Sixteen Comcast employees and family members painted the top floor of Help Warehouse as part of Comcast Cares Day, last Saturday, April 25.

“This is the first time it’s been painted in living memory,” said Lois Shelton, Help Warehouse Program Manager. Shelton has worked for CAP for 24 years. Help Warehouse is located in the CAP building at 1526 Commerce Avenue, in Longview, next to the Columbia Theater. The building was originally a Sears building, constructed in 1947. Lower Columbia Community Action Program purchased the building in 1991.

The painting effort was part of the national Comcast Cares Day, where local Comcast employees volunteer their time and skills to the communities they serve. Comcast also donated the paint and supplies.

Help Warehouse will have its new paint job in time for this year’s Letters’ Carrier Food Drive on Saturday, May 9.

Shelton is eager for the postal food drive, the largest community wide food drive of the year (second only to Walk n’ Knock in December.)

She reports that the food banks are experiencing a surge of new people coming to them for assistance. “The food banks distributed 4300 food boxes in December, one of our heaviest months. We have seen steady increases in January, February and March.” In March, 5827 food boxes were distributed.

“Not surprising, given the job losses and fifteen percent unemployment rate in Cowlitz County,” said Shelton.

Help Warehouse will look brighter and cleaner for this year’s food drive. “We are so grateful to Comcast for brightening up the place,” said Shelton.