Help your neighbors this holiday season

Published 11:43 am Friday, November 19, 2010

The holidays are upon us a lot faster than I’m sure we are ready for. We have so many blessings to count. In October, Albertsons employees donated their time to collect food for us. The same weekend, the Scout Troop No. 555 also collected food for us in front of the store. Together they collected four truckloads of food and $1,500.

We were granted money from the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe this month. I have been sitting inside Albertsons taking donations for turkey dinners for the holidays. I thank all of you that have stopped by to donate to the cause. I will be there from time to time. Every dollar helps. We have the Puget Sound Anglers, Hansville Ladies Aid, Flotsam Jetsam Club, Grub Hut, Oak Table Cafe, Redeemer United Methodist Church, Faith Episcopal Church and all our numerous constant donors. There are so many of you that have come to our rescue and we love you all. We also thank those of you that added extra to your gardens for us. Fresh fruits and produce seem to be the least donated items.

Depression seems to hit the hardest during the holidays. People alone, families live elsewhere, financial burdens. Please, neighbors, watch out for each other. If someone needs a shoulder or an ear, be there. Invite them to your table. Starting in November, the food bank will be open three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

But I will be available to meet you at home at any time. My home phone is (360) 297-7100. Some of you still hear mom’s voice on the answering machine. Don’t be alarmed, we have chosen to hear her voice as much as we can. We are currently accepting any turkeys and holiday food. We have plenty of freezers. We also hope that families will come forward to adopt a family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It involves supplying a dinner for a family. We can always use your help and I’ve had families from past years say how rewarding it was.

May you have peace and joy this season. Words cannot express how much I love this community and their willingness to get the job done.

Please swing by the building and see our new sign.

Barb, Tara, Rodney, Bud and Bill,

Kingston Food Bank