Pennies From Heaven

Dec 202011
 
 December 20, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Deck the Doors and its Plum Pudding Pennies was a great success story for the Holiday Season. The Langley Main Street Association with the help of the Langley Chamber of Commerce created an event that was fun for the community and a tremendous fund raising event for the Good Cheer Food Bank.

Sixty five of our local merchants were involved, decorating their doors hoping to win the people’s choice for best door. Visitors, shoppers and shop owners voted for the best door by stuffing money (Plum Pudding Pennies) into ballot boxes in each of the shops.  The shop that collected the most money would be declared the winner and the money would go to the Good Cheer Food Bank.

The winner of the 2011 Deck the Doors contest was Coldwell Banker Tara Properties on Second Street in Langley. Janet Ploof from the Main Street Association said that the $960 donation to the food bank  from this year’s winner was significant and that  “a sizable portion of the donation came from the individual real estate agents in their office, their door was cool, a wreath made of house keys, decorated miniature doors and blue prints! Some of the agents were born on Whidbey Island, and all of the agents are super supporters of Langley…..they rock!”

It was wonderful to see so many businesses involved in helping the food bank and we say our thanks for their spirit and good will. The Deck the Doors contest raised $2258 for the food bank and people in need on South Whidbey Island. The Chamber of Commerce’s buy local $1000 raffle promotion had an interesting twist for the Holidays.  The $1000 raffle prize went to the food bank as well; all because of the generosity of an anonymous shopper who donated their winning ticket to Good Cheer!

All together the events in Langley raised $3258 and with our creative shopping that is quite a bit of food that you all just helped to put on the table.

A special thank you goes out to Sherry Jennings at the Chamber and Janet Ploof with the Main Street Association who championed the cause.

Have a Very Happy Holiday Season!

Deck the Doors – Buying Local – Helping Good Cheer

Dec 132011
 
 December 13, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

In case you haven’t noticed the local merchants in Langley are decorating their doors for the holidays and supporting the Good Cheer Food Bank.

Plum Pudding Pennies (your donations) are the key to “Deck the Doors”. Each store has a Plum Pudding Pennies gift box for the collection of pennies. The pennies or dollars represent your vote. Yes, this is a competition and for all the right reasons; you’ll be making this holiday season a little bit brighter for those in need.

This is a great community and one that supports buying local. Buying local products from local businesses keeps the money in the community.

Buying local, as with any movement, begins with the actions of a few people and then expands to many. As spending grows, the businesses grow in number and size which provide even more local choices. This spending is critical to establishing viable local stores. When dollars are spent locally, they can be re-spent locally, raising the community’s overall level of economic activity.

Deck the Doors is all about our local merchants and buying local. The results are a festive and bright holiday look on the streets of Langley!   We are in the home stretch this week for filling the ballot boxes with Plum Pudding Pennies (your donations) for the food bank.

This Saturday, December 17th between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Main Street Door elves will be around to collect the money in the ballot boxes.

We’ve put together a slideshow of Deck the Doors in Langley with photos from our local merchants, just click on the ornament below. If you can’t identify the store just move you cursor to the upper right of the slideshow and and click show info.

Some of our local merchants on the Holiday Season:

“MYKEN’S Pet Boutique is proud to participate in Langley’s Deck the Doors event supporting Good Cheer.  MYKEN’S would also like to show our appreciation for all the hard work that is done on behalf of Whidbey’s homeless animals.  Therefore, we have decided that all monies collected from the MYKEN’S door design will be matched and donated to our local animal shelter; W.A.I.F. (Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation).  We wish everyone a happy holiday season!!!”

“Although Brackenwood Gallery is continuing its “Small Pleasures” show for the month of December there are many new pieces that have been have added. “Small Pleasures” is work that is interesting, high quality, imaginative, original art yet smaller and more affordable. By our artists offering smaller works we hope it presents an opportunity to give the gift of art that is enduring this holiday season. It is also a time of year where people are traveling and smaller work is a memento that can fit into both the suitcase and the budget. The show continues thru Dec. 31, 2011.”

“Find an Antique Clock or new clock to grace your home. Herb provides professional repairs for those old Family treasures you may have. Santa Herb is anxious to move some merchandise, so come in and discover some bargains at Langley Clock & Gallery.”

