Ford Food Pantry
We serve members of the Ford community and surrounding areas.
The Ford Food Pantry’s roots go back to the early 1970′s when Kathy Bade, wife of the Postmaster of Ford. began procuring the wonderful USDA commodities of cheese, milk and other items she distributed from the new Ford Fire Station. The Ford Food Pantry itself was founded by Pastor Oscar Austin and his wife Ruby in 1978, who were given salvaged foods once per week by some Spokane grocery stores. The two much appreciated efforts were combined under management of the Ford Sunset Club as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in the 1980′s. The Pantry was fortunate to have had the very competent guidance of current President Ruth Vetsch from 1992 to 2016.
It is currently at least a 10 mile drive from Ford to a grocery store, making our pantry an invaluable resource for the community. Fund raising efforts by pantry volunteers through bake sales and community rummage sales on the Fourth and Labor Day weekends help keep the Pantry alive. Needless to say, it is always a struggle to make ends meet and cover operating costs. Facility improvements can be few and far between, depending on availability of volunteer labor and donations. The cargo container we use as our main locker was generously donated by SeaLand Inc. but barely meets our current needs. Our building also sorely needs many improvements, but we are strong and growing in our rebuilding efforts
Our relatively isolated and entirely rural part of Stevens County lost its main employers in the mid 1980′s. Many area residents live very far below the poverty line, as there has been scant new industry to replace the ones that left. The area is now severely economically depressed and undergoing the attempted cleanup of environmental contamination resulting from years of uranium mining, ore transport and processing. Local incidence of thyroid cancer and MS are much higher than average.
The Ford Food Pantry is a non-profit organization founded and staffed by caring Ford area neighbors working hard to help neighbors. Please consider “paying it forward” through personal volunteerism or financial contribution, however small. Please get involved!
Mailing address: P.O. Box 184, Ford, WA 99038
Food Pickup Location:
Corner of Main Street & Hwy 231
5227 Main Street
Ford, WA
Food Distribution:
2nd Wednesdays
11:00am - 1:00pm
For more information, please contact:
Angela Duggar
509-419-8403
Janet Bade
509-258-4329