Lyle Pantry Feeds Families and Community Members

By Haley Mast

On Sep. 10th state officials and food providers released a statement saying food insecurity has been increasing statewide in Washington and Oregon. Due to the pandemic, this trend is expected to carry on for months ahead. The Lyle Good Food Pantry teamed up with Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) to provide meals to local families and community members. Their efforts in curbing the food insecurity in our region have supplied an average of 50 local families with a food box each month. The Lyle Good Food Pantry reports that 15 of the 50 families being served monthly are asking for support for the first time within the Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Food Bank system.

The start of the pantry

Lyle volunteer inside the pantry

The pantry started this year in March to support students who were negatively affected by school closures, as the school had been a major source of their food stability. The council, in partnership with the Lyle School District and the Lyle Lions Club, created a volunteer effort at the school’s cafeteria. They organized a food drive, boxed food, and then distributed it along the school bus route that was being used to deliver assignments to students.

The Lyle Community Council quickly recognized that this need extended beyond students to other families, the elderly, and those who might have a limited ability to travel to secure their food.

As the school year ended, the operation moved to the Lyle Activity Center and WAGAP agreed to make the group part of its Food Bank network, to be staffed by local volunteers.

The pantry began operating as a satellite site within the WAGAP Food Bank system on July 1, 2020. It serves patrons from a wide range of areas including Lyle, High Prairie, Appleton, Dallesport, and Murdock and is open on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Lyle Activity Center/Food Pantry is at 308 Klickitat St.

How the pantry works 

Volunteers and staff working in the pantry take COVID precautions. Patrons select from a menu of options for their specialized food box, which is then put together by a volunteer and brought out to their car at the activity center in Lyle. The food box sizes range per household size; small boxes are available for seniors and emergency situations. A medium box contains 66 pounds of non-perishable goods plus additional produce and perishable items which feed a family of one-to-four individuals. Large boxes are 86 pounds of non-perishables plus additional produce and perishables feeding a family of five or more individuals. The monthly food boxes include items such as canned goods, fresh produce, bread, and frozen meat. 

Pantry volunteer loading up goods.

Each household is eligible for one box per month; there are currently no requirements for proof of income or residence. 

Janeal Booren, the WAGAP Food Bank Director, explained that The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) works on the honor system, and to receive benefits a client’s family income could be up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

Booren emphasized that regardless of income level, this is a non-judgmental program. “Our belief is that if you are in need, we are here for you,” he said.

Get involved

The Pantry is run by local volunteers. Kate Willsen of Lyle volunteered to be the pantry coordinator in Lyle, carrying on the WAGAP mission.

“We have a great team to support locals with food stability concerns,” Willsen said.

All the food is generated through donations. The Pantry is accepting public donations such as non-perishable foods and gluten-free, sugar-free, and healthy kid-friendly food options. Baby and toddler goods are also welcome, as are eggs, dry pet food, and grocery bags. 

The Lyle pantry is always in need of help from volunteers, and they constantly accept donations from the public in the means of funds or materials. If you wish to get involved, contact the pantry at (509) 281-0884 or by email at lylefoodbank@wagap.org.