Bags
very good blog, keep it the good work all articles are good to read..
thanks
is the food bank only open on saturdays?if they are what time does it open and im not sure exactly wear thats at in south park..thanks
The Providence Regina House food bank is located at 8201 10th Avenue South in South Park (at the old Firehouse). Hours of operation are now Thursdays from 12:30-2 and Saturdays from 9am-12pm.