A Dear Friend’s Wish Sustains RVFB

In the weeks since we lost a treasured friend this summer, we have been humbled by the outpouring of generosity Patrice Benson’s loved ones have given to Rainier Valley Food Bank.

One of Patrice’s final wishes, as she waged a fiercely courageous but all-too-brief battle with cancer, was for people to donate to the food bank rather than sending her family flowers after she died.

Since she passed away on July 25, we’ve received more than $11,400 in Patrice’s memory. Those contributions will help us feed thousands of our neighbors at a time when hunger in our community is on the rise.

Patrice was deeply involved with so many organizations — the Puget Sound Mycology Society, the Daniel Stuntz Foundation, Les Dames d’Escoffier, the Polish Cultural Center to name a few. So we are that much more touched that she asked the legions of people who loved her to support Rainier Valley Food Bank.

“It fit who she was: feeding, giving, taking care of people, taking care of community,” said Jean Zatochill, RVFB board member and Patrice’s best friend.

We are so thankful to have known Patrice, and that her family — Dr. Edward Benson, her husband; daughters Katie and Jill, who volunteers for RVFB and serves on our development committee — supported her generous wish.

Read more about Patrice in Seattle Times’ obituary and in this 2008 Times story, “Mushroom foragers love the thrill of the hunt.”

If you’d like to give in Patrice’s memory, you can donate online at rvfb.org, or mail a check to 4205 Rainier Ave S., Seattle, WA 98118.