SODO Community Market

As we kick off the new year and refresh our body and spirit with nutritious organic fruits and veggies, we continue to keep in mind those in our community who don’t have ready access to these foods. In addition to weekly produce donations, and thanks to your generous contributions to our Holiday Food Drive, we delivered pasture-raised turkeys to Northwest Harvest’s SODO Community Market in Seattle, Washington last month.

The SODO Community Market is one of the distribution sites run by the statewide hunger relief agency and typically serves 350-400 people each Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the year. Set up like a grocery store, there are no barriers to obtaining free food or limits to the number of times a person can visit. The friendly staff and volunteers sort incoming donations and hand out baskets to clients who shop for dry goods on the shelves, dairy and refrigerated produce in the cooler and items like potatoes and onions in the middle bins.

Market manager, Roy, says fresh produce is extremely popular with their guests, and that people get excited when the Full Circle boxes arrive. He says that they love both the fruits and vegetables, and are especially big on greens like lettuce and bok choy. Sometimes whole families come to the market together, or one of the elders might shop for everyone in the household. In addition, there is a significant unhoused population that relies on the SODO Community Market. Roy affirms, “It is always such high quality, fresh food and people are very resourceful with how they cook and use all the different produce items.”

Other popular donated foods include ready-to-eat items that local stores donate, such as sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and fruit and cheese trays. Flavored water is a healthy drink option that is gaining in popularity among recipients. Protein is an ongoing need, and as their funds allow, the SODO Market will purchase frozen chicken, eggs, milk and cheese to distribute.

Though our collaborative efforts are making an impact, food banks remain desperate for healthy food donations all year long ─ and you can help make a difference! Whether or not you are a current Full Circle member, please consider our Donate-A-Box program as a “fresh way” to give to those in need. Anyone can join our farms’ efforts to provide fresh, nutritious produce to those facing hunger. It’s quick and easy to donate online. Every box counts!