The Bonney Lake and Bread of Life food banks are seeking donations of canned foods to bolster supplies.

An LED message flashing June 24 on the Windermere sign at the top of Elhi Hill stated an “urgent need” for canned goods.

Food Bank Director Stew Bowen clarified that the food bank’s status is not desperate, but they, as always, rely on donations to continue fulfilling their mission.

“We always have a need, but it’s not as urgent as it was,” he said. “Our number of clients is the same, but the incoming food has dropped below what we need to meet that need. Just a couple of weeks ago we had almost nothing.”

One issue is that the food banks have plenty of fresh-but-perishable produce, but little to no canned versions of the same items. Canned goods are more pragmatic for distribution, and non-refrigerated storage.

June is typically the month that donations begin to pick up again, Bowen said. The greatest volume of donations come into the food bank during the November and December holiday season, followed immediately by a “dead season” from January to April. May sees a trickle before steady donations come in to supplement the banks’ normal Emergency Food Network supplies.

The food bank’s volunteers are requesting donations of food or cash. Cash is a more effective donation because the bank can purchase food at cheaper prices through EFN. The food bank may be contacted at 253-863-4043.