Nurturing Community: KMR Group Foundation’s Apple Donations Support North County Community Food Bank’s Innovative Approach

At KMR Group Foundation, we believe in supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in their communities through innovative approaches to addressing food insecurity. One such organization is the North County Community Food Bank (NCCFB) in Battle Ground, Washington, where our regular apple donations help provide fresh, nutritious options to families in need.

Fresh Fruit for Those in Need

Each year, KMR Group Foundation donates organic apples—both red and green varieties—and occasionally pears to NCCFB. These fresh fruit donations are particularly valuable to food banks, which often can struggle with limited offerings for their clients

“Healthy food really makes a huge impact that they ordinarily can’t afford in the stores,” explains Liz Cerveny, Executive Director of NCCFB. “Many of our families have diabetic issues in the households. And others have heart disease… that healthy food really makes a huge impact.”

Meeting Diverse Community Needs

What sets NCCFB apart is their dedication to understanding and meeting the specific needs of their diverse clientele. Currently serving 40-50 households daily and feeding over 3,000 individuals monthly, NCCFB has seen a growing influx of Ukrainian families relocating to the area.

“Probably over 30 percent of our client population right now are Russian and Ukrainian,” Liz notes. This demographic shift has influenced how the food bank approaches its offerings, as these communities “lean towards more of the fresh produce and the full family meals.” By utilizing community food banks like NCCFB, our apple donations have far reaching effects on the local community.

The food bank puts significant effort into accommodating various dietary requirements, whether they stem from medical conditions, cultural preferences, or religious practices.

“We try to balance all of that and keep it in mind when we’re doing our food purchasing, and when we have opportunities to develop new partnerships and obtain the foods that would directly impact and benefit those communities,” Liz explains.

Thoughtful Approaches to Food Distribution

One thoughtful practice that caught our attention during our visit was how NCCFB creates moments of joy through their food distribution. The food bank purchases pizzas from Little Caesars to include as a special treat in their food boxes, bringing unexpected happiness to families receiving assistance.

“It’s wonderful to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when we wheel the cart out and it has a pizza on the top of the food box,” Liz shares. These unexpected additions to monthly food boxes—including special birthday cakes—help families “feel special” and give “them a sense of pride and confidence that we’re thinking of them.”

Another creative initiative includes providing vegetable bundles with accompanying recipes, encouraging clients to try new foods. During our visit, the food bank was distributing vegetable bundles with guides on preparing green salsa, helping families expand their culinary horizons while making nutritious choices.

Beyond Food Distribution: Education and Skills Development

The contributions from KMR Group Foundation and other donors enable NCCFB to expand beyond basic food distribution. The food bank also offers education programs covering financial planning, cooking classes, and kitchen safety.

Their “Celebrity Chefs and Kids in the Kitchen” program, developed in partnership with Clark College’s Culinary School, teaches youth aged 9-19 essential culinary skills while fostering cross-cultural connections.

“Watching them reach out and make better connections with the youth that attend that class… and then the families also connect because you prepare those meals and discuss what kinds of spices or different things that you use from different cultures,” Liz explains. “Seeing those cultural barriers fall… that’s a huge blessing.”

In addition, NCCFB partners with local schools to provide job skills training for youth with disabilities, helping them gain experience that has led many to employment opportunities at local grocery stores.

A Year-Round Commitment to Compassion

As we continue our partnership with North County Community Food Bank, we’re reminded that hunger exists beyond the holiday season when charitable giving typically peaks.

“Hunger is year-round and the numbers are growing,” Liz emphasizes. “In today’s world, for all of us to think about is kindness and giving hope to others. And it’s year-round. It’s not just through the holidays.”

At KMR Group Foundation, we’re proud to support NCCFB’s comprehensive approach to addressing food insecurity—one that nourishes not just bodies but also spirits and communities.