May 2018 by Lotus B.
The Lewis River Mobile Food Bank has four different locations; this review pertains to the one held on the 4th Sunday of every month at La Center Evangelical Free Church, 111 E. Fifth St, La Center, WA. I went to this location several times, until a newer one opened closer to my home. Another reason I gave up going here was because of the group of people who also worship at this church "commandeering" this food bank as their own. It put me off, and was disheartening, and frustrating. I'm sure it has had the same effect on many others who came to this food bank, looking for their fair chance of groceries for the month, only to be edged ahead of a very long line, behind the same group of people who always insist on being the "first" in line. This food bank, like all the others run by the Lewis River Mobile Food Bank, receives not only free donations from citizens and merchants in the area, but also receives money to purchase food, to distribute here to those in need who reside in North Clark County. The food should NEVER be held or reserved for those who also volunteer, and no one should be able to call "dibs" on the food, for any reason, especially not if they are parishioners of the church where the food bank is being held. That is a violation of the community standards and rules of this non-profit organization. All members of the community ought always to be given the SAME fair chance of receiving the same amount of food, especially regardless of whether or not they also worship at the church where the food bank happens to be held, but this is what happens, every month. There is the same group of about 7 people, who are also members of this Evangelical Church, who arrive for the church services at about 8am. They take their bags and line them up along the wall where the food bank will be set up SIX HOURS LATER. Since when does it make sense, and since when is it fair to the other people, who will be arriving six hours later, for the church goers to be able to hold their place in line with just a shopping bag, and for so many hours? Who started this practice, and why is it seen as okay? Why is it seen as not in violation of the community agreement of a non-profit, to give PREFERENCE to the church parishioners? They arrive for their church activities, have coffee and visit for a couple hours - not in line, since there is no lining up for the food bank so early - attend the worship services, walk around and visit with friends for two hours, then just before 2pm when the food bank opens - and only then - step in line, and are ALWAYS THE FIRST PEOPLE IN LINE. Their excuse is always: "We put our bags there first". Huh? They are not waiting in line six hours for the food bank. They are visiting with friends, going in and out of the building, attending worship services, and then cutting the line in front of all the people who DID actually arrive early for the food bank, those who arrived between 12noon and 1:30pm. The food bank is not and should not be connected to the church services here. It's unacceptable that this has been allowed to go on unchallenged for years. In terms of the offerings: Very little healthy food, tons of bleached white flour products, cakes, pies, white bread, frozen meat and dairy, expired canned foods. In the warmer months there is more produce. The women who run this branch could be friendlier, some are aloof and not very welcoming, and they all allow the church attendees to cut the line. I got really tired of some of them playing the "elderly card" or "disabled card", as though that is a right to have their shopping bag hold the place in line for them for six hours. I finally quit going to this location in frustration.
