Sodexo workers pack it in at Northwest Harvest warehouse

Volunteers from Sodexo

Volunteers from Sodexo

More than 70 employees from Sodexo, Inc., of Seattle, packaged nearly 6,000 pounds of corn-on-the-cob during a volunteer project last week at the nonprofit Northwest Harvest food-bank distribution warehouse in Kent.

The volunteers spent an hour repacking frozen corn donated by Seattle-based National Frozen Foods for distribution to nearly 300 food banks and meal programs throughout the state. Hirai Farms, of Eastern Washington, grew the corn and worked with National Frozen Foods on the donation.

“What you do is so important,” Claire Acey, director of communications for Northwest Harvest, told the volunteers before they started work. “We can buy in bulk, but we require volunteers to pack the corn into smaller bags so the food banks can use it.”

Sodexo is a food and facilities management company that contracts with Amazon.com, Seattle Pacific University and numerous other businesses and schools to provide dining services. The company also has an ongoing Stop Hunger program to help fight hunger across the nation.

“This cooperative effort is a wonderful farm-to-table illustration of how growers, food processors, volunteers and distributors work together to meet the needs of the hungry across the state,” said Shelley Rotondo, Northwest Harvest executive director, in a media release. “We’re facing unprecedented need right now and we need their help more than ever.”

Requests for food has jumped nearly 20 percent per month this year at food banks across the state compared to last year.

“We had 500,000 services per month last year,” Acey said. “A service is every time someone comes into a food bank. We are now at 600,000 services per month.”

Northwest Harvest is funded by private donations from individuals, businesses, foundations and other organizations. The company distributes nearly 18 million pounds of food each year and spends 93 percent of its budget directly to food distribution. Much of the food is stored at the Kent warehouse because most food banks lack storage space.

The volunteers from Sodexo packed the frozen corn into 20-pound boxes. Northwest Harvest will distribute those boxes of corn to food banks when it receives requests.

“We emphasize food with great nutritional value,” Acey said. “About 60 percent of what we do is fruits and vegetables. Sending out good nutritional food helps make a difference.”

More than 46,000 volunteer hours were donated by people of all ages to Northwest Harvest last year. Numerous businesses, churches, schools and other groups work with Northwest Harvest to help package food.

Northwest Harvest opened a 94,000-square foot warehouse in December 2007 in Kent. The company, which has been fighting hunger in the state since 1967, previously distributed food out of a Seattle warehouse. For information about helping Northwest Harvest, go to www.northwestharvest.org or call 206-625-0755.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Business

Joshua Harris is a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran who runs a security company out of Kent. Courtesy photo
King County veteran selected to national business-growth program

In October, South King County-based company Cascadia Global Security was chosen to… Continue reading

t
Bezos’ Kent-based Blue Origin enters presidential endorsement controversy

Company leaders met with Trump shortly after Bezos’ Washington Post decided against any endorsement

Paul Raftis (right) of Paolo’s Italian learned how to cook from his mother, Darlene Risse Raftis (left). Courtesy photo.
Vittoria! Paolo’s Italian wins big

It’s been a good month for Paolo’s Italian Restaurant in Kent —… Continue reading

Best of Kent 2024 winners announced!
Best of Kent 2024 winners: See the list here

Check out the Kent Reporter’s special section.

t
Maggie’s on Meeker owner receives state Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Honor given to Raman Arora at statewide conference in Walla Walla for bringing Main Streets to life

t
Kent-based Blue Origin completes 27th mission to space

Company debuts second vehicle in efforts to meet growing customer demand to board flights

(Photo from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Image Library)
Health insurance premiums to rise for WA small businesses

This marks the highest increase for small employers in the last decade.

t
Top Pot Doughnuts opens new production facility in Kent

Company plans to open cafe at site in early 2025

(Screenshot)
Ladybug coffee stand co-owner sentenced for tax evasion

At his Oct. 9 sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin stated, “there is no excuse for hiding half a million dollars in a life of privilege, except greed.”

t
Airways Bistro & Beer Garden to close in downtown Kent

Lengthy patio renovation, higher rent help lead to closure after 13 years; Tap Room to remain open

t
Kent Reporter, Steve Hunter, Ben Ray receive newspaper coverage awards

At Better Newspaper Contest presented by Washington Newspaper Publishers Association