Rainier: Small Town America in Action!

Rainier Comes Together

The Rainier Emergency Food Center serves over 200 families every week.  Lately it seems like it’s the busiest place in town, with people waiting in lines to do their weekly grocery shopping Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon.  

Albert (bread lady - far left), Lois (U-Pick - red stripped shirt), 

Chris Fanton (Desserts - plaid shirt)

Even though the food is donated by local stores – Costco, Trader Joe’s, QFC and Safeway & Big Lots – to name a few, there are fixed costs that can only be met through donations.  

Many volunteers pick up donations using their own vehicles and gas. One volunteer has sold personal items to get money to pay for the gas for the Rainier Emergency Food Center van, as well as pay for its maintenance and repairs.  The gas for the van alone cost $750 in December. 

As you can see, we're short on:  U-Pick packaged foods

When citizens in Rainier found this out, they started working together:

•      Many people from Rainier Chapel, Valley Heart Church and the Rainier Lions Club volunteer their time to put out the food and serve people who come in to shop. 
•        Ana Vollman donated 7 cots, to be used by the public at the Rainier Emergency Food Center, in the event of an emergency or power outage. 
•       Sandy Sprouffske, of the Rainier Thrift Center, brought in dozens of coats and donated them to the food bank, so anyone who needs a coat can pick one off of the rack.  She’ll be bringing in business attire, so anyone who needs something to wear to a job interview can look for something that will meet their needs.
•    The volunteers at the Rainier Community Gardens grew and donated over 2400 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to the food bank in Rainier. 

      Times are tough, but did you realize that most Americans live better then King Henry the 8th?  He didn't have running water, indoor plumbing, toilet paper, central heating, antibiotics, or ice  cream.  Can you imagine a King's life without a telephone, television, computer or a vehicle?  These are just a few of the things that we take for granted, or use on a daily basis - that didn't  even exist during his lifetime.

Cheryl (Far Left - Gray sweatshirt)  

Grapefruit donated by  Rainier Lions Club

If you are in Rainier and need food, please feel free to stop in.  If you have more then you need - please look through your cupboards and closets donate the items you and your family don’t want to the Rainier Emergency Food Center or the Rainier Thrift Center.  

Together we can build a brighter future.