Although food bank recipients may be reticent about publicly discussing the importance of the service to their lives, it doesn’t mean they aren’t grateful. And it doesn’t mean that the service isn’t vital.

And in line with its motto, “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” the Orcas community needs to step up and donate to give the food bank a new home.

Since January of this year, it has served more than 250 households, which averages to around 60 families per week. If each family included only two people, that is a minimum of 500 people, which is 10 percent of the Orcas population.

This means that men, women, and children who otherwise would be hungry are given what they need to survive. A typical bag for a family of four includes canned goods, fruit, pasta, baked goods, and personal care products. Families can also pick up peanut butter, jam, cereal, dry milk, flour, sugar, rice, dried beans, corn meal, bread, and fresh vegetables from local farmers. It all adds up to about 65 pounds of goods per family.

The food bank does not have a paid staff. Instead, it relies on 30 volunteers, led by Larry and Joyce Shaw, who work out of the basement of the Orcas Island Community Church. The food bank has had many homes over its 25-year history, but the current spot is crowded and limited in storage space (Island Market currently houses a lot of the food bank’s goods).

In a nutshell: its needs are increasing and usage is up. A new space is needed.

In order to operate efficiently, the food bank needs a refrigerator, freezer, and dry storage under one roof. It also needs prep areas to repackage bulk foods into appropriate portions.

The answer? A 24’ x 48’ modular building. The community church has already agreed to lease space on its property for $1 a year.

Generous island donors have pledged $65,000 for the building – but it’s a matching fund. Which means you and I have to donate. Whether it’s $1, $10, or $1,000, it all goes to helping feed our island families.

The food bank has already raised $10,000, so all that is left is $55,000. The goal is to raise it by Thanksgiving of this year.

Those who can afford to give, need to give. As winter approaches and seasonal work dwindles, the food bank is only going to see more islanders in need of help.

If we can band together as part of the effort to raise $18.5 million to buy Turtleback Mountain, then raising $55,000 should be a breeze.

How to donate

Mail checks payable to OICF/OIFB Building Fund, P.O. Box 1496, Eastsound, WA 98245. Email lajoy@centurytel.net for more information.