Agape - Food Bank & Services
"The measure of our compassion lies not in our service of those on the margins but only in our willingness to see ourselves in kinship with them."
- Father Greg Boyle
The Social Services of Agape
Food bank
Agape's weekly summer food bank offers culturally relevant food in a bilingual setting, in addition to diapers, hygiene supplies, clothing, toys, books, backpacks and school supplies. Over the past few years we have served an average of:
- 2019: 158 families weekly
- 2020: 98 families weekly
- 2021: 113 families weekly
- 2022: 295 families weekly
Our incredible partners include Bellingham Food Bank, Lynden School District, Food Lifeline, Catholic Community Services' PREPARES.
Health and human services
With the goal of making our food bank a resource hub, we invite partner agencies to provide services and resources beyond our capabilities.
We are honored to host these incredible partners: Community to Community, Inspire Development Center, Whatcom Goodwill Job Training and Education Center, Skagit Valley College Cardinal Career Scholars & CAMP Program, Wage and Hour Division, Opportunity Council Rental Assistance, Labor & Industries Language Access Program, NWESD 189 Migrant Education.
Hospitality table
The goal of the hospitality table is to increase the joyful, dignified and relational aspects of the food bank by providing a hot meal while families get their groceries.
We are grateful for the delicious tacos from La Gloria Market and the many generous donors who make this meal for 300+ individuals possible each week.
Summer 2022: 575lbs of carnitas were served at 5 weeks of the Agape Food Bank taco stand
Summer enrichment
Multiple times per week, Agape facilitates educational and recreational activities for the children of farmworkers. Activities include reading, science experiments, arts and crafts, soccer, red light/green light, and a community meal ... and lots of bubbles!
Supporting just farms
Supporting organic, just farms with volunteer labor is an important aspect of social justice as we work to change and improve the farming systems.
Our incredible partners include Bellingham Food Bank's Small Potatoes Gleaning Project, Bellingham Country Gardens, Growing Veterans, Breckenridge Blueberries and Common Threads.
College scholarships
In 2019, Agape began awarding college scholarships for farmworkers pursing higher education as a way to further support the farmworker families. The scholarship recipients are awarded $500.
2019: 4 recipients
2020: 5 recipients
2021: 3 recipients
2022: 5 recipients