“The Star Store is happy to help with your shopping and entertaining needs…with a smile, in Star Store Style! We’ve got hot cider, goodies, Santa’s helpers, and complimentary gift wrapping!  And…learn how to receive a free Star Store $25 Gift Card!”

“Happy Holidays from all of us at Prima!  Thank you to Tobey Nelson of Vases Wild for creating our front door decoration for the Good Cheer fundraiser.  Hope you’ll come in this holiday season, vote for us with your pocket change, and have a cup of Good Cheer in honor of our awesome food bank!”

“Sassy Siren has been serving the Local Island Community and visitors to Downtown Langley for just over a year and a half now.  We have a great selection of ladies accessories from fashionable handbags, jewelry and gifts to fun ‘Tween & Teen’ goodies too.  Keeping prices affordable to cater to the Locals, Sassy Siren has quickly become one of the favorites of Downtown Langley.  Sassy Siren is a Team player too when it comes to supporting local charities and foundations.  If you haven’t already experienced Sassy Siren for yourself, what are you waiting for?  Come see what you’ve been missing!  Check out the website for extended Holiday Hours at sassysiren.com.”

“Let’s all be sure to participate in Deck the Doors. The money goes to a great cause. Be sure to vote for Good Cheer the people in the community are counting on you!”

“Chic Debris, a purveyor of cool stuff, is in Langley Village between Half Moon Yoga and Langley Liquor Store and is open everyday 10-5.  Visit us for cool stuff like antique furniture, local artists’ paintings and cards and more, wine glasses, jewels, old hand made Christmas decorations, a slot machine and a stitching horse.  And more.  Please drop in to vote for our Deck the Doors sock monkey entry! ”

“The Cottage is best known for its signature look as a French boutique.  We are eclectic, affordable, and friendly with great service.  We make women happy!!”

The Langley Chamber is hosting its Holiday Cheer Giveaway thanks to the generous donation by Whidbey Island Bank.

YOU CAN WIN $1000

Good Cheer and Thanks for You Support!

Reading About Good Cheer and a Holiday Event Preview

Nov 132011
 
 November 13, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Wouldn’t it be nice to have an easy way to access the Good Cheer Food Bank blog?

To many of us, the internet is where we get our information about what’s happening in the world and Google gives us answers to just about anything that we can think of.  There is so much information on the internet and we can only read so much.

You can check your favorite blogs (Good Cheer Food Bank) and your favorite news to see if there is anything new, however, if you have a number of resources, that process can take time.

This is a RSS Icon and it stands for Really Simple Syndication which in itself sounds very complicated. This tool can help you manage the resources that you use on the internet.

You can establish a single website, a home, for reading all your favorites. Here is a video that explains the process.

Pretty simple, here are the steps and a link to getting started.

1. You need a home for reading your favorites and there are a number of readers available to you and they are free. You can take a tour of the Google reader by clicking here. You will need to sign up for a reader.

2. When you set up a connection between your reader and your favorite blogsites/websites it is called subscribing. You will see a RSS logo on the Good Cheer blog on the left hand side. If you click on the logo it will give you a choice of readers that you can send it to.

You can read more about the food bank and it’s thrift stores by clicking on the Facebook logo on the blog (upper left).

I hope that you found this information useful, I know it’s tech stuff but it can work for you!

On the Holiday News Front:

The Langley Main Street Association  will be sponsoring, Deck the Doors, a fun and competitive decorating event in downtown Langley. The event will add to the beauty of Langley during the Holiday season and it will benefit Good Cheer. You will be hearing more about this event on the blog, our Facebook page and the Chamber of Commerce. You’ll be able to view a number of the displays right here on the blog!

Plum Pudding Pennies and Good Cheer!

South Whidbey Lions Food Drive – November 12th

Nov 072011
 
 November 7, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Lions Club of South Whidbey and their Lions Day food drive last year.

Whenever a Lions Club gets together, problems get smaller and communities get better. Founded in 1917, Lions Club International is best known for fighting blindness, I’m sure that we have all had a white cane pinned to us at one time in our lives.

The Lions Club of  South Whidbey Island volunteer for many different kinds of community service projects and this weekend the Good Cheer Food Bank is the recipient of their kind work. The club is part of Lions Club International which has 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members making it the world’s  largest service club organization.

