Every dollar is one step closer to a real food bank facility for Orcas Island.
The campaign is officially underway for a 24×48 modular distribution building to house the Orcas Food Bank, which is experiencing a sizable increase in its number of patrons. On average, it provides food for 60 families, about twice the number seen in recent years.
The new building will be outfitted with shelving for food storage, sinks, a restroom, office space and refrigerators and will do away with the need for warehouse storage. The building has been designed to make the movement of visitors easy and more efficient.
The community has been watching the Food Bank’s financial progress via a large wooden dial in Eastsound. Anonymous donors have pledged $65,000 in matching funds, which will be facilitated by the Orcas Island Community Foundation. The goal is to raise $65,000 by Thanksgiving, bringing the grand total to $130,000, which is enough to purchase, place and furnish a modular building.
“It’s a push,” said board member George Post. “We’re hoping everything goes smoothly, but it’s a tough time. Everyone is looking for money.”
Post recently moved that dial to the 55 percent mark after receiving $6,000, a combination of donations collected during an Aug. 28 open house and local contributions.
The food bank was first housed at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in the mid 1980s, followed by a building at the airport, and then in a space provided by OPALCO. In 2009, it moved into the Orcas Island Community Church basement. Greater visibility and easier accessibility, coupled with the economy, have brought increasing numbers to the Tuesday daytime and Thursday evening open hours. The church has agreed to lease space for the new building for $1 a year.
“Our agreement with the church is only temporary, and our intention has always been to use this time there to proceed with plans to build our own facility,” said food bank vice president Joyce Shaw. “The churchs offer of an extended lease at $1 a year makes this possible.”
Shaw says the food bank’s lunches will not be served in the new digs, but will continue at the church.
“The food bank does not have anything to do with the lunches served each week,” she said. “The community of churches on the island have taken this service on themselves and under the coordination of Barb Griffin of the Community Church, they cooperate together in providing the hot meals each Tuesday. It is my understanding that they will continue to do this in the Community Church. The close proximity of the two buildings will make it easy.”
To donate
Checks can be made out to the OICF/OIFB Building Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 1496, Eastsound, WA 98245. For more information, call Joyce Shaw at 376-4609.
