Good Cheer’s two thrift stores and Rack clothing boutique are the funding base of the organization. They provide 67% of Good Cheer’s operational revenue. Last year, sales at Good Cheer’s Langley Thrift Store were $354,256 alone. The Langley store, which has been in continuous operations since the mid 1960′s, is in the final stages of a renovation and expansion of its retail space.
The project when completed will add a total of 1,140 square feet of retail space which could produce an additional $71,000 in annual revenues, money that will help fund the operational aspects of the Food Bank.
When the Capital Campaign was originally started Whidbey Island Bank was there to help the community. Bob Olson, Chairman of the Capital Campaign and a member of the Board of Directors at Good Cheer secured the first $25,000 from Whidbey Island Bank to kick off the campaign.
It seems only appropriate that Whidbey Island Bank would be here for us again as we complete the Good Cheer Capital Campaign with their $10,000 matching grant. They have been a great partner helping out last year with another community challenge that allowed us to get through a rough time when food was short at the food bank.
Anne Bobinac and Pam Bickel visiting the new addition as the Langley Good Cheer Thrift Store.
“This community has generously contributed to Good Cheer’s Capital Campaign which provided for the relocation of the Food Bank and which allowed Good Cheer to serve many more families. Good Cheer is so close to completing their capital goal for renovations to increase self-sustainability, that we wanted to help in this final push,” said Whidbey Island Bank Freeland Branch Manager Anne Bobinac.
“Whidbey Island Bank feels very much in partnership with the communities we serve and want to maximize donations by matching contributions made in this final stretch of the campaign. We look forward to this Community Challenge, matching up to $10,000 in donations,” she added.
This challenge follows on the heels of last year’s successful $5,000 community challenge sponsored by Whidbey Island Bank, which raised more than $40,000 for the Food Bank. Good Cheer Board member and Langley Branch Manager Pam Bickel spearheaded that effort, and joins Bobinac in this current community challenge.
Donations are being accepted at all Whidbey Island Bank locations on South Whidbey:
Clinton Branch - Branch Manager Candy Anderson at 360-341-5238
Good Cheer has for decades has operated differently than other food banks. It conducts itself as an enterprise “company” using community thrift stores as its source of operational funding rather than relying on governmental grants/programs and general fundraising for financial stability.
Good Cheer is a self-sustaining non-profit charity. Our thrift stores recycle a high volume of still usable donated goods while providing low-cost clothing, furniture, and house wares to low income families. A search for other similar programs has not turned up a comparable self-sustaining food bank operation in terms of scale and hours of operation in western Washington.
Freeland Branch – Branch Manager Anne Bobinac at 360-331-5868
This successful and replicable funding approach has caught the interest of other food banks in the Northwest. With the improvement of facilities, Good Cheer will offer information to other organizations interested in this model of client services and operational sustainability. Good Cheer provides an important non-duplicated service to the community, without relying on federal, state or even county tax monies to support it.
Langley Branch – Branch Manager Pam Bickel at 360-221-0203
The success of the Capital Campaign will be measured by the increased number of people served, greater food choices for our clients and innovative programs that educate.
We will work everyday to make South Whidbey Island a hunger free community!
The success of Good Cheer is tied to the community. The participation of individuals, organizations, businesses and foundations at a variety of gift levels has made this a successful campaign.
For information about making a pledge, building naming opportunities, and gifts of stock or property, contact Kathy McLaughlin at Good Cheer at (360) 221-6454, ext. 6.
Good Cheer Capital Fund Drive
PO Box 144
Langley, WA 98260
Good Cheer!
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