You’ll be seeing this banner from Freeland to Clinton where Lions Club members will gather to collect your non-perishable food donations. The Lions Club will also have donation jars for your monetary contributions, checks are always welcome!

Monetary donations continue to be the primary source for keeping our shelves full.

Good Cheer is very good at stretching the dollar; $1 dollar in monetary donations has come to equal $9 worth of food because of the creative shopping programs that we have put in place. You will always know that we are maximizing the value of your donations.

November 12th – 11 AM till 3 PM at all of our local grocery stores

You can click the Photo to Find Out More About Our Local Stores

Freeland

Langley

Bayview

Ken’s Corner

Clinton

The best and most beautiful things in the world
cannot be seen nor touched
but are felt in the heart.

~ Helen Keller ~

Good Cheer!

Good Cheer – Halloween Happenings

Oct 202011
 
 October 20, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson 1 Response »

The month of October has been busy and fun at the Good Cheer Thrift Stores. Scarecrows have been the theme of the month with (find me if you can) Lucky Louie and the Scarecrow contest. The Scarecrow contest photos will soon be available at the stores for your voting and you will also be able to go to our Facebook page to place your votes.

Halloween is just around the corner and it is a good time to check out the thrift stores for Halloween ideas.  It’s amazing what a little imagination can conjure up. You may find a few masks and costumes but the most fun is creating your own vision of Halloween magic.

Good Cheer’s Halloween Happenings will get a big boost from local merchants in Clinton who will be stirring up some great Halloween fun!

The Good Cheer Thrift Store Two will be cooking up Famous Jim and Larry Hot Dogs and Hamburgers and with help from Clay Anderson and the Clinton Foodmart there will be a pumpkin carving contest and even a costume judging event.

To enter the contest you need to bring a food donation. This is a chance to help the food bank and have some fun at the same time! Jim’s Hardware is raffling off a “Little Chief Smoker” from it’s Sports Department.  One raffle ticket will be provided each individual who donates a can of food to the food bank … and multiple canned donations from each person means additional tickets. 

The kids are going to have a great time. They can win prizes and pick up some Halloween treats, everyone will win something.

 

I was talking with Becky Bell the owner of Jim’s Hardware and it appears that all of the merchants will be involved in some fashion. Becky was going to pull together some great prizes for the carving and costume contests.

Deb Sherod cutting Reilly McVay’s hair outside of Debs Hare Today. Reilly is the son of Island wood carver Pat McVay who designed the Hare for her salon/barber shop,  you can see the sign next to Reilly. Deb is family hair care at its best and she will be celebrating the grand opening of  Debs Hare Today!

Deb is a high energy gal with great spirit and she is determined to make this years Halloween Celebration fun for all. She is donating two free haircuts, one adult and one child. Deb will be helping with contest gifts and she also has a stash of goodies for the kids, so make sure to bring your kids by to visit.

Chris and Joy Dennis owners of Island Framery have a number of things going on. All day Saturday the 29th they will be having a 40% off sale on all of their art supplies so if your short this is the time to take action. Chris is also having a contest for children and adults alike. You can come into the store and draw a Halloween costume, that’s right draw! The Grand Prize is a $50 gift certificate and there will be 10 runner up prize winners who will receive sketch pads.

Residents of the Clinton Shopping Center wish to thank the community and hope that everyone has a fun time!

Be sure to visit our thrift stores they are our life blood……..

If you click on the photo of the Langley Thrift Store you can view a slideshow of the recent renovations.

Have a great Halloween and thanks for helping the food bank at Good Cheer!

The Quintessa’s Gift of Giving to Good Cheer

Oct 042011
 
 October 4, 2011  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

The Quintessa on Whidbey Island is celebrating the season of giving with a Good Cheer Special! Your stay at The Quintessa, in November, will be half-off the regular rate and your entire accommodation fee will be donated to the Good Cheer Food Bank. Yes, you can just write your check out to Good Cheer. You’ll need to book your stay in the month of October to qualify for the Good Cheer Special.

A standard 3 night minimum stay is required – customary cleaning, deposits, insurance & hospitality tax applicable.) The standard booking commissions paid to professional travel agents & Realtors of 10% will be waived in this arrangement.

As Carrie Fong and Tessa Huey, the owners of The Quintessa, explained “That time of year will soon be upon us again when we give and give thanks in November during Thanksgiving!”

