Emmanuel Shares Market Day Money with Orcas Nonprofits

October 31, 2023 1:30 am
Margie Bangs photo. Cheryl Helm (right), Housing Support Specialist, receives Market Day proceeds for the Orcas Community Resource Center from Lynn Baker, Emmanuel parishioner.
Margie Bangs photo. Cheryl Helm (right), Housing Support Specialist, receives Market Day proceeds for the Orcas Community Resource Center from Lynn Baker, Emmanuel parishioner.

Submitted by Emmanuel Episcopal Parish.

The Community Resource Center. Mercy Flights. The Food Bank. Safe San Juans. The Pea Patch Project of the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

These local nonprofits received a total of $5,250 this past week from Emmanuel Episcopal Parish in Eastsound, as the church shared proceeds of its 2023 Market Day sale.

“Market Day is one way we help support our broader community,” said Berto Gandara, Emmanuel’s rector. “We are grateful to the hundreds of Orcas residents and visitors who take home treasures from Market Day. And we’re grateful to be able to share the income from that sale with other Orcas nonprofits.”

Emmanuel’s Market Day, an outdoor rummage sale, has been held each July since 1940. Originally created to raise funds for the church roof, the parish now divides the proceeds between building maintenance and outreach to other Orcas island nonprofits.

“Orcas Island is a wonderful community. We’re glad to be part of it,” Gandara said.

Established in 1885, Emmanuel offers use of its facilities to Orcas nonprofits without charge for special events. Parishioners host a free dinner open to everyone the last Thursday of each month and free movies with popcorn the second Thursday of each month (Movie Night, 7 p.m.). In summer, Emmanuel’s noon music concerts raise funds to send Orcas students to music camp. Church Garden Gang volunteers tend the grounds year-round, and welcome many, many tourists to Eastsound and Emmanuel’s labyrinth.

Margie Bangs photo. Operations Manager Alison O’Toole (left) and AmeriCorps members Mads Hall (with cap) and Aurora Fackler-Adams receive Market Day proceeds for the Orcas Island Food Bank from Lynn Baker, Emmanuel parishioner.

Margie Bangs photo. Operations Manager Alison O’Toole (left) and AmeriCorps members Mads Hall (with cap) and Aurora Fackler-Adams receive Market Day proceeds for the Orcas Island Food Bank from Lynn Baker, Emmanuel parishioner.

Margie Bangs photo. Karen Blinn (right), whose husband, Gil, has flown more than 1,000 Mercy Flights for Orcas Island residents, receives Market Day proceeds to help keep Mercy Flights flying.

Margie Bangs photo. Karen Blinn (right), whose husband, Gil, has flown more than 1,000 Mercy Flights for Orcas Island residents, receives Market Day proceeds to help keep Mercy Flights flying.

Margie Bangs photo. Molly Donovan, Finance Administrator (center) and Tera Andaya, Director of Community Engagement and Public Relations, receive Market Day proceeds for the Orcas Island Community Foundation’s Pea Patch Project from Lynn Baker, Emmanuel parishioner (right).

Margie Bangs photo. Molly Donovan, Finance Administrator (center) and Tera Andaya, Director of Community Engagement and Public Relations, receive Market Day proceeds for the Orcas Island Community Foundation’s Pea Patch Project from Lynn Baker, Emmanuel parishioner (right).