BMAC Announces Mobile Food Pantry Service Change, Seeks Donations

WALLAWALLA, WA – Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC), which operates our region’s food bank, announces that Thursday, April 24, 2025 will be its final mobile pantry food distribution in Walla Walla at its 921 W. Cherry Street location. BMAC, and many other food banks, are reducing services because of cancelled food deliveries and operating contracts from the federal government.

The BMAC Food Bank will continue to serve as our region's food hub, assisting food pantries across Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties. The Food Bank has the warehouse and distribution capacity to receive, store, and deliver large quantities of food to community pantries, who then distribute food directly to community members. Coordinating community food needs through the Food Bank saves money by increasing purchasing power as much as 30% and limits food waste across our region.

BMAC began offering mobile food pantry services during the pandemic, with the assistance of the National Guard, when physical distancing requirements limited client access to services in local pantries. In recent years, continued state and federal funding, and hundreds of community volunteers, allowed BMAC to provide mobile pantry services on the fourth Thursday of the month, during which clients drive through the food bank in the evening and receive a box of pre-packed nutritious food. It is currently the only evening resource in the community.

The BMAC Food Bank will continue to support local pantries across its service area. In the Walla Walla area, community members can continue to access food resources at the Salvation Army and St. Frances Cabrini, which is operated through a partnership between St. Frances Cabrini and BMAC.

“The transition away from mobile distribution in Walla Walla is a difficult but necessary step in response to funding cuts,” said Danielle Garbe Reser, CEO of BMAC. “While we regret the disruption, this change will allow us to continue supporting food services through the grocery store models at the Salvation Army and St. Frances Cabrini pantries. We are committed to building stable and thriving communities, including through operating our region’s food bank. We ask our community to help us meet the growing need for food in our region by making a donation of finances or food. This essential service needs our community’s ongoing support.

”The BMAC Food Bank distributed nearly 3 million pounds of food across 14pantries during its 2024 fiscal year, assisting thousands of families. Overall, with food prices sharply rising in recent years, there has been a 200% increase in demand for food bank services compared to pre-pandemic service levels. The BMAC Food Bank is grateful to the community partners who donate hundreds ofhours each year to sorting food, packing boxes, and assisting with the distribution. The Food Bank will continue to need volunteers to support its activities.

“We thank our dedicated Food Bank team and the thousands of amazing community volunteers and donors, who helped us stand up the mobile distribution during the pandemic and have kept this service available for thousands of families over the years,” said Erik Mora, Director of the BMAC Food Bank. “We recognize this change will be an adjustment, and we appreciate the community’s patience and support through this transition. We remain committed to supporting our clients and community through the Food Bank’s community pantry programs.”  

The BMAC Food Bank will continue to operate the Backpack Bridge program, ensuring that area students receive essential food support on the weekends. This program is funded entirely by generous local donors and has sufficient funding through June; additional fundraising will be needed to restart the program next school year. Additionally, services for seniors enrolled in the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) are unaffected by this change at this time. The current CSFP contract expires on September 30, 2025.

BMAC is continuing to review funding sources and analyze whether it can continue the same schedule of mobile pantry services in other communities outside of Walla Walla and its home delivery program for those who are unable to drive themselves.

Community members interested in supporting BMAC’s mission to help our neighbors in need can make a monetary donation, contribute food items, or organize a food drive. Every donation helps ensure that individuals and families in need have access to nutritious food. Donations of shelf-stable food items such as canned protein (meat or beans), other canned goods (like tomato sauce, fruits and vegetables), and grains (pasta or rice) are most helpful. If you have questions about donating other food items, arranging a glean on your farm, volunteering, or organizing a food drive for BMAC, please call 509-529-3561.

To learn more about the local food pantry schedule, click here.

To make a donation, click here.

To learn more about BMAC and all the ways it helps people and changes lives, click here.

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