While the turkeys they’re handing out aren’t quite twice the size of Tiny Tim, Orcas Island Food Bank volunteers are loading up cardboard boxes of cheer and plenty with cranberry sauce, potatoes, stuffing mix and more to keep local families from a meager, Bob Cratchitt-esque holiday meal.
Lending a hand is just part of the weekly routine for around 25 islanders who show up to organize shelves, bag groceries and pass out daily bread.
Right now they’re working out of a cramped storeroom in the Orcas Island Community Church basement, watching the red wooden fundraising dial inch slowly toward 100 percent of the $130,000 goal that will mean a new building for the food bank.
“It gets wild and crazy where we are, just stacks and stacks of canned goods,” said volunteer Tina Davidson. “We’re constantly trying to dodge each other; it’s a narrow area with people running through. It’s everybody’s dream to see a permanent structure for the food bank.”
After the latest donation, a $500 check from the Orcas Island Association of Realtors, the dial is now at 80 percent. Food bank heads Larry and Joyce Shaw are hoping to reach their goal by Thanksgiving.
“There’s no wasted space,” said Davidson of the building’s design. “It is functional and to the point. It’s very carefully thought out; this is what we need, and no more.”
The Sounder interviewed three regular food bank volunteers, and here’s what they said about their work.
Tina Davidson
An Orcas High School grad, Davidson helped her parents run the Outlook Inn, served as household staff for the Kaiser family and worked as Rosario Resort’s first life guard before beginning her 30-year professional career in dental hygiene. She worked all across the U.S. before returning to Orcas, where she lives with her husband, Jerry.
Davidson’s last employment before hanging up her water squirter was with dentist Brenda Ivans.
She now works as a self-described “bag lady” in the food bank back room.
“One day somebody yelled through the door, ‘Hey bag ladies, I need a bag,’ and we just started laughing hysterically,” said Davidson. “That’s what we do: we bag stuff all day long.”
It’s important to Davidson to customize food packages to fit each family’s needs.
“Everyone who comes in is such an individual; they have such individual needs,” she said.
She enjoys her work because, she says, “It’s being part of something where you know you’re making a huge impact on the community – because this could happen to any of us; there are a lot of people out there that are not very far away (from the food bank). You meet all kinds of nifty, wonderful people.”
And because, “Doggone, when you’re doing it, you know that’s where you’re supposed to be,” she said.
Bev Ohlman
A retired realtor, Ohlman and her husband Jim moved to Orcas in 2000.
“I do it because I love it,” said Ohlman. “The food bank is the most wonderful place. The people are absolutely delightful, the little children. They’re from all previous walks of life, and are just now having a hard time financially.”
A front-room bag lady, Ohlman re-bags large donations into smaller bags for distribution. She sees 50-lb sacks of pinto beans, veggies from local farmers, bulk cornmeal, spices, flour and more.
“I never volunteered at the other place because it was so cold and so awful, but the second they opened the place at the church (I came),” said Ohlman. “We do grab a bite of lunch with the people that come, chat with them… Some of them we really get to know: the people that need cat food, dog food. We try if we know they’re vegetarians… or have other health issues, and have it bagged for them when they come.”
Ohlman has been amazed at the consistent generosity of the community.
“We are so thrilled at what people on the island bring in,” she said. “People would be really surprised at how many people on the island stop by weekly bringing things.” She added that more volunteers are always welcome.
Maria Webster
Natives of Canada, Webster and her husband Don moved to Orcas in 2003 from California. She became involved with the food bank a couple of years ago when she won a Lions Club raffle for $1,000 worth of groceries. Living in a temporary rental with no storage, she decided to split her winnings between the animal shelter and the food bank.
“That was my first involvement with the need on the island,” she said. “I had no idea.”
In 2009 she visited the food bank’s new location at the church.
She recalls, “I saw all the cans and all stuff, and I love to organize! Something just clicked. I like to make order out of chaos. Then I met Tina, who feels the same way. We really connected in the back room.”
Webster enjoys being a food bank volunteer.
“It’s a nice group of people to be working with. It’s nice to see the cameraderie among people, the socializing. It’s just kind of like a highlight of my week to come in. We have a very generous island.”
