Yesterday morning, just after exchanging text messages with my family to negotiate who is making what for our Thanksgiving feast, and just before sitting down to talk about recipes and coping strategies for Thanksgiving cooking on our podcast, Blabbermouth, I read an article in the South Seattle Emerald about the changing demographics of Columbia City.

The piece is well worth a read; it's filled with information about the history of the neighborhood, and author Nicole Einbinder includes a variety of voices and perspectives. One big item jumped out at me: According to Miguel Jimenez of the Rainier Valley Food Bank, the food bank experienced a 59 percent increase in service levels over the past four years.

In King Country, 14 percent of adults experience food insecurity, which means that they are unsure how they will get their next meal. According to Northwest Harvest, a statewide organization that supplies hungry Washingtonians with food through food banks, meal programs, and schools, one in five children lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table. One in five Washington residents also relies on their local food bank to eat.

On Wednesday, the Rainier Valley food bank set a single-day record, serving 726 families, providing 2,949 adults and children with much needed food. Its busiest days of the year are the two on-site food distribution days immediately before Thanksgiving.

Local food banks are always in need of non-perishable items, particularly canned fruit, soups, and proteins. They also take cash donations. If you'd like to donate for the holidays (or any time of year, for that matter) or if you need food yourself, here's a list of a few of local food banks.

• Asian Counseling & Referral Service (International District)
• Ballard Food Bank
• Beacon Avenue Food Bank (Beacon Hill)
• Centerstone (Central District)
• El Centro de la Raza (Beacon Hill)
• FamilyWorks (Wallingford)
• North Greenwood Food Bank
• North Helpline's Northgate/Lake City Food Bank
• Northwest Harvest's Cherry Street Food Bank
• Rainier Valley Food Bank
• Pike Market Food Bank
• Seattle Indian Center (International District)
• St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank (Georgetown)
• St. Mary’s Food Bank (Central District)
• University District Food Bank
• West Seattle Food Bank

For more information, here is a comprehensive list of food banks in King County.