Miracle Food Network feeds hundreds in Whatcom County daily with repackaged foods

The Miracle Food Network has stepped up amid the coronavirus pandemic, feeding five times more families in Whatcom County than in the past to help those suddenly unemployed and in need.

The organization is unique because it receives food that has been turned away from restaurants and grocery stores for various reasons, and repackages and distributes it the same day, Facilities Logistics Coordinator Allicia Fairbanks told The Bellingham Herald.

“We work in what you call food recovery,” Fairbanks said. “So we take food from restaurants, grocery stores, or even that gets turned away at the border. We have a full commercial kitchen (at) work with the health department making sure we’re up to code. So we are able to repackage (and) bag up all of that kind of stuff. We then take that food and distribute it to those in need in our community.

“Our main goal is to feed as many mouths with as much food as possible.”

According to Fairbanks, before the COVID-19 pandemic, normal operations of a big day meant acquiring 300 to 400 pounds of food. With many people losing their jobs due to the outbreak, the Miracle Food Network is now bringing in an average of 900 to 1,400 pounds of food per day to distribute from its Ferndale facility.

“We are unique,” Fairbanks said. “We’re different than like a food bank in that we can repackage. We can take stuff that isn’t shelf-stable, deli foods, salads, all of that, because we’re putting it out (the) same day. It’s in people’s hands in less than six hours.”

Before demand increased due to COVID-19, the Miracle Food Network partnered with the Bridge Outreach Ministry to feed about 100 families per week in places such as Ferndale, Everton and Bellingham. Now, the organization feeds on average 500 to 525 families per week.

“In the pandemic, our numbers were basically doubling overnight for the first couple of weeks,” Fairbanks said. “They’re still growing steadily. But it’s more like we get four or five families added a week versus in the first couple weeks, it was ‘Oh, we’re adding 50 families today and then the next day, oh, here’s another 50.’”

The Miracle Food Network partners with restaurants in Whatcom County such as Birch Bay Market, Cost Cutter in Blaine, Community Food Co-Op Downtown, Casa Que Pasa, Little Caesars, Green Barn in Lynden, Avenue Bread, Walton Beverage and many more to feed families in need with food that would have gone to waste otherwise.

“Sustainable connections help us make some of our food connections,” Fairbanks said.

However, the organization is looking to find more sources, including grocery stores and more local restaurants. Additionally, the group has about 20 to 25 volunteers but is looking for more people to help with packaging and distribution.

“Across America, 14 out of every 100 people are forced to choose between rent and food each month ... while 40% of food grown, processed and transported in the United States will never be consumed,” the organization’s website states. “If we captured just 2% of the food waste fit for consumption, we could solve the problem of hunger in America.

“Forty thousand households in Whatcom County, Washington, alone waste an average of $125 a month on food. That is $5 million a month of food waste going to the landfill and producing methane, damaging the environment.”

According to Fairbanks, the group is “trying to say yes to everyone,” in need but cited food supply as the key variable during the pandemic. Those who are immunocompromised or can’t leave their house are prioritized and selection is dependent on the biggest need.

The Miracle Food Network is following social distancing guidelines and working with the health department to keep everything up to code in terms of repackaging and distribution of all food. The group is strictly delivering and not allowing food pickup to reduce traffic and encourage social distancing.

For those in need, the best way to contact the network is to reach out on Facebook via direct message, as a member of the group is monitoring the page for incoming requests nearly 24/7 according to Fairbanks.

The organization is always searching to find those in need. Monetary donations can be made at miraclefoodnetwork.org and food donations can be dropped off at 1242 W. Axton Road.

This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.