Free Food Resources And Catering Services In Olympia Washington

Olympia, Washington offers a variety of food resources for residents and visitors, ranging from free community food services to professional catering options. This article explores the available free food resources through community organizations and details the catering services provided by local establishments in the Olympia area.

Free Food Resources in Olympia

For individuals seeking free food assistance in Olympia, two primary resources are available: the Little Free Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Community Kitchen. These organizations provide food support to community members in need without charge.

Little Free Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian Church

The Little Free Pantry is located at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Olympia, Washington. The pantry is situated at the front of the parking lot in front of the garden, not at the church building itself. The exact address is 1925 Boulevard Rd, Olympia, WA 98501.

This community food resource operates on an honor system where individuals can take what they need and contribute if possible. The pantry is part of the broader "Little Free Pantry Movement" which aims to address food insecurity through community-supported sharing networks. Alongside the food pantry, there is also a Little Free Library available at the same location.

The Little Free Pantry provides an accessible resource for community members seeking food assistance without the formal requirements that some food assistance programs may have. Its presence at a church location reflects the community's commitment to supporting neighbors in need through grassroots initiatives.

Community Kitchen

The Community Kitchen serves as another vital resource for free meals in Olympia. Located at 808 5th Ave SE – just east of Plum in downtown Olympia, this organization provides nutritious meals to community members throughout the year.

The Community Kitchen operates Monday through Saturday, with the following schedule: - Lunch service: 11 am until 12 pm - Dinner service: 5 pm until 6 pm

The kitchen is closed on Sundays. These meal times provide consistent access to food for individuals and families who may be experiencing food insecurity. The meals served are described as nutritious, indicating that the organization prioritizes providing balanced and healthy food options.

In addition to serving meals, the Community Kitchen offers volunteer opportunities for community members who wish to contribute their time and skills. Those interested in volunteering can contact Christian Serrania, the Community Involvement Coordinator, by email or phone at 253-625-1894.

Volunteers are asked to specify: 1) What days and times work best for them 2) Whether they want to volunteer once a month or more frequently 3) Whether they prefer to help with lunch or dinner service

Volunteer schedules vary based on the meal service: - Lunch crew members arrive at 9 am and work until 12:30 pm - Dinner crews arrive at 2:30 pm to help prepare and serve the meal, with some volunteers arriving only to help serve at 4:30 pm - All dinner crew members are asked to stay and clean up until 6:30 pm

Once a volunteer schedule is established, participants receive a map showing where to park for free and where to enter The Community Kitchen. This structured approach to volunteering ensures that the kitchen can maintain consistent operations while providing meaningful opportunities for community engagement.

Catering Services in Olympia

In addition to free food resources, Olympia offers numerous catering options for various events and occasions. These commercial catering services provide paid food delivery and pickup services for meetings, parties, and other gatherings.

IHOP Catering

IHOP operates a location in Olympia at 1520 Cooper Point Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98502, offering catering services for breakfast, lunch, and dinner events. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 6:00 am to 12:00 am, and Sunday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

IHOP's catering service emphasizes breakfast options, promoting their ability to provide "fluffy, buttermilk pancakes and savory bacon, plus scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, coffee and more" for office events and gatherings. The service markets itself as an option that can "make your party or event even better" with their menu offerings.

The catering service appears to focus on convenience and variety, allowing hosts to "change up the routine with a spread that everyone's sure to love." IHOP positions their catering as suitable for various occasions, though the specific menu options and ordering process details are not provided in the source material.

Applebee's Catering

Applebee's in Olympia, located at 2500 Capitol Mall Dr SW, Olympia, WA 99071, offers catering services for a wide range of events and occasions. Their catering menu features full-size party trays including pasta dishes, salads, and sandwich platters designed to serve groups of 6 to 8 people or 10 to 12 people.

The service allows customers to "mix and match" platters to customize their order for guest satisfaction. Available options include: - Salads - Appetizer combos - Pasta catering - America's Favorite Boneless Wings

Applebee's emphasizes the convenience of their catering service, noting that lunch catering is available for same-day delivery. They position themselves as an option for "any gathering" and highlight their ability to provide "deliciously packed food trays" for lunch or dinner events.

The service promotes versatility, listing numerous occasions they can cater for, including: - Graduation parties - Weddings - Birthdays - Tailgates - Tea parties - Bridal showers - Game nights - Office parties - Conferences - Team building events - Holiday gatherings (Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve) - Other custom events

Applebee's appears to focus on providing convenient, reliable catering service with a variety of options suitable for different group sizes and event types.

