Food Bank Annual Food and Fund Drive

by the Orcas Island Food Bank Board

Thanks to our wonderful community, the Orcas Island Food Bank is able to help sustain struggling families until they are able to get back on a stable path.  Even though we’re beginning to see some economic improvement on Orcas this year, the Food Bank continues to experience an increase in the number of clients who need our help keeping food on the table. In 2012, we served 353 different families. This year, we are serving 377 families to date. This represents more than 880 individuals.   And, with the government shutdown, we anticipate there could be an even greater need as we near the Holidays.

To date, we have distributed 68,000 pounds of food. If the trend continues, we will distribute more than 100,000 pounds by the end of the year.  We partner with groups like Northwest Harvest and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), obtain grants, coordinate regular food and monetary contributions from local businesses and farmers, collect non-perishable donations and use appropriate wholesale resources.

Your generous help 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.

SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

• A check payable to the Orcas Island Food Bank for any amount and mailed to us at PO Box 424, Eastsound, WA 98245.

• Arrange with your bank to make an automatic monthly or quarterly transfer of any given amount to the Orcas Island Food Bank

• Bring unused, unopened, non-perishables to our drop box on the north side of the Food Bank building located at 116 Madrona Street, or the Senior Center, Key Bank, and the post office in Orcas.

Individuals wishing to help in other ways at the Food Bank may call Maggie Kaplan at 376-4372.

If your group or organization would like to partner with the Food Bank to hold a food drive, call 376-4445 for information about what is most urgently needed.

The Board and volunteers sincerely thank you for continuing to support our Island Food Bank.