Making A Difference Foundation President and CEO Ahndrea Blue expressed much gratitude for everyone who had helped make Eloise’s Cooking Pot the largest food bank with the largest delivery system.
It was an important and festive day on June 17 to celebrate 2.8 million meals delivered to Pierce County families through a partnership between Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank and DoorDash’s Project DASH.
Gathering at Eloise’s Cooking Pot’s warehouse in University Place, state and local leaders and food provider partners mingled with Eloise’s employees and volunteers to acknowledge the impact of delivering food to vulnerable families, seniors and others struggling with food insecurity.
“Eloise’s is committed to ending food insecurity in Pierce County, which is a growing problem as costs of basic needs like food, fuel, and housing increase,” said Ahndrea Blue, President and CEO of the non-profit Making A Difference Foundation which owns Eloise’s Cooking Pot. “Our partnership with DoorDash has allowed us to fulfill our mission by providing a reliable delivery service that not only streamlines our processes but takes the stigma out of receiving food from Eloise’s.”
Eloise’s Cooking Pot currently per month serves about 70,000 people with about 1.5 million pounds of food.
Delivery is not a luxury for those who receive it. Families with one car or no car, no access to affordable childcare, persons with mobility issues, seniors, and single parents who need to feed their children make up just some of Eloise’s delivery clients, and there is a current waiting list of 1,000 more seeking this service including members of the military.
Since its inception, Project DASH has completed more than 6 million deliveries in partnerships with food banks, food pantries, and social impact organizations. Drivers, or “Dashers,” some of whom are themselves clients of Eloise’s Cooking Pot, get paid for their work to deliver food to residents in Tacoma, University Place, Parkland, Spanaway, Lakewood, Puyallup, Fife, Federal Way, Algona, Pacific, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Project DASH this month is celebrating more than 100 million meals delivered to families across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, showing that the need is not limited only to Pierce County and Washington state.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (right) was among those to whom Ahndrea Blue presented flowers for their unwavering support.
“DoorDash shares Eloise’s commitment to helping people experiencing food insecurity get the meals they need,” said Anna Powell, DoorDash Northwest Government Relations Manager. “Project DASH and Eloise’s work ensure that essential deliveries help seniors avoid carrying heavy food boxes, that people working long hours can access charitable food in a way that fits their schedule, and the people experiencing transportation challenges can get food delivered reliably.”
Joining the event were Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland; State House Speaker Laurie Jinkins; Mayor Victoria Woodards; State Representatives Kelly Chambers, Sharlett Mena, and Melanie Morgan; Pierce County Councilmembers Marty Campbell and Jani Hitchen; and Tacoma City Councilmembers Joe Bushnell and Olgy Diaz.
“What I appreciate about this is that we’re acknowledging the fact that food insecurity is nothing to be ashamed of. People are hungry, we have to help them meet their basic needs, and these types of partnerships do that,” Strickland said.
She also addressed the fact that culturally appropriate food is part of making sure that delivery clients, and food bank clients overall, can receive the foods they are used to eating, find most appetizing, and know how to cook. Eloise’s Cooking Pot offers culturally specific boxes of foods and ingredients including its All-American box, Tex-Mex box, Asian-Infusion box, and Soulful box.
“One of the things I really appreciate about the work you all are doing together is that it’s food that is culturally competent. Some of us like more seasoning on our food and that’s a good thing, so when you have spices and recipes and the ability to bring food to people that’s culturally competent, people who may not have historically relied on a food bank are going to be more likely to say yes, this is a partnership that’s important to me. I want to use this service,” Strickland said.
“Let us not lose sight of the fact that we have to center the people we are serving – children, families and seniors. They are the center of why we do this work and why it’s so important. When people get their basic needs met, our communities are stronger. When push comes to shove, Pierce County comes together.”
Eloise’s Cooking Pot takes seriously the importance of culturally competent foods, assembling boxes of food and ingredients that its clients are used to eating, find most appetizing, and know how to cook.
Like Strickland back when she was Tacoma mayor, Woodards has long supported Blue and Eloise’s Cooking Pot.
“I have known Ahndrea for quite some time and I have watched her work in so many different spaces, but I’ve never seen her more passionate in any space than I see her in this work today,” Woodards said. “Ahndrea, on behalf of the 220,000 residents that call Tacoma home, I want you to know how grateful we are for you – for your commitment.”
Blue shared more good news about growth at Eloise’s Cooking Pot. In about 30 days, Eloise’s will be centralizing its operations at a 27,000 square-foot building at 103rd and Portland Avenue and has plans to open its new Eloise’s No-Cost Market by Sept. 1 on McKinley Avenue across from Top of Tacoma. Thanks to Rep. Melanie Morgan working to secure the funding, Eloise’s BIPOC Farmers Hub can now commence its feasibility study stage with the ultimate goal of having a permanent farmers market in East Tacoma.
Blue noted all the employees and volunteers without whom Eloise’s Cooking Pot could not have its broad outreach and tangible benefits to the people it serves.
“I believe everyone has the capacity to make a difference in someone’s life. All you need is a heart full of love and a soul full of grace,” she said. “I am tremendously blessed by all of you for continuing to stand with Eloise’s no matter what. It has truly blessed my soul and made a difference. We could not do this work were it not for you standing with us.”