Food drive was a great success

To The Eagle:

Thank you Wahkiakum County for your contributions to the 2014 Food For Friends food drive!

1,294 pounds of food were collected and monetary donations may continue to be made until September 30, 2014 at Bank of the Pacific!

We had more willing hearts that had prepared food to be collected than feet on the ground to gather it! Those who worked together on the drive hope you will make time next year to have some fun and do an excellent work for those who have a need for your help. If you still have food you wish to donate and it was not picked up it may be left at one of the following locations: Helping Hand Food Bank @ 90 Broadway St. - Tuesdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at St. Catherine’s/St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and GAP @ 400 Columbia St., the first and third Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon; the Wahkiakum Food Bank @ 42 Elochoman Valley Rd. Tuesdays 3 – 5 p.m .; the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 35 Messinger Hill Drive 24/7, secure in plastic bag and leave at door at end of building facing main parking lot until Wednesday, October 1 and the West-end Food Bank is receiving donations at Johnson Park Community Center in Rosburg M-T-Th-F, 1 to 5 p.m. Food distribution is not available at this time at the West-end Food Bank, but distribution opening will soon be announced.

Nineteen members of the Cathlamet Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and three Wahkiakum High School students took large areas of the Wahkiakum County landscape and collected door to door in many locations county-wide. Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church collected food at their chapel on Puget Island and delivered the food to the River Street collection site. The Grays River United Methodist Church and the Valley Bible Church west of KM summit also collected at their chapels.

Many individuals who were not initially aware of the food drive made some great contributions. A camper at the Elochoman Slough Marina came to the “food drive central” canopy at the marina for breakfast! Once he realized there was a food drive and not a breakfast to be purchased, he collected from those staying at the marina and returned to the canopy with bags of food! A couple were not prepared for a food drive when a volunteer knocked at their door. They later delivered a large cooler full of food they purchased just for the occasion!

Leadership from the local food banks comment on the Food for Friends food drive: Director Mary Dasher of Helping Hand Food Bank reported, “Excellent! This was an opportunity for the community to come together to help all of the county food banks.” Director Tom Garstki of St. Catherine’s/St. Vincent de Paul and GAP, “Successful! We look forward to next year.” Vice President Bob Roche of Wahkiakum Food Bank, “On behalf of the WFB, I want to thank Sue Garn for organizing and managing the Food for Friends food drive this past weekend. At this time of year it was a tremendous help in stocking our shelves for the winter months.” Suzie Whalen of West-end Food Bank, “Thank you to the people for their contributions and support.”

The Food for Friends food drive was spearheaded by the Annual Day of Service Project, in the Longview Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (of which Wahkiakum County is part) and the Lower Columbia CAP (Community Action Program).

Thank you Wahkiakum County!

Sue Garn

Cathlamet