The following article was originally submitted in November of 2011 by the Orcas Island Food Bank. Not much has changed in our day-to-day operations since then and we thought it might be nice to re-tell it (with minor updates) during this fundraising time. It pretty much relates the heart and soul of what we do.

It’s a few minutes to five on a chilly Thursday evening when volunteers start arriving at the Food Bank building on Madrona Street to hand out free groceries to individuals who will be stopping by this night. About 10 are already in front chatting and commiserating, waiting for the door to open. Earlier in the day, apples, potatoes, loaves of fresh bread, even cans of dog food have been left at the large donation box just outside the side door of the building. These, and a myriad of other items wait on the shelves to go home to a grateful family.

“There are many reasons people come to the Food Bank,” says Food Bank Manager, Jeannie Doty. “For most it’s circumstance: a lost job, disabilities limiting their ability to work or a rough time in their otherwise productive life.” By Christmas, it’s anticipated that up to 300 people representing about 90 families will be coming to the Food Bank every week to receive free groceries.

The Food Bank has various ways it keeps its shelves stocked besides local residents bringing items directly to its donation boxes at any time day or night. Local farmers and home gardeners have a “Plant A Row” program in the summer for the Food Bank. Jeff Rodenberger makes trips to the Bellingham Food Bank once a month to pick up hundreds of pounds of government subsidy items and other foods from Northwest Harvest including frozen vegetables and meats, canned goods, flour, eggs, cereals, beans and pasta. “It’s just something I like to do,” he says. The Food Bank also receives apples, pears, plums and berries are dropped off by residents whose trees and bushes bear more than they can possibly eat alone.

And, of course, cold, hard cash keeps the wheels turning. Virtually all monies come from your donations and federal and state grants. “We’re always in need of cash for food purchases not covered by government subsidies, ”says Tom Murdock, president of the Food Bank Board, phone and general operations needs,” says Larry Shaw, Food Bank Board President.

Orcas Island wasn’t alone on this chilly night in October. Food Banks across the nation were doing exactly the same. But for our special island, our Orcas Island Food Bank on Madrona Street has a special heart and soul just for its own who stop by once a week on either Thursday between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. or Tuesday between 12:30 and 2 p.m.

Fall and winter are especially high-demand months and the Fall Food and Funding Drive is in full swing. This is where you can help. Cash donations may be sent to PO Box 424, Eastsound, WA 98245. For information about all of the ways to contribute, what to contribute, location of food donation boxes, cash donation jars and volunteering for the Food Bank, visit www.orcasislandfoodbank.org or call 376-6166.

You can also arrange with your bank an automatic monthly or quarterly transfer of any amount to the Food Bank, and designate the OIFB as a recipient in your endowment or legacy plan.

And if you are someone who could use its help but are reluctant to take that step, we urge you to just go once on a Tuesday or Thursday. You’ll be welcomed with open arms, two full bags of food and a heartfelt “come by again next week!”

Where food bank donations go

Fifty-five percent of the food and money the Orcas Island Food Bank receives is from our incredible Orcas community.

The graph says it all. The 33% of Community Food Donations (fresh produce, canned and other food stuffs) and 22% Community Donated Money makes up more than half of all the food and revenues we receive – which is remarkable! That’s why the annual revenue and food drive for the Food Bank is so important.

The majority of every dollar donated goes into providing food and other necessities for our Food Bank Clients.

Our only expenses are one paid part-time employee, the usual required insurances, supplies/services and some utilities. The entire Food Bank Board and those who make sure our clients receive their groceries each Tuesday and Thursday volunteer their time to make sure our clients are served first. The community donations give the food bank a way to offer clients items that would not be available from Northwest Harvest or Federal food lists. We depend on these donations from the community and they make life so much easier for our clients.

Salmonberry School gives 410 pounds

On Nov. 17, Salmonberry School’s 45 students pulled and pushed wagons overflowing with donated food to the Orcas Island Food Bank. This year’s donations totaled 410 pounds and represented the school’s largest single donation to the Food Bank to date.

According to Salmonberry’s Head of School, Paul Freedman, “Salmonberry works hard to connect our students with the larger community in which we live. Over the years this has led us at various points to partner with the Orcas Senior Center, the San Juan County Land Bank, the WA State Bureau of Land Management, the Orcas Lions Club, the Orcas Island Historical Museum, the San Juan County Council and many other local and state agencies and organizations. It is not enough that our students are learning academic skills. We feel they must learn to care. =To care for themselves, their friends, their community and the world in general. We try to cultivate their capacity to utilize their literacy and numeracy skills and apply them to the real world. We help them to become powerful creative and critical thinkers who are able to make a positive difference in the world. It is in that spirit that, for fifteen years, we have partnered with the Orcas Food Bank, raising kids’ awareness regarding issues of hunger locally and globally and then doing what we can to make a difference.”

This year’s students were glowing with pride and a sense of accomplishment as they delivered and weighed this year’s contribution.