Published for the Volunteers of Summit Outreach Community Services

Summit Outreach
Community Connections
Navigating Community Resources Summer/Fall 2018

New Era in Client Choice

By Cindy Lopez

S aturday, September 8, marked the start of a new era at Summit

Outreach Community Services. All distribution sessions were
converted to a Client Choice format. The designation of September
as National Hunger Action Month prompted the timing of the switch,
according to Charles McLimans, Executive Director.

Summit Outreach has wanted to move to the Client Choice model for
some time now. Client Choice requires some significant changes on our
All distribution sessions have
part, regarding distribution of food, but it puts the nutritional needs of our
been lengthened by an hour to
clients first. Client Choice helps to consider individual dietary preferences
accommodate the additional time
and concerns, said Executive Director Charles McLimans. Client Choice
needed for the food selection
also treats persons in need of our services with the same dignity and
process.
respect any of us would expect if we found ourselves needing a helping
hand. Client Choice will also help us to achieve efficiencies in food
purchases.

Previously, all clients received two prepacked bags of food keyed to

family size, four pounds of meat, a loaf of bread, and desserts and produce
as available. Many recipients had requested food substitutions to
accommodate family preferences, cultural, or medical issues. Prebagging Our Vision
did not allow for this flexibility. Consequently, food that clients did not want Navigating Community Resources
or could not use was sometimes found discarded, wasting money and
reducing the amount of usable items available to the household for the Our Mission
two-week period between food pickups. Summit Outreach provides
resource referrals and leadership
In contrast, the Client Choice system allows Summit patrons to select in the community by coordinating
foods they enjoy and know how to prepare, drastically reducing waste. This and uniting resources to empower
reduction in waste enables Summit Outreach to provide more food at less people to be self-sufficient.
cost. Additionally, patrons with health issues will now be able to choose
foods that will help, not hurt their medical conditions.

Clients receive a waiting number at the check-in desk. After their

numbers are called, they may make their selections. This procedure
manages Summit flow and ensures people get individual help choosing the
appropriate types and amounts of food as indicated on their client card.
 Summit Outreach
884 Alder Lane
Client Nutrition and Supply
Bellingham, WA 98225 By Cindy Lopez
Phone: 360.555.8110
Fax: 360.555.8115
summit@emcp.com
www.emcp.net/summit
As we are registered 501 (c) (3)
T he new Client Choice system not only maximizes our food supply
and allows clients to select their foods. It also aims to provide
nutritional balance to their product mix.

The backbone of the system is a two-tier categorization of items by food

charity, all donations are fully tax group. Products are separated into protein, soups, grain/starch, vegetable,
deductible. and fruit shelves, then further organized according to individual item type,
as in a grocery store.

A client card based upon household size indicates how many items of
each food group a client can take. At the extremes, a household of 1
receives 4 proteins and 2 each of soups, grain/starch, vegetables, and fruit,
while a household larger than 8 family members may have 16 proteins, 6
soups, and 8 each of grain/starch, vegetable, and fruit items. Families with
2 to 4 and 5 to 7 members receive an intermediate level of each food
category.

Bread, dessert, and produce areas are unaffected by this system. All
clients can still choose at least one of each type of item depending upon the
available supply.

Summit Outreach Community Services

884 Alder Lane
Bellingham, WA 98225

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