We set out door hangers last week to invite all the residents of Sawyer’s Crest to donate to the Maple Valley Food Bank. On Sunday, I walked the neighborhood reminding folks and directing them to the collection tent.

I got to chat with several folks about their concerns: SNAP benefits ending, Medicare cuts and closing clinics, and tight county budgets.

At the Maple Valley Food Bank, one of their employees, Tami weighed the Sawyer’s Crest residents’ donation - 72 pounds, or $144 worth of food - and talked with us about how the food bank works.

The food bank serves approximately 370 residents weekly, and over 400 during the holidays. While food donations are always appreciated, monetary donations allow more flexibility and purchasing power: needs change frequently, and the food bank can get discounts by purchasing in bulk.

It was great seeing friends and chatting with new faces, and we got to benefit the community at the same time! As a King County Council member, I would prioritize fulfilling basic needs by focusing funding on local programs that have proven their effectiveness, and I plan to visit communities around the district regularly to listen to the residents affected by our decisions.