What goes into kitchen work and how your food donations work. Donating to the Lighthouse helps countless men, women, and children. Financial donations are great, because those directly can go into any program, bill, or service needed at anytime. But one thing we definitely need is food.
Lot’s of hard work goes into keeping guests and residents fed each and everyday. We cannot do what we do without our cooks and food that people donate. Richard Fortune and his team feed everyone at Base Camp, Agape, and Ascent.
In our new building, everyone will be under 1 roof. So will food options for staff, fundraiser events, and anything else we can throw at Chef. This will save time and money for events like A Brighter Tomorrow, because catering will all be done in-house.
Ever wonder what it takes to prepare a meal?👨🍳 Here’s a glimpse of what Chef Richard Fortune and his team is cooking up! To give you an idea of the scale, here’s what goes into preparing a meal for every guest and resident:
40 pounds onion 🧅
20 peppers 🌶️
10 gallons cream sauce 🥛
5 pounds green onions 🧅
64 bag lunches 🥪
20 pounds of diced chicken 🍗
2 cases of lettuce 🥬
40 cheddar cheese cases 🧀
15 dozen eggs 🥚
5 gallons mayo 🥄
10 pounds sliced mushroom 🍄
20 pounds diced tomato 🍅
120 pounds green bean salad 🥗
Including miscellaneous items, that’s over 500 pounds of food—enough to provide more than 700 meals in a single day!
Local Donations
We also get donations from local company every week.
Little Ceasar’s brings us pizza when customers don’t come to pick up their order. The pizza is still tasty, and doesn’t get thrown away. One problem that many places have is they throw away good food. Or they don’t want to set an expectation of free food everyday. The happy middle? Donating their food to the Lighthouse, providing plenty of filling meals to those in need!
A little treat for meals, provided by companies like Insomnia Cookies, who want their food to go to bellies, not the trashcan.
Coffee keeps us powered and jumpstarts our day. We get quite a bit donated by Tony’s.
How Donations Help the Lighthouse and Whatcom County homeless communities
Donating to the Lighthouse Mission Ministries is a powerful way to support countless men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Whatcom County and Bellingham. Financial donations are particularly valuable as they can be allocated to any program, bill, or service as needed, ensuring that every dollar goes towards critical and timely support. While financial donations are crucial, food donations are equally essential. The daily operation of feeding guests and residents requires a tremendous amount of effort and resources.
Our dedicated team, led by Chef Richard Fortune, works tirelessly to prepare nutritious meals for everyone at Base Camp, Agape, and Ascent. Each day, they prepare over 500 pounds of food, providing more than 700 meals. With the new building, all services will be centralized under one roof, making meal preparation more efficient and cost-effective. Events like “A Brighter Tomorrow” will benefit from in-house catering, saving both time and money.
Local Businesses Play Vital Role
Local businesses in Bellingham play a vital role in our mission by donating surplus food. For instance, Little Caesars donates unclaimed pizzas, ensuring that good food doesn’t go to waste. Similarly, Insomnia Cookies and Tony’s Coffee contribute treats and beverages, adding a touch of comfort to the meals we serve. These local donations are indispensable, providing essential sustenance to those in need and supporting the broader community.
As we look forward to our new facility, we remain grateful to St. Joseph’s Hospital for hosting our kitchen staff. This partnership has allowed us to continue our mission while we prepare for the future. Your donations, whether financial or food-related, make a significant impact, helping us nourish and uplift the homeless communities in Whatcom County and Bellingham. To contribute, please donate. Your generosity truly makes a difference.