The Quintessa Cottage

Their story of giving is as unique and inspiring as is their connection to the food bank. Their daughter Holly is a senior at South Whidbey High School where she belongs to many community service clubs. She is co-president of S-Club a high school version of  the Soroptimist International of South Whidbey Island, the vice-president of Key Club, and has been a member of the National Honor Society for the last three years. Holly regularly volunteers at the Good Cheer Food Bank and Thrift Store, Hearts and Hammer of South Whidbey Island, Habitat for Humanity, the Seattle Compass Center, and works with many other local community service organizations.

Main Living Room The Quintessa  (Photo credit  Stadler Studio Photography)

Holly was recognized for her volunteer work by the Soroptimists of South Whidbey and presented the Violet Richardson award, a $500 scholarship award to be used for her college education. This award was a matching award where Holly chose to donate another $500 to the Good Cheer Food Bank. As I told Holly, $500 in cash is closer to $3500 with our use of coupons. Wow!

(Photo credit  Stadler Studio Photography)

This is where this giving thing gets interesting……not sure that many of us would choose to take this path. Once you read this you will know that you are in good hands at The Quintessa!

Carrie and Tessa are raising three children and it is very apparent that their family has had a big impact on their lives. The family has members in California and Hawaii; they are close-knit and believe in giving. Every Christmas instead of giving presents to each member of the family they do community service. They draw family names and send a letter telling of their family’s experience in helping their community. In December of 2008, that community service was done at the Good Cheer Food Bank……

(Photo credit  Stadler Studio Photography)

Let’s get the word out! This remarkably easy-to-find home is less than 35 miles from the Seattle, Washington and just 5 minutes away from the Clinton ferry.

Spacious & elegant, this multi-level home with over 12,000 sq. ft. features 9 bedrooms along with a separate garden cottage.

Breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains complete your experience!

The Quintessa is located within minutes to many attractions including a nine-hole golf course straight out of the Scottish Highlands, a variety of beaches, and an abundance of local artists’ studios.  Take a drive to nearby Langley ~ The Village by the Sea, featuring a vintage movie house, live music and theater, eclectic boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, bookstores, and fabulous food!

Please let your friends know about this unique property which is able to accommodate up to 32 guests comfortably. Perfectly suited for intimate weddings, family reunions and corporate retreats, the Quintessa onSouth Whidbey is the place to make your memories for Thanksgiving with your out-of-town family and friends!

Call Tessa or Carrie at 425-263-1700 or email thequintessa@gmail.com

Good Cheer!

The Third Light Benefit Concert for Good Cheer

Sep 152011
 
 September 15, 2011  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

This Sunday, September 18th, at 7:00 PM, there will be a benefit concert held at the South Whidbey Assembly of God, located at 5373 Maxwelton Road just outside of Langley.

This benefit, for the Good Cheer Food Bank, is being organized by Daniel Estill. Daniel is a senior at South Whidbey High and one of his graduation requirements is a Culminating Project. The project challenges high school seniors to demonstrate their academic knowledge. Daniel, whose passion is music, has chosen to organize and perform a benefit concert with The Third Light Band.

Daniel and his friends Colton Justus, Chris Bates and Sara Miholland are The Third Light Band, South Whidbey Assembly of God’s youth band. Earlier this year the band raised $1000 at a benefit concert helping the homeless on South Whidbey Island.

There will be a short presentation by a representative from the Good Cheer Food Bank followed by a performance by the band. Desserts and beverages will be provided.

Daniel and his band are asking that you bring non-perishable food items, slightly used or new clothing or just a monetary donation.

Good Cheer gives thanks to Daniel, his friends and the South Whidbey Assembly of God for their support.

Good Cheer!

Good Cheer Garden Shed Raffle 2011

Jul 282011
 
 July 28, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson 5 Responses »

The Good Cheer Food Bank is holding a raffle in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Harvest Party and Music Fest. The drawing will be held at the Harvest Party on September 10, 2011 at the Bayview center. Last years garden shed raffle raised over $9000 for the food bank and it is turning out to be one of our special fundraising events.

The custom built garden shed/greenhouse was built by Bob Bowling Rustics and can be seen on display at the Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview. Tickets for the for the 6 by 8  foot structure are $5 apiece or five for $20 and are being sold at all Good Cheer Thrift Stores, the Food Bank office, and at Bob Bowling’s booth at the Bayview Farmer’s market.

