Orcas Island Food Bank Launches Annual Fund Drive

By Madie Murray

Recognizing that hunger and hard times are not behind us, the Orcas Island Food Bank is launching its annual fund drive.

Your pennies go a long way at the Food Bank

You Can Help in Several Ways…

• Write a check payable to the Orcas Island Food Bank for any amount, big or small, and mail it TODAY to PO Box 424, Eastsound, WA 98245. Every $50 supports a family of four for two weeks.

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

•  Bring non-perishables to our drop-off sites: the Food Bank building at 116 Madrona Street, the Senior Center, Key Bank; and Post Offices in Eastsound, Deer Harbor and Orcas.

•  Hold a food drive or fundraising benefit at your business or event.

An average of 82 families a week are being served by the Orcas Island Food Bank compared to 79 in 2011.  Sixty-one THOUSAND pounds of food have already been distributed to hungry families so far this year.

No one is paid to make it happen…its all-volunteer staff does it all: they order and track our food inventory; they pick up pallets of groceries at the Bellingham distribution center; they oversee repackaging and distribution during Food Bank open hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays; they maintain the building and grounds, and provide all required Federal recordkeeping.  They make our Food Bank run efficiently – and with a smile.

They take advantage of all available resources to secure highly nutritious food at the most minimal cost by partnering with groups like Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program.)  We obtain Washington State and Orcas Island Community Foundation grants, coordinate regular food contributions from local businesses and farmers, collect non-perishable donation and use wholesale resources.

The Orcas Island Food Bank is community grown and supported.   Your dollars supply supplemental groceries for those who are facing impossible choices between rent, utility bills, childcare, transportation, medications and food.