The Holiday season is drawing near and Good Cheer, with your help, will be spreading happiness. Good Cheer’s No Points Holiday Meal Program will continue because of the support that we receive from our community. Many food banks in Western Washington can’t offer a holiday meal program because their budgets have been cut at the federal, state, and county levels.
This is unfortunate since new poverty data to be released next week will show that the ranks of America’s poorest poor have climbed to a record high, one in fifteen people. About 20.5 million Americans, or 6.7 percent of the U.S. population, make up the poorest poor, defined as those at 50 percent or less of the official poverty level. Those living in deep poverty represent nearly half of the 46.2 million people scraping by below the poverty line. In 2010, the poorest poor meant an income of $5,570 or less for an individual and $11,157 for a family of four.
It’s nice to know that we can have an impact on so many people at just the right time of year. Together we can make a difference.
The Holiday season is a time of giving and it is our hope that you will be able to help us with your donations. Remember, for every dollar donated the food bank is able to purchase about nine dollars worth of food; we have a great creative shopping program!
Good Cheer has developed an innovative food points system which empowers clients to choose their own foods in a grocery-like setting using monthly points based upon household size. Selection of fresh produce is encouraged through low points for these healthful items. The Good Cheer garden which is tended by community volunteers provides fresh-picked produce.
Holiday meals can be expensive for our clients and the ability to provide some good cheer with a zero points holiday meal is a way of making the Holiday season a little more fun for everyone.
Food Bank coordinator Damien Cortez and a crew of volunteers stocking our walk-in freezers with frozen turkeys!
The grocery at Good Cheer will have special Holiday displays full of supplies for our clients to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The shopping list will include turkey, stuffing (1bag/box), pumpkin (small can), yams (small can), cranberry (small can), gravy (1 can or package), rolls, and celery. This food is in addition to a household’s normal monthly food points.
There is another group on Whidbey Island that brings happiness on Thanksgiving Day. The Mobile Turkey Unit is a community service organization that has been with us since 1999. It was founded by Tom Arhontas, who had a special place in his heart for people in need. The goal of the Mobile Turkey Unit is to provide a free, home delivered, Thanksgiving meal for those who would otherwise not have one. This includes the elderly, shut-ins, low-income and unemployed people, plus employees working on Thanksgiving day on South and Central Whidbey.
This year they expect to provide Thanksgiving meals to at least 200 families on South and Central Whidbey Island. There are more than 150 volunteers in the program, a lot of people sharing from their hearts.
There is a story of a young girl who saw a Mobile Turkey Unit driver pull into her family’s driveway. She ran out into the driveway shouting, “Mommy, mommy! The turkey is here! Thanksgiving is here!”
We can work together and make the Holiday season brighter!
Please help us with your donations! You can drop donations off at the Good Cheer Food Bank at 2812 Grimm Rd. in Bayview or you can phone us at 360-221-6454.
Love, Peace and Happiness to All!
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