About My Sister's Pantry:

My Sister’s Pantry on TV

Sylvia Summers and Martha Curwen will appear on CityLine Thursday March 11 to tell about the Pantry. The show is broadcast in Tacoma on Channel 12. CityLine airs live on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. and replays on Thursday evenings at 7pm; Fridays at 1 am, 8 am and 9 pm; Saturdays at 2 am, 1 pm and 7 pm; Sundays at 5 am, 10 am and 2 pm; Mondays at 11 am and 6pm; Tuesdays at 2 am and 2 pm; and on Wednesdays at 4 am and 11 am.

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What you can donate

About My Sisters Pantry

First United Methodist and My Sisters Pantry are now at our new permanent location at 621 Tacoma Ave (Between 6th and 7th on Tacoma Ave), Tacoma 98402. Map Quest

My Sister’s Pantry serves a hot meal as well as distributing groceries and clothing. The Pantry’s primary objective is keeping poor families from suffering homelessness. As an outreach program of nonprofit FIRST Center, the Pantry is now in our new building at 621 Tacoma Ave, Tacoma 98402. Since the late twentieth century, this urban neighborhood with run-down buildings and abandoned car has had a high level of poverty and crime. Yet a short walk across the appropriately named Division Street provides views of family homes dating from the early twentieth-century that evidence the wealth of a well-to-do urban area.

Since opening our doors to the community in 1999, My Sister’s Pantry is the eighth largest food bank in the Tacoma area. The Pantry served 13, 700 clients in 2008. The caring food bank, complete with a substantial hot meal, (served on tablecloths with metal silverware and china) is presented three times per month. Fall and winter months are colder, wetter, holiday laden and, for many, depressing. The Pantry becomes a haven for fellowship, warmth and caring. Further, the evening and Saturday openings mean minimum-wage-earning families can come without disrupting their work schedules.

Gradually, the Pantry has added new dimensions to its service. In fall 2002, a clothing bank was begun. Our clothing bank is set up in a store-like fashion with designated areas for men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. Clothing donations are received from individuals, consignment stores and a retirement community. Pantry clients not only “shop” for needed items but often donate clean items they can no longer use.

In January 2004 the first meeting of Pantry Partners was held. Pantry Partners is a group of guests composed of the several ethnic groups that visit the Pantry including Native Americans, Moldavians, African Americans, and Russians. They meet every other month to discuss issues of concern to them such as equitable distribution of food (They feel that some patrons take advantage to get more than their share) and selection (more dried beans and no asparagus), while posing solutions (numbers instead of names on items to overcome language barriers).

Paper Recycling

Have you seen those big beige bins with signs saying “Support Your Local Food Bank”? Ever wondered how and which food banks they support? Purpose Recycling is responsible for those bins. The bins can be filled with newspapers, magazines, phone books and paper. The filled bins are taken to a recycling center and Purpose Recycling returns a portion of what they make to food banks. Each bin is designated for a specific food bank. Bins designated for My Sister’s Pantry are located at 6th Ave. United Methodist Church (6th & Verde), at 56th and Tacoma Mall Blvd, at Sunrise Untied Methodist Church in Federal Way and at United Church of University Place at 3912 Grandview Dr W.

Who fills the bins? Our faithful supporters fill the bins. Yes, they could recycle at their residences but this is an easy way to help the Pantry and only means a little drive to one of the bins. We have been fortunate to have phone books donated by Tacoma Lutheran Home and Spring Ridge Senior Apartments. If there is a large quantity of items, we can come get them in our van.

How much do we earn? We receive $200-$250 quarterly. This money is used for operational costs.
Besides making a deposit in the bins, is there another way to help? We are always looking for other places to put a recycle bin. If you know of a good spot for a bin please let Martha Curwen know.

Copyrght My Sister's Pantry 2003 - 2009

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