NEW FACES, OLD PLACES | A pair of former employees have taken over the city’s casinos. [3]
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DOWN THE STRETCH | Lindbergh’s Feven Fessenhatzion finished eighth this past weekend at the state meet to lead all local runners. [Sports 15]
FRIDAY, NOV. 14, 2014
Shelves are bare as food banks prep for holiday season The need is expected to be up this year due to cuts in federal aid BY TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Some Renton food pantry shelves are barely covered and the need for food is still great; that’s the report from area food banks this holiday season. The Renton Reporter talked to a few food bank managers to see
how supplies are stacking up and got an earful. Most reported the same if not growing numbers of families signed up for their food programs this holiday season, as influenced still by a lack of government support due to cuts in assistance programs. And all of the local food banks are in need of donations this year. Renton Salvation Army The Renton Salvation Army has just one turkey so far for their Thanksgiving drive and 500 are needed for the families who have
already signed up to receive food baskets. They didn’t quite get the number of turkeys they needed last year and had to resort to small chickens and other meats to feed large families and are hoping that will not be the case again. A lot of the managers blamed the cut in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits and food stamps for the rise in need in the community. It was the same situation last year, when an inventory was done of local food shelves. “So they’re going to feel it, of
course, during the two holiday months,” said Beverly Storey, director of social services for the Salvation Army, Renton. “So, we’re anticipating that our numbers will be up in November and December just because they’re cutting back on food stamps for those two months. It’s a budget issue.” There are about 630 families signed up for the Renton Salvation Army’s Christmas baskets. Not only are food donations low, the Salvation Army still needs 111 volunteers a day starting Nov.
17-Dec. 24 to man its red kettles for their bell-ringing fundraising campaign. “Everything is tied in,” said Martha Barrett, Salvation Army community liaison. “The more volunteers we have, the less money we have to pay out. The more money we keep, the more turkeys we’re able to provide and the more people we’re able to provide for.” Since the red kettle campaign is the organization’s big fundraiser, staff tries not to have to hire paid bell-ringers, so as to provide more [ more FOOD BANKS page 5 ]
Supreme Court denies review of UW-Valley alliance Challenges cost taxpayers nearly $450,000 in legal bills BY DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
The strategic alliance between Valley Medical Center and UW Medicine is legal, determined at a cost so far of nearly $450,000 in taxpayer dollars. The Washington Supreme Court decided it will not review the lawsuit challenging the strategic alliance between Valley Medical Center and UW Medicine, Valley Medical announced last week. The decision comes after the state Court of Appeals in June affirmed the legality of the alliance, which began in July 2011 after months of legal review and community meetings and is designed to improve the public’s health. The Supreme Court’s decision means the lower court’s ruling is final, according to a Valley Medical press release. “For over three years now, our health care professionals have been working very well together to improve quality and safety [ more ALLIANCE page 10 ]
New memorial dedicated American Legion Fred Hancock Post No. 19 on Tuesday dedicated a new memorial behind the Renton Senior Activity Center on Burnett Avenue that honors those who lost their lives at sea in service of their country. Above, Post Historian and Pastor Fred DeBerry speaks during the ceremony. BRIAN BECKLEY, Renton Reporter
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