Helping Hand reaches out

The Helping Hand food bank has served Wahkiakum county for 14 years and in December, the board noticed that the majority of the 100 clients that visit each month lived within a 15 mile radius of the food bank.

The board of directors decided that starting in January it would make a concentrated effort to reach people who need help on the west side of the county. On every third Tuesday of the month, a group of volunteers load up a van and travel to the Rosburg/Grays River/Deep River area with an average of 50-60 pounds of food for each family.

"We are now dealing with 15-20 families per month in that area and more are being added monthly as word gets out," said volunteer Rick Dasher. "If anyone reading this article knows of anyone in that area who is in need of food, please call me at 360-431-5105 and give me the name of the family."

At the Cathlamet food bank at 3 Fern Hill Road, "Cooking and Food Choices" classes will be held on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon beginning May 6.

Registration is requested, for more information call either Mary Dasher at 360-501-6360 or the Helping Hand Food Bank on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"As we move towards summer, there will be other programs on gardening, food drying, and canning from WSU that will be announced later," Dasher said.