Props for the pro bono.

August 31, 2010
Friends,

More than a decade ago, several members of my family made a pact. We “spit and shook” one evening over a bottle of wine, committing to each other that, in an effort to stay involved with our neighborhood’s needs, the Israel/Gonzales clan would always try to give & volunteer with our local Ballard Food Bank. To kick it off, my brother began driving a van once a week to deliver meals to home-bound seniors and then was asked to serve on the Food Bank board. When his board tour ended, I was proud to take his place. In the decade since, the Ballard Food Bank has grown and changed. And it is with great pride that this month we debut our new 10,000 sq ft. home on Leary Ave NW.

Before I tell you about the move, I want to give props where props are due. Two men brought their teams to the project to renovate our new space pro-bono:

Ren Chandler, Founder of Dyna Contracting & Terry Miller, co-Founder of Schultz Miller

While my brother and I come from different political vantage points, we have always agreed that visiting a food bank should not be a degrading or demoralizing experience. It should not keep customers on their heels, but put them on the balls of their feet, ready-and-able to deal with a crappy, crappy situation. (Did you know that nine out of ten of our customers are working families with children or elderly folks on fixed incomes?)

Ren and Terry got it right in the build-out of our new space. It didn’t cost us any more to produce but was thoughtfully designed to be a simple, and yet uplifting place to visit. Anyone who has a habit of product-petting at the Apple store or Metropolitan Market will intuitively get this.

With Ren and Terry’s help, $200k worth of project costs were donated in-kind by folks in the community who swung hammers, painted, brought in appliances, ran electrical, etc. If you’re curious to see the result, swing by Sunday, September 12 at our house-warming – maybe after a weekend stroll through the Ballard Farmers Market.

Ballard Food Bank Open House & Grand Opening Party
Sunday, Sept 12, 11am – 3pm 5130 Leary Avenue NW, Ballard

Bring a donation if you like. There is always a need for food, hygiene and clothing donations in addition to financial contributions. More importantly, bring your family and make a pact to do a little each year in your neighborhood. You can get a commemorative family photo to seal the deal (thanks Jay Dotson Photography !)

I look forward to a day when my 13 year old niece, Lauren, may ask to join the Ballard Food Bank board. I think 18 is a good age to jump in – what do you think? Five years or bust - lots of work to do.

Hope you are well & taking bulls by horns,

Jessie

Ballard Food Bank board of directors
~ serving neighbors in Ballard, Magnolia and Queen Anne ~