Chelan Valley Hope, Food Bank expand to better serve community needs

CHELAN – Chelan Valley Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals and families in need, and its partner, the Lake Chelan Food Bank, are undergoing a significant remodel and expansion to better serve Chelan and the surrounding areas. 

This transformation will give both organizations more space and resources, enabling them to provide enhanced support services to those who need them most.

“This is truly a win-win for both organizations and the entire community,” Chelan Valley Hope Executive Director Tamra Hively said.

The much needed changes come as the food bank is celebrating 42 years of feeding Chelan, Lake Chelan Food Bank Director Richard Springer said.

Chelan Valley Hope is moving into a new building with more office space enabling them to ensure privacy for their clients. The Food Bank will take over the building the two organizations currently share, which will more than double their space.

The remodel plan for Chelan Valley Hope and the Lake Chelan Food Bank started over two years ago due to space constraints as demand for services and staff grew. 

Neither organization could find a suitable building. But fortunately, the Food Bank received funding from the State Legislature and the City of Chelan, while Chelan Valley Hope secured funding from Chelan County, Hively said.

Construction began this summer after finalizing plans and permits.

The project is on schedule and expected to be fully completed by early 2025. However, changes are already underway. Chelan Valley Hope will move into the new addition in the coming months, allowing the renovations of the existing building to gain momentum, Hively said.

“An exciting part of the remodel is that we'll be adding a shower and a washer and dryer for our unhoused clients,” Hively said. “When we talk to them about finding jobs and improving their lives, we need to make sure they have access to basic necessities.” 

“How can we expect people to "pull themselves up by the bootstraps" when they don't even have a place to shower or wash their clothes? This addition is a significant step toward making a real difference in the lives of those we see every day,” she said.

Chelan Valley Hope has been a cornerstone of support for residents in rural communities like Bridgeport, Entiat, Mansfield, Manson, Orondo, Pateros, and more, offering services that address issues such as rent assistance, homelessness, overdue utility bills, access to food and hygiene items, and more.

“The tenet of our service is to help people move forward in their lives,” Hively said. “To support this, we provide case management services that help clients develop personalized plans for achieving long-term stability and independence. Our case managers work with clients to identify the steps and resources needed to put these plans into action.”

The Food Bank will have a new covered drive-thru, expanded storage and a more flexible format for food distribution.

Currently, the food bank is operating on a drive-thru format, which was implemented during COVID. However, with the remodel, Springer wants people to have the option to come in and shop like in a grocery store.

The covered drive-thru will help protect the food bank workers from harsh weather conditions and safeguard the boxes of food as well. 

The additional space will allow the food bank to set up shelves similar to a grocery store. Springer hopes to have an international section to cater to different cultural needs and better serve the community.

Storage has been a significant challenge for the food bank. Springer often has to turn food donations away due to a lack of space, especially for refrigerated and frozen foods. Currently, they only have two freezers because a third one broke down and was too expensive to repair.

“Mainly, I need more storage,” Springer said. “I have to turn stuff away. And this gives me the ability to store more products and store more diverse products.”

The remodel marks a pivotal moment for Chelan Valley Hope and the Lake Chelan Food Bank, ensuring that both organizations can continue to meet the growing needs of their community for years to come.

Quinn Propst: 509-731-3590 or quinn@ward.media.