What does the Food Bank do? How many families does it serve each week? Where does the food come from? What kinds of meals are served? Why does the Food Bank need a new facility?

The Orcas Food Bank invites all islanders to its first open house on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. to answer some of the above questions.

Enjoy a BBQ hamburger lunch comparable to those served weekly to Food Bank clients, learn about the ongoing, increasing needs of islanders in danger of being hungry, and find out how you can help.

Each week, on average, the Food Bank provides food for 60 families, about twice the number seen in the recent past. When its original facility proved to be inadequate and at the generous invitation of the Community Church, last year the Food Bank moved into temporary space in the lower level of the Church. The Food Bank Board now intends to vacate the Church space late in the year and move into a new, 24×48 modular distribution facility in the Church parking lot.

“We’ve been a crucial but quiet community service for more than 20 years,” said Joyce Shaw, Board Vice President. “We want Orcas Islanders to know more about what we do and why we need their help – and to thank them for their ongoing help in the past. We’ve raised about half the money we need for the relocation and hope the Open House will move us closer to our goal.”