FISH of Cowlitz County

Fish of Cowlitz County provides a food pantry. Serves Cowlitz County

Need food?Call 636-1100
weekdays between
9 a.m. and noon
FISH enables people to get food, fill prescriptions, see a dentist, pay overdue water or PUD bills, buy boots or clothing required to start a new job or fill a variety of other needs.

Help is immediate. Volunteers working from home can order a prescription to be picked up the same day or make an emergency dental appointment within 24 hours. All services begin with a phone call to the FISH line (636-1100).

FISH partners with 17 Longview and Kelso churches to give away food five days a week. On an average day, 30 households totaling 104 people get free food. FISH buys meat, eggs and bread for every church.

Food recipients may get food up to three times a month from FISH. In 2014 and 2015, no household exceeded the annual limit.

FISH aids children directly and indirectly. In 2015, 40% of the food recipients were children. And 40% of households receiving water or PUD help last year had children.

FISH delivers only goods and services. It does not hand out money.
It works with local businesses and agencies that bill FISH.

FISH has no "means test" people are not required to document their need. Volunteers trust callers who say they need help. Thats why FISH can provide help immediately.

Do the same people continually hit up FISH for freebies? No! FISH has volunteers assigned to monitor the frequency of use among all clients. Abuse is rare. When it is uncovered, clients are denied services.

* Make sure you check by calling the food pantry to confirm that they still are in operation and the hours have not changed.