Your Food Bank Board and Volunteers Thank You!
We can’t believe another year has passed, and it’s time again to give you an update of the Food Bank’s annual accomplishments and launch our ANNUAL FOOD AND FUND DRIVE!
Our New Look! In March, the community helped us choose our new logo. Many thanks for your enthusiastic participation!
Emergency Preparedness – A big focus this year was to be prepared for emergencies that might threaten our ability to provide food to our clients during an emergency. Thanks to generous donors, we were able to purchase and install a 500-gallon propane tank and generator to keep our refrigerated and frozen products cold during a power outage. We’ll now be able to provide power for several days should a major power outage occur. This was made possible through a Community Foundation (OICF) grant funded by our community and private donors.
Summer Produce – Maple Rock Farm, Morning Star Farm and several home growers contributed amazing organic tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, potatoes, green beans, kale, lettuces, apple and pears. The quality of the fresh food available to our clients is superb.
Community Impact – Our Food Bank Manager, Jeannie Doty, and awesome volunteers who donate a monthly average of 212 hours handle day-to-day functions and product acquisitions. They keep things running smoothly, serving an average of 90 families with important food staples, fresh produce and hygiene items.
We are supported by organized nonprofit, state, and federal food programs, including Northwest Harvest, TEFAP, and EFAP. But that’s only 40% of what we provide. Most of it comes from you. As you can see from the pie chart, 60% of our food and money comes from right here on Orcas Island.
We hope you will take advantage of one or more of the following ways to help during our Annual Food and Fund Drive:
The Easiest – Donate online! Go to www.orcasislandfoodbank.org and click on “How to Help,” then click “Donate Online through the Orcas Island Community Foundation.”
Mail a check to the Orcas Island Food Bank (OIFB), P.O. Box 464, Eastsound 98245. Donations of any amount really help!
Arrange with your bank an automatic monthly or quarterly transfer of any amount to the Food Bank.
Designate the OIFB as a recipient in your endowment or legacy plan.
Bring unopened nonperishable items dated no earlier than 2014 to our drop box on the north side of the Food Bank building on Madrona St. You can also donate at the Senior Center, Key Bank, or the post office at the Orcas Landing.
Hold a food drive or fundraising event to benefit the Food Bank.
Donate every time you make a purchase at Amazon.com by going to smile.amazon.com and choosing Orcas Island Food Bank as your charity. All purchases you make through smile.amazon.com after that will help our Food Bank.
Once again, the OIFB Board Members and the families who benefit from your generosity thank you deeply for your continued support!
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