POULSBO — “Everyone will have a Merry Christmas,” was the happy report from Fishline executive director Tricia Sullivan last Friday.

And, thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support from the community, everyone did.

Last weekend, 314 families received baskets full of holiday cheer as Fishline volunteers worked in conjunction with numerous churches, residents and civic organizations on their annual Christmas food drive.

In total, 1,090 people were fed with donated food collected during the event — something which Sullivan said reflects well on the residents of Kitsap County.

“That’s a lot of people,” Sullivan explained, noting that even though this was her first holiday season as Fishline’s executive director she was amazed at how generous locals were with their time and money. “It has been great to see the response of the community. So many people called to help and so many volunteered… it was very heartening.”

Among organizations that “adopted” families this year were; the Poulsbo Noon Lions, the Central Market bakery staff, Poulsbo Junior High School, Molly Ward Gardens and the Poulsbo Police Department. Churches involved in the local food drive effort included; Indianola Community, First Lutheran, Christ Memorial, United Church of Christ in Suquamish, St. Olaf’s, St. Charles Episcopal and the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.

“Those were the ones that did multiple families,” Sullivan said, adding that 35 local families adopted families in need as well. “That was really neat to see.”

At the beginning of the month, Fishline officials were uncertain whether or not the food bank would have to purchase the majority of the holiday basket items this year.

But when the call went out, the community answered.

“It was amazing,” Sullivan said, explaining that due to the response Fishline only had to purchase food for about 50 baskets. “People were very generous and many families were very kind and helped others in the community — we didn’t have to turn anyone away.”