On Monday, June 23, members of the Mineral Lake Lions Club held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Mineral Daily Bread Food Bank expansion project, the club announced in a Facebook post.
“As Hunger Co-Chairs for Lions District 19N, Lions Steve and Starla (Mayer) are honored to serve a region deeply committed to addressing hunger through service, collaboration and compassion,” the post stated. “They spearheaded this project with incredible support from their home club, the Mineral Lake Lions, as well as Lions throughout the district and beyond.”
First opened in 2015, the Mineral Daily Bread Food Bank has recently seen demand more than double and is now serving over 650 local families each month and an average of 10,000 individuals annually, according to the Lions Club’s website.
“The numbers continue to rise. Our existing facility simply couldn’t keep up,” the post added.
The Mineral Lake Lions Club thanked the many volunteers and community members who are helping with the expansion project.
Those attending Monday’s groundbreaking included state Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) District Chair Jan Weatherly, Lions District 19N-8 Zone Chair Shannon Hauck, Economic Alliance of Lewis County Project Manager Todd Chaput, Mineral Neighborhood Christian Center Pastor Josh Austin and Mineral Daily Bread Food Bank Manager Ginger Austin.
“Mineral, much of East Lewis County and Southeast Pierce County are considered rural food deserts — areas where access to affordable, nutritious food is limited by geography, poverty or lack of transportation,” the Lions Club stated in the post. “This expansion isn’t just about walls and storage — it’s about restoring food security and dignity to the people who call this region home.”
Funding for the food bank expansion project came from a $107,114 LCIF hunger grant along with $36,000 in local matching funds.
Once completed, the Mineral Daily Bread Food Bank will be able to store and distribute more food — including perishables — improve volunteer working conditions, build capacity for emergency response and long-term storage and serve local families with more dignity and care.
The Mineral Lake Lions Club also thanked Northwest Home Center, Inc., of Morton, for providing shovels for the groundbreaking.
The Mineral Daily Bread Food Bank is located at 116 W. Front St. in Mineral. To learn more, visit the Mineral Lake Lions Club’s website at https://minerallakelions.com/?p=2737.
