The annual Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry food drive is back this year on Oct. 8.

Every year, the city works with the Multi-Service Center’s Federal Way Food Bank to collect food for those who need it in the community.

From Oct. 3 to Oct. 7 on garbage day, people can leave food donations in bags or boxes for Waste Management (WM) to pick up and deliver. Just make sure you have them set next to your carts by 7 a.m.

Waste Management drivers will pass out fliers with more information for the event. You will need to either tape the flier to your donations or label them “Food Drive” for WM employees to pick them up.

You can also drop off food from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at the 33702 21st Avenue SW Fred Meyer.

Last year’s effort yielded about 9,334 pounds of food from Waste Management, and another 755 pounds dropped off at Fred Meyer, according to Mayor’s Office policy advisor Bill Vadino. Altogether, the effort collected 10,090 pounds of food, about 50 pounds of non-food items and $9,111 in monetary donations.

The event was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19, but Waste Management collected 13,200 pounds in 2019, and grocery stores collected another 2,100 pounds, Vadino said.

“We are grateful for support and hope to continue to grow to meet the needs of our residents and will strive to bring the donations back to pre-COVID numbers,” Vadino said in an email.

Last year, the Federal Way Food Bank served 4,406 households, according to Vadino. The food bank is located at 1200 S. 336th St.

To learn more, call 253-838-6810 or visit www.multi-servicecenter.com.

2022 Federal Way Food Drive Flyer by Alex Bruell on Scribd