Rep. Laurie Jinkins (left) joined Making A Difference Foundation CEO Ahndrea Blue for a fun photo op at the delivery center event.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank held its 2024 annual Thanksgiving giveaway. Taking place during the food bank’s weekly food giveaway at the Tacoma Dome, hundreds of cars lined up for food and grocery store gift cards at this special Thanksgiving event.
Since the Tacoma Police Department and Tacoma Ministerial Alliance had partnered the day before to hand out free turkeys in the same spot as Eloise’s drive-thru food giveaway the next day, people were given gift cards to ensure flexibility to purchase a turkey or any other meat product of the card holder’s choice. Eloise’s provided a variety of Thanksgiving staples such as potatoes, yams, dressing, green beans, chicken or pork chops, berries, cranberry sauce, nuts, cilantro, cauliflower, melon, and more.
Blue inspected food as the giveaway prepared to open.
Ahndrea Blue, founder, president and CEO of the Making A Difference Foundation which owns and operates Eloise’s Cooking Pot, issued a letter of gratitude to the community that she shared on social media.
“Your presence at our event and your ongoing trust in our mission to serve the community truly inspire us to continue our efforts. Your support and participation mean the world to us, and we are truly grateful for each and every one of you,” she wrote. “I want to especially thank the staff and volunteers. Your dedication and hard work were greatly appreciated. Thank you.”
The drive-thru ran like clockwork as vehicles were filled then moved on.
Blue continued her outreach on Sunday, Nov. 24, in partnership with the KING 5 Home Team Harvest food drive. At Eloise’s new 27,000 square foot food storage and delivery center on Portland Avenue, the day was a combination of celebrating this most recent development for the food bank and accepting donations for Home Team Harvest, now in its 24th year in conjunction with Northwest Harvest.
KING 5 meteorologist Rich Marriott was among the news station’s crew that day.
“The last time we were in Tacoma for Home Team Harvest was in 2019 so it’s great to be back again,” he told the Tacoma Weekly. “This is the largest event for Northwest Harvest to stock all the food banks in Western Washington. Last year was 23 million meals and this year is 24 million. It has raised over 100 million meals since we started it.”
Newly re-elected state Rep. Laurie Jinkins, and newly re-appointed as House Speaker, was there to take part in the festivities.
“The foundation itself and Eloise’s Cooking Pot have been so amazing in terms of the ways they engage with and serve people who live in my district, my town, where they’re at and how they’re at,” Jinkins said. “I’m just so impressed with the work she’s doing, and the staff is amazing. They’re always thinking of ideas on how we can help people more.”
Eloise’s Cooking Pot advocate Monique DuBose and KING 5 news reporter Chris Egan bust a move to the DJ’s music.
Coordinated Care of Washington has stepped up to be a solid supporter and partner of Blue’s work to address food insecurity by providing volunteers, funding and supporting Eloise’s programs. Vice President of External Affairs Andrea Davis and Senior Director of Provider and Community Engagement Kate Mundell were there to take part in the delivery center event.
“We are a health plan that serves folks on government healthcare, Medicaid primarily, and a lot of our members face food insecurity,” Davis said.
“Food insecurity is a core tenet of ours – finding groups in the community doing the work like Eloise’s and other food banks in the community,” Mundell said. “The more partners the better.”
The new delivery center’s shelves are ready to be stocked, and community donations are always gratefully accepted.
Monique DuBose is president of the Tacoma Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and regional director of Tacoma-Pierce County Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound. She, too, enthusiastically lifts up the work that Blue is so dedicated to.
“This event is so special to us because it’s all about the giving at this time of year,” she said. “A lot of communities are in need and that’s why we’ve got to do our part in the big picture. We only have each other. For me personally, and I can attest for all my sisters, we want to see a change. It’s got to get better. That’s why we’re here – for positive change.”