Because unlike other food drives throughout the year in the Puget Sound region, this one is officially proclaimed by the Mayors of 24 King County cities, as well as County Executive Ron Sims and Gov. Christine Gregoire. Close to 100 grocery stores throughout the region generally participate.

What’s the difference between the Emergency Feeding Program and my local food bank? Both the Emergency Feeding Program and food banks are intended to provide food to individuals and families during times of need. However, the approach to services is different for both. Emergency Feeding Program bags are packed to make up six complete nutritionally balanced meals per person, regardless of family size. The assumption is that people in crisis hunger situations are completely without food and need a complete supply, not supplemental food.

The Emergency Feeding Program also emphasizes providing nutritionally balanced packages of food that meet specific dietary needs and are culturally sensitive, like Asian and Latino packs, or high-protein liquid diet packs for people living with advanced diseases such as AIDS or cancer. A dietitian creates these meals to assure that each bag contains the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).

A group of concerned students from Leota Junior High School (Michaella Rosner, Claire Hanser and Rebecca Eskildsen) will be collecting food donations at Top Food & Drug (Woodinville) on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. They greatly appreciate community support.

For more information about the Mayors‘ Day of Concern for the Hungry, contact the Emergency Feeding Program at (206) 329-0300 or http://www.emergencyfeeding.org/mdoc.html.