Blue Mountain Thrive

BMAC Services
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Blue Mountain Thrive

Food Security for All

I feel like this has been a final puzzle piece for this being a sustainable life where we can start to worry about things like 'Are my kids happy?,' 'How is school going?,' 'What can we do for fun as a family?' versus 'What can we do to survive?'
-Pro Bono Client

Blue Mountain Thrive is a collaborative community well-being initiative serving the Walla Walla Valley.

In April 2024, Blue Zones, LLC announced that the Walla Walla Valley had achieved certified Blue Zones Community® status. After Blue Zones Project’s active engagement in the community concluded, local partners joined together under the leadership of the City of Walla Walla to create a roadmap for the future of well-being work. Building upon the best practices Blue Zones brought to the community, Blue Mountain Thrive was formed with the purpose of enhancing well-being in the Walla Walla Valley by improving the environments where we live, work, play, and learn.

Our well-being efforts will be focused on improving the top health risk factors as measured at the community and organization level. We will do this by deepening well-being awareness and practices for the broader community, especially among seniors, youth, and populations with greater health risks, in addition to partnering with schools and worksites.

Blue Zones Project Walla Walla Valley Community Lookbook

CLEAR - Free Legal Services for Low-Income People
Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, & Referral System (CLEAR) offers free legal services for low-income people in non-criminal matters.

It will require your utmost diligence and patience to reach CLEAR. Put the number in your phone and keep hitting re-dial until you get through. If you are put on hold, do not hang up.  
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For assistance or more information, call 1-888-201-1014, Monday to Friday, from 9:15AM to 12:15PM. To apply online, click here.

CLEAR may give you legal advice and/or refer you to BMAC's Pro Bono Legal Services program. Additional information, resources, and legal forms may be found at www.washingtonlawhelp.org.

CLEAR for Senior Citizens: Senior citizens (over 60) may call 1-888-387-7111 during the hours listed above.
Our Programs:
Backpack Bridge
BMAC started the Backpack Bridge program in 2017 to help students who receive free or reduced meals from their schools during the week but were going hungry on weekends. This affects one out of five kids in our communities. Now, thanks to local support, students in need can take home a food kit each weekend so they can prepare easy meals and a snack on their own. We work with community partners and schools to distribute the meals to students across our community, ensuring they have enough to eat over the weekend and during school breaks. 
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Demand for the Backpack Bridge program has surged, tripling in some schools.  This program is funded entirely by individual donations, and we need your help keeping up.

Click here to make sure that no children in our community go hungry over the weekend.
Mobile Distribution (Touchet, Prescott, Burbank)
To access a drive-thru mobile food distribution, first-time clients will need to fill out the TEFAP Registration form. No documentation is needed. After that initial form is received by BMAC Food Bank employees, a Walla Walla Food Access Card will get issued to that client to use when they visit one of the drive-thru mobile food distributions.

Click here for BMAC's Mobile Food Distribution Calendar.

Picking up a box of food on Distribution Day? Fill out the TEFAP Registration Form ahead of time!

Can't pick up a box of food yourself? Have someone pick a box for you by filling out a Proxy Form.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (for eligible seniors 60+)
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) distributes food boxes to registered seniors (ages 60+) who are on a fixed income and program-eligible.  Distributions are held on the third Thursday of the month at the BMAC Food Bank (921 W. Cherry St., Walla Walla).  

Applications for CSFP are available at the BMAC Office (8 E. Cherry St., Walla Walla), or at the BMAC Food Bank (921 W. Cherry St., Walla Walla).
Grocery Rescue, Donations, and Gleaning
Each year, our team rescues over 300,000 pounds of food from grocery stores, farms, and gardens, saving the food from the landfill, and supporting our neighbors in need!

We also partner with farms or home gardeners to glean excess produce that may otherwise die on the vine. We include that fresh produce in food boxes and deliver it to local food pantries.

Don’t let your extra tomatoes or tree fruit go to waste! We’d love to share it with our neighbors in need.
Farm To Food Pantry
BMAC partners with Harvest Against Hunger and the Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to bring local produce to those in need through “Farm to Food Pantry.” This program allows BMAC to purchase fresh produce directly from local small farms like Frog Hollow Farm, Hayshaker Farm, R&R Produce, and Welcome Table Farm, and distribute the produce to our neighbors in need through BMAC’s food pantry network.  
“Purchasing directly from a local farmer will increase the availability of local crops while improving access to healthier food choices for families and individuals in need. Buying produce directly from the farmers also dramatically strengthens the bond between farmer and food bank. Our experience has shown that if a farmer has a strong relationship with a local food bank they are significantly more inclined to make additional produce donations.”

