The Food Distribution project is the Council’s effort, in partnership with local food banks and soup kitchens, to combat hunger. USDA Surplus Commodities provide a variety of staples, including canned vegetables, dry goods, tuna, and peanut butter which are distributed to participating soup kitchens and food banks throughout Lewis, Mason, Thurston and Kitsap Counties. Food banks distribute packaged food to eligible individuals and households while the soup kitchens prepare congregate meals for the hungry. In our service area, the participating providers have increased to fifteen food banks and ten soup kitchens to accommodate the growing emergency nutritional needs within our communities. Commodities are distributed to these local providers through a central warehouse located in Shelton.