Tenino Community Service Center

Our Mission

Tenino Community Service Center (TCSC) provides food, care, and emergency resources for anyone in need, regardless of where they live. Our mission is simple: if you are hungry, we will feed you, and if you are in crisis, we will help you find the support you need. We are a community-based organization rooted in compassion and dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and families across South Thurston and North Lewis Counties.

Our Story

Founded in 1984 by a small group of volunteers with a big vision for community care, TCSC began as a modest food pantry serving the town of Tenino. Four decades later, we have grown into a vital rural resource center serving thousands of people each year throughout Tenino, Bucoda, Rainier, and surrounding areas. Our work is made possible by a dedicated volunteer base and strong partnerships with local organizations, schools, and service agencies that share our belief that no one should have to go without life’s essentials.

Access to healthy food remains at the heart of what we do. We understand the critical role nutrition plays in overall wellbeing and in preventing chronic health conditions related to food insecurity. That is why we prioritize offering food choices that reflect our clients’ cultures, respect individual dietary needs, and align with their preferences.

What We Do

TCSC operates a range of programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our rural community, with a particular focus on those who face barriers to transportation, income, and access to healthy food.

• Emergency Food Assistance: Weekly food distributions at the Tenino Food Bank provide fresh, nutritious groceries to families and individuals experiencing food insecurity.
• Senior and Shut-In Program: Volunteers deliver food and personal care items to seniors and homebound residents who are unable to travel.
• Cheri’s Kids Food Program: In partnership with local schools, TCSC ensures that children have access to kid-friendly meals year-round, including weekends and school breaks.
• Satellite and Delivery Services: Mobile distribution sites in Bucoda and support for partner sites like Rainier Valley Heart Food Bank ensure that resources reach even the most remote areas.
• Veterans Closet and Workforce Training: These programs provide essential goods, job readiness support, and connection to additional community resources.
• Seasonal and Emergency Assistance: From holiday toy drives to disaster relief and utility assistance, TCSC responds wherever the need arises.

Our Commitment

TCSC is proud to be an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, not affiliated with other food banks in Thurston County. We remain deeply connected to our community and dedicated to the belief that rural residents deserve the same access to nutritious food, essential services, and opportunities for stability as those in more urban areas.

Every day, we work to ensure that no one faces hunger or hardship alone — because when our neighbors are cared for, our entire community grows stronger.