National Guard Helps Support Bonney Lake Food Bank

BONNEY LAKE, WA — Guardsmen with the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Wing have been hard at work these past few days helping to support the Bonney Lake Food Bank in their time of need.

The pandemic and resulting wave of job losses and record-high unemployment have caused the need for food support to skyrocket across Washington state.

The Bonney Lake Food Bank is no exception: organizers say they went from serving around 170 families to more than 600 families every two weeks. That's a growth of over 250 percent, and one that the food bank says might not have been manageable without the National Guard's support.

“The Guard has played such an integral role,” said Stacey Crnich, Bonney Lake Food Bank's director.

Related: Millions Made Hungry By Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Crnich says the food bank began a new program to deliver food to families in need early in the pandemic in an effort to keep pace with the growing food insecurity. That was a big change and challenge for the food bank: they now had to pay for gas, cargo vehicles, and increase payroll hours for staff members driving the trucks. The National Guard, Crnich says, has been integral in keeping that program running.

“The Guard showed up a week and a half into our delivery model and changed everything,” Crnich said. “We’ve been able to leverage resources and leverage people.”

And the community, in turn, has taken notice. Many guardsmen share heartwarming stories of community members reaching out to thank them for their work. One even hung a banner on the food bank building thanking the Guard.

“It’s cool to see people come in and say thank you for everything that we do,” said Christine Krysiak, a member of the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Wing. “I feel happy, and I’m [doing] my part and helping others, because COVID is really affecting everyone."

Since their deployment to help the food bank, the National Guard says they've helped process, package, and deliver more than 45 million pounds of food.

“That’s the Guard. I feel like we’re business partners now," said Crnich.

Learn more about the Bonney Lake Food Bank on their website.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.