Aberdeen Food Bank urges Cosmopolis donors to give diapers, holiday items; seniors eligible for monthly ‘senior box’

Jeff Johnson, interim director of the Aberdeen Food Bank, told the Cosmopolis City Council on Dec. 4 that the food bank is distributing a monthly “senior box” under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for residents age 60 and older who meet the income and residency requirements.

Johnson said the Aberdeen Food Bank, at 2120 Commerce Street, serves roughly 100 to 150 families per week and provides care bags to about 90 people experiencing homelessness. He asked Cosmopolis residents to use the donation box the city will place at City Hall this holiday season and singled out durable holiday staples — sugar, flour and canned specialty items — and diapers as particularly useful donations.

“Diapers are the number one nonfood item that we would give out if we have them,” Johnson said, explaining that diapers are expensive and in high demand. He added that premium holiday items “go so fast” and can make a meaningful difference for families during the season.

Johnson described voluntary partnerships that help with deliveries to households that cannot reach the food bank, and said people do not need to show paperwork at pickup beyond a verbal statement that they meet income and residency requirements: “They just have to verbally say … that they live in Cosmo.”

The presentation included a short question-and-answer period about donation days, needed items and whether organizations can coordinate recurring in-kind gifts. Johnson encouraged churches and nonprofits to sponsor specific sizes of diapers or monthly items so families can rely on a predictable supply.

The council thanked Johnson; the donation effort will be coordinated locally through City Hall and the Aberdeen Food Bank.