Food bank serving more families than ever before

Food on the table… Warm clothes to wear…

New toys for children…

Jeanie Ovenell of the Stanwood- Camano Food Bank calls it “glorious.”

Tracy Ulrich of the Christmas House calls it “amazing.”

In the hearts and minds of residents throughout the area, it appears to be considered “necessary.”

Starting with drives in September and continuing through December, the food bank and Christmas House were inundated with donations from local businesses, organizations, churches, students and residents.

Sitting behind a stack of receipt books, Ovenell praised the community’s outpouring of care.

“The response is so fabulous,” she said. “There are too many people to list.”

It’s a problem Ovenell is thankful for.

Monetary and food item donations from the community helped the food bank provide nearly 400 families with Thanksgiving dinners complete with a turkey and all the trimmings in November.

Last week, the food bank served Christmas dinner sets including whole chickens, sides and a choice of turkey or ham to more than 300 families.

Both events served individuals in need.

These special days at the food bank are filled with “lots of tears and lots of smiles,” said Ovenell.

Reactions at the Christmas House are just as moving.

Presents left under “giving trees” placed throughout the community, along with donations made directly to the food bank, were distributed to families the week before Christmas.

The sheer number of donations was mindboggling, said Ulrich, estimating the total figure in excess of 15,000 items.

From students at the high school to senior groups representing local churches, the program invited everyone from the community to help create more smiles and tears of joy during tough economic times.

“Our goal has always been to distribute items from our community to people in our community,” said Ulrich. “I’ll say it again, the response was amazing.”

The number of children visiting the Christmas House this year reflected the community’s ability to recognize trying times, and give what they can.

Pajamas, socks, underwear, hand-knitted hats and scarves, hiking boots, toys and stocking stuffers were just a few of the items distributed to 1,078 children.

Last year the program served 600 children.

Parents and children were able to choose items they needed — or in the case of toys, wanted — as if they were shopping in a retail store.

“People are touched” when they visit the Christmas House, said Ulrich. “Until you see it in person, it’s difficult to describe.”

In addition to happy kids and families, the food bank and Christmas House act as vessels of kindness for people in the area.

Approximately 70 volunteers work at the food bank doing a variety of tasks, from driving deliveries to the facility, sorting items, preparing holiday boxes of food and working in the thrift store, which generates funds to pay utility expenses at the food bank and purchase pantry items.

More than 50 volunteers lent a hand at the Christmas House this year.

“We couldn’t do a thing without our wonderful volunteers,” said Ovenell.

While volunteers make the food bank tick, Ovenell said individual donations from people in the community are the lifeblood.

Every bit helps, at any time of the year.

Starting the New Year, food bank reserves hit a low point. Nevertheless, the weekly demand for food remains. On average, the food bank serves 120 families a week during non-holiday months. While holiday food drives build reserves beyond Santa’s return trip to the North Pole, the food bank sees another surge in the volume of food requested throughout the summer after school lets out.

A drive sponsored by the Stanwood Post Office in May cushions the blow, but the food bank encourages people to give when they can, said Ovenell.

In addition, should a natural disaster or emergency occur in the area, the food bank acts as a resource for residents and responding agencies.

“We keep learning about our community and our program every year,” said Ovenell. “This year, people responded to our every need.”

An achievement the community should be proud of.

The Stanwood-Camano Food Bank, 27030 102nd Avenue N.W., is open every Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. The thrift store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food bank donations can be made through the thrift store. Any new items donated to the thrift store are set aside for the Christmas House program. For more information about volunteering or making a donation, call 360-629- 6646.

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.