The Lucky Lunchbox

The Lucky Lunchbox is a catering service located at 2826 S. Capitol Blvd, Olympia, WA. They specialize in sandwich catering for teams and groups, offering both pickup and delivery options.

The business operates with the following hours: - Monday – Friday: 8 am – 4:00 pm - Saturdays: 8 am – 2:00 pm

Their catering service offers flexibility with options for: - Full catering services - Individual box lunches - Mix and match sandwich trays

Customers can place orders ahead of time for pickup in the store. For orders of up to 12 people, the business will have the order ready for pickup in the store. They also offer delivery, but with specific limitations: - Delivery is available only within a 3-mile radius of The Lucky Lunchbox - Delivery is available only between the hours of 10:30 am and 1:30 pm

Customers can contact The Lucky Lunchbox by phone at (360) 529-8164 or by email to place orders or inquire about their services.

Budd Bay Cafe Catering

Budd Bay Cafe Catering has been serving Olympia, WA, and the surrounding areas since 1988, making it one of the more established catering services in the region. The business is family-owned and operated, positioning itself as having "a proven recipe for success" with over 25 years of being voted "best in the south sound."

The catering service offers versatility for various occasions, including: - Meetings - Baby showers - Weddings - Private events - Retirement parties - Celebrations of life - Company parties - Anniversaries - Family events - Holiday parties - Bridal showers

What distinguishes Budd Bay Cafe Catering is their flexibility in menu creation. While they offer their menu specialties for catering, they emphasize their willingness to "collaborate closely with you to create a custom menu tailored to your specific event requirements." The service indicates that they are open to unique requests not currently listed on their menu, suggesting a high degree of customization for clients.

The business employs a dedicated catering manager who works closely with clients to ensure "your event exceeds your expectations." This personalized approach suggests a focus on client satisfaction and event success.

Budd Bay Cafe Catering can be contacted by phone at 360-972-6669 for inquiries about their services and menu options.

EZ Foods Olympia

EZ Foods Olympia distinguishes itself through its commitment to homemade, scratch-cooked food prepared exclusively for each customer. The business emphasizes that they "make everything from scratch exclusively for you and build a menu based on your budget."

Their culinary approach includes: - Blending their own spices - Growing herbs and edible flowers - Slow cooking and smoking meats - Handcrafting small batches of artisan vinegars and sauces

The business also highlights delicious vegan and gluten-free options, indicating their ability to accommodate various dietary preferences and restrictions.

EZ Foods Olympia offers buffet-style catering with a menu based on customers' favorite items. They provide a buffet menu featuring a selection of entrees including: - Chicken dishes (Marsala, Pesto, Tirato, Cilantro Cream) - Beef - Pork - Seafood - Vegetarian options - Pasta dishes

Each entree on the buffet menu includes the customer's choice of one salad and one side dish. The business emphasizes their willingness to create custom menus to satisfy unique tastes, suggesting flexibility beyond their standard offerings.

Customers can view the buffet menu on their website, and the business appears to focus on quality ingredients and preparation methods as key differentiators in the local catering market.

Conclusion

Olympia, Washington offers a range of food resources for residents and visitors. For those seeking free food assistance, the Little Free Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Community Kitchen provide valuable services without charge. The Little Free Pantry operates on an honor system at the church's location, while the Community Kitchen serves nutritious meals on specific schedules throughout the week.

For catering needs, Olympia offers several professional services with different specialties. IHOP focuses on breakfast catering, Applebee's provides diverse party platters, The Lucky Lunchbox specializes in sandwich catering, Budd Bay Cafe Catering offers customizable menus for various events, and EZ Foods Olympia emphasizes scratch-cooked, customized buffet options.

These catering services operate with different hours, delivery capabilities, and menu specializations, providing options for various event types and group sizes. While none of these commercial services offer free samples or complimentary catering, they represent the paid catering options available in Olympia.

The combination of free food resources and professional catering services demonstrates Olympia's commitment to addressing food insecurity while providing quality catering options for community events and gatherings.

Sources

1. IHOP Catering Near You at 1520 Cooper Point Rd SW
2. Applebee's Catering in Olympia
3. The Lucky Lunchbox
4. Budd Bay Cafe Catering
5. EZ Foods Olympia Menus
6. Westminster Presbyterian Church Little Free Pantry
7. Community Kitchen Services