A grant from the Employees Community Fund of aerospace giant Boeing, has allowed Washington hunger relief agency Northwest Harvest, to acquire a new forklift to improve safety and efficiency at its SODO Community Market.

Boeing says the previous forklift used by the charity was old and failing, forcing staff to manually load and unload goods which led to delays in opening hours for shoppers.

The SODO Community Market operates similarly to a grocery store but has no prices and is available to those in need of support.

“Reliable material handling equipment affects how quickly volunteers can set up, how fresh produce is preserved and how many people the market can serve in a morning shift,” Boeing explains.

“The new forklift’s reliability, tight turning radius and ability to navigate uneven property terrain let staff move pallets faster and more safely in the market’s compact space.”

SODO Community Market manager Roy McCree says staff are now certified to use the new Crown forklift.

“That confidence means we can open on time with no delays,” McCree continues. “Shoppers often arrive early in the cold and rain, so consistency matters. The new forklift reduces manual unloading, lowers staff stress and gives us the confidence to get going each morning.”