At the Jan. 15 meeting of the Forks Chamber of Commerce, Pat Soderlind, executive director of the Forks Community Food Bank, gave a presentation titled “Fighting Hunger Together: Forks Community Food Bank, Making a Difference in Our Community.”
A history of service
Soderlind shared the food bank’s origins, beginning in the 1970s when a small Christian community, the Church of Christ, operated it from a mobile home on G Street. In 1975, unable to continue, the food bank was handed over to Catherine Burke, who approached St. Anne Catholic Church for space to establish a community food bank. Burke enlisted Betty Soderlind, who became a driving force in growing the organization, rallying volunteers, seeking donations, and building support.
In 1989, the food bank needed a new home, prompting the formation of the Forks Basic Services Coalition (FBSC) in 1992. This coalition united the food bank, Forks Clothing Bank and Forks Abuse to provide essential services under one roof. By 1995, through tireless effort and community generosity, the coalition secured a permanent home at 181 Bogachiel without loans or taxpayer funding.
The need in Forks
Soderlind highlighted the critical need for food assistance in the Forks area, stretching from Lake Crescent to the Hoh River to the south. In Clallam County, 14.6% of residents face food insecurity. Child food insecurity in Clallam County rates 57.5% higher than the national average.
2024 key Achievements
In 2024, the Forks Food Bank:
- Served 10,094 new clients and 9,965 returning clients, equating to 3,068 new households and 7,849 returning households.
- Distributed 287,239 pounds of food, acting as a critical distribution hub for the West End, area tribes, and New Hope Food Bank.
- Upgraded facilities, including leveling floors for better use of equipment, installing a walk-in freezer and refrigeration system, adding a new roof, awnings, and generator, and transitioning to a market-style shopping experience, eliminating prepackaged drive-through distributions to meet individual needs better.
Volunteers and community support
The food bank operates with a single paid warehouse manager and a team of 22 dedicated volunteers who handle unloading pallets, restocking shelves, making deliveries, and sorting food. Volunteers often find fulfillment, with some inspired to pursue careers in social work.
The food bank relies on a diverse network of support, including private donations, grants, local businesses, churches, Forks Outfitters, the Forks Lions Club, Food Lifeline, Salmon Coalition, and Northwest Harvest, among others.
How to help
The Forks Food Bank welcomes contributions of nonperishable food, monetary donations, and volunteers. Community members can also organize food drives or spread awareness about the food bank’s mission.
Soderlind emphasized the profound impact of their work, noting that food deliveries to the elderly not only address hunger but also improve the overall well-being of recipients by showing that someone cares.
For more information or to volunteer, contact the Forks Community Food Bank at 181 Bogachiel Way or visit during operating hours: Tuesdays 3-5 p.m. and Thursdays noon-6 p.m. Together, the community can continue to fight hunger and bring hope to those in need.
A large yellow firetruck helped draw attention to the Food Drive activity outside Forks Outfitters.
Supporting the community! As highlighted in Pat Soderlinds recent Chamber presentation, food drives are vital for helping support the food bank. Area first responders recently held two successful food drives, raising over $2,100 and collecting a generous amount of non-perishable food donations. Pictured here are just a few of the dedicated participants. Special thanks to Bruce Paul and Forks Outfitters for hosting and providing the space to make it all possible. Submitted photo