-Harvest Against Hunger
Washington State Basic Food Program
The Washington State Basic Food Program, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reduces hunger and malnutrition by providing people with financial help to buy groceries.  Many people who qualify are not yet signed up to receive benefits.  

Click here to learn more about eligibility and benefits.  

BMAC has dedicated staff who strive to make the enrollment process as hassle‐free as possible.  For more information, call the BMAC Food Bank at 509-529-3561.
Ways to support the BMAC Food Bank:
Donate Funds
A one-time gift can provide immediate support to a family in need, but a monthly recurring donation through our Friends of the BMAC Food Bank program ensures consistent support empowering our neighbors build self-sufficiency and long-term stability.  
Donate Food
The BMAC Food Bank welcomes donations of shelf-stable food items such as canned vegetables, fruits, and meats, as well as on-the-go snacks such as granola bars, jerkies, etc.  For a comprehensive list of Food Bank staple items always in demand, click here.
Host a Food Drive
If you and your friends or business would like to conduct a food drive, we can help set you up for success. Click here to download a DIY Tool Kit.
Host a Fundraiser
Info coming soon!
Join the BMAC Glean Team
Text VOLUNTEER to (833) 753-0944 to receive updates about opportunities to help us harvest produce from our partner farms and orchards. These opportunities often have little notice and require lots of hands!

Want to gather veggies from your friends and neighbors? Click here to download the list of preferred produce.
Our Promise:
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online HERE, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.
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The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
  1. Mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. Fax:
    (833) 256-1655 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email:
    program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal-opportunity provider.
Financial Classes
BMAC offers a 7-week spring and fall entry level financial education course for individuals who want to learn the basics of personal finances.  Topics covered include Money Mindset, Banking, Savings, Budgeting, Credit, and Debt.  Class participants who complete weekly homework assignments based on class topics can earn $200.
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We offer the class to:
  • Adults in English
  • Adults in Spanish
  • Youth (14-18) in English
To register for an upcoming financial class, email Barbara Maxwell at barbaram@bmacww.org or call 509-529-4980.
Financial Coaching
Want to learn more about finances? BMAC offers one-to-one financial coaching with sessions offered in English and Spanish. Sessions can cover banking, budgeting, credit, debt, and more!

To schedule an appointment, please call 509-529-4980 or email info@bmacww.org.
Free Tax Preparation
The AARP Tax-Aide Program provides free income tax preparation and e-filing in Walla Walla typically from February 1 to April 15 at the Walla Walla Senior Center (720 Sprague Street). This service is open to everyone without regard to income or age, who are filing a simple tax form.

Information on how to schedule an appointment with Tax-Aide with be available in January.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for low- and moderate-income working people. It encourages and rewards work as well as offsets federal payroll and income taxes. The amount of EITC depends on a recipient's income, marital status, and number of children.

For more detailed information on the EITC, check out the IRS EITC website.
Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC)
The Working Families Tax Credit is an annual tax rebate for low- and moderate-income working people living in Washington State. Qualifying individuals may apply for the WFTC as soon as they file their federal income taxes.
Bank On Walla Walla
In Walla Walla County, 7.6% of people are unbanked, meaning without a bank account, and 17.8% of people are under-banked, meaning they have a bank account, but are relying upon high-fee credit or check-chasing services. (Data from Prosperity Now Scorecard, 2019.)

Bank on Walla Walla is a program that connects people who are currently unbanked and underbanked to safe, low-cost and convenient bank accounts. Key features of a national certified Bank On account include:
  • Safe/Secure: No overdraft, non-sufficient funds, or dormancy fees.
  • No Surprise Fees: No monthly fees of $5 or less for low opening balances of $25 or less.
  • Convenient: Free deposits, free withdrawals, and free bill payments.
Bank On partners include:
  • Banner Bank, Digital Account
    1 E. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
    509-526-8731
  • Chase Bank, Secure Banking
    101 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
    509-527-3300
  • Umpqua Bank, Foundation Account
    680 W. Rose St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
    509-529-2048
  • U.S. Bank, Safe Debit Account
    22 E. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
    509-525-4400
  • WaFd Bank, Fresh Start Account
    111 W. Main St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
    509-525-4400
Credit Reports
Consumers are allowed free access to their credit report from the three credit bureaus (Experian, Transunion, and Equifax) as often as once a week via www.annualcreditreport.com.

Be prepared to present the following information when obtaining a credit report:
  • Full Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Current Address (and previous address if you have moved in the last 2 years)
  • A series of security questions to verify your identity
Need assistance accessing your credit report? Call BMAC at 509-529-4980, and one of our financial coaches will schedule an appointment to assist you in accessing your credit reports.

BMAC Programs

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