The Annual Food Bank “Food and Fund Drive” Begins

— from the Orcas Island Food Bank Board —

This year, the Orcas Island Food Bank (OIFB) has seen some amazing changes, has implemented new programs and is expanding its facility to better serve our clients:

• The Food Bank Board has partnered with Orcas Senior Services to implement a new senior outreach service that delivers groceries every Friday to seniors unable to leave their homes.
• We are in the process of placing a new 180-square-foot modular building behind the existing Food Bank building that will eliminate off-premises storage and allow us to receive and store more goods for distribution to our clients.
• Thanks to our generous local farms, home gardeners and the Master Gardener Gleaners, we received a tremendous amount of fresh fruits and produce this year.  We will be purchasing a new, large commercial refrigerator that will keep larger amounts of dairy and produce items fresher, longer.  This was made possible by donors through the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

We are currently seeing an average of 388 client visits each month, representing approximately 864 family members, up slightly from 2013. Between 9/1/13 and 8/31/14, we delivered an estimated 136,410 pounds of food products to our clients.

The Orcas community sustains our ability to provide supplemental groceries for those having to make the impossible choice between rent, utilities, childcare, gas, medications and food.   Just $50 helps to support a family of four for two weeks.

THE MANY WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

• Mail a check for any amount payable to the Orcas Island Food Bank, PO Box 424, Eastsound 98245
• Arrange with your bank to make an automatic monthly or quarterly transfer of any given amount to OIFB.
• Designate OIFB as a recipient in your endowment or legacy plan.
• Bring unused, unopened, non-perishable items to our drop box on the north side of the Food Bank building, located at 116 Madrona Street, or the Senior Center, Key Bank, or the post office in Orcas.
• Hold a food drive or fundraising event to benefit OIFB.

The Orcas Island Food Bank, established in 1984, is dedicated to assisting all Island families needing food without question. We deeply thank the community for its continuing generous support.