Bob’s contribution to the food bank is a labor of love. He has used his skills as an artisan to handcraft a truly functional work of art. Bob felt that his biggest contribution to the Good Cheer Food Bank would come from his hands and he was sure right!

We have been very fortunate to have the support of our business community here on South Whidbey and we try to write a little something about everyone who helps us create a hunger free community. We encourage everyone to buy local and help our local businesses prosper.

Bob Bowling Rustics and the Chocolate Flower Farm, two of our local businesses combine to take the “Best in Show” award at The Northwest Garden Show.

Bob Bowling Rustics offers an unlimited variety of playful yet practical garden structures for your outdoor living spaces. One of a kind playhouses, chicken coops, greenhouses, tool sheds, outhouses, and garden chapels are made to order.

This fun outdoor shower was showcased at The Open Door Gallery at Bayview Corner in Langley, Washington.

Stone Water Bowls are another popular item made by Bob Bowling Rustics.

Want to see one of his Chicken Coops? Just click on the photo above and watch a short slideshow.

Our thanks goes out to Bob Bowling and the other businesses in our community that continue to support The Good Cheer Food Bank.

Good Cheer and Good Luck!

Let’s make this years raffle a BIG SUCCESS!

Whidbey Island Garden Tour

Jun 222011
 
 June 22, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson 1 Response »

The Whidbey Island Garden Tour is this Saturday, June 25th from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Bayview Farm and Garden, $20 for adults and $10 for children. The ticket(s) you receive will include garden descriptions, directions, and map.

The garden tour is a significant fundraising event; funding from the Whidbey Island Garden Tour in 2009  helped start the Good Cheer Garden. This year we are also recipients, and Garden Tour support will help purchase cottage stone for the retaining wall on the slope, and also seeds, tools and potting soil for starts.

By purchasing a ticket you not only support The Good Cheer Garden but many other community organizations. As Cary Peterson puts it “A wonderful day of beauty and delight, while benefiting the community! Cary is looking for a few volunteers to help out as docents on Saturday. You can call the food bank at 360-221-6454 option one if you can help out.

The Board of Whidbey Island Garden Tour, Inc. selected the organizations to receive funds raised through the sale of tickets to the 2011 tour.

Please note: 100% of ticket sale revenue will be distributed to the following beneficiaries this year.


Photo of Meerkerk Gardens by Hal Hovey

In addition to the four lovely gardens on display this year, there are three additional sites of interest that will be open for free on the day of tour.

The Good Cheer Garden:  Join Cary Peterson for a tour of this unique community resource. The South Whidbey Good Cheer Food Bank has created a large organic vegetable garden in front of their facility on Bayview Road. Growing fresh vegetables and fruit has provided nutritious product directly to the Food Bank, increased food security, and expanded Good Cheer’s capacity to serve more people. The garden was started in 2009, funded by a $5,000 grant from the proceeds of the Whidbey Island Garden Tour.

Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens:  Take this opportunity to visit Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, offering flowering trees, perennials, and display gardens, as well as rhododendrons. On June 25 & 26 only, admission is complimentary when you present your WIGT Ticket. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Master Gardeners Educational Garden: Be inspired by the Master Gardeners Educational Garden at Greebank Farm. Expanded to include ornamental grasses, roses, perennials, and a share area, this display garden shares local knowledge as well as beauty. Located adjacent to the pond at the publicly owned Greenback Farm.

Whidbey Island Nourishes provided support for the event by offering the opportunity to purchase a nutritious and delicious box lunches to support W.I.N.—Whidbey Island Nourishes. You had to order you lunch by June 20th. The program is designed to help meet the nutritional needs of South Whidbey community members who have food insecurity.

The Whidbey Island Garden Tour is a non-profit corporation established to provide funding to those groups that work toward the improvement of Whidbey Island’s common habitat. The proceeds from this year’s Garden Tour will benefit our community through the support of educational projects and public space enhancement.

Good Cheer and Good Gardening!

Talent Show Big Success – Over $5000 Raised

Jun 102011
 
 June 10, 2011  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

Megan Parker and Damien – Megan was one of the youngest to perform at the talent show. Damien and her were united again after having performed in a performance of Oliver earlier this year.

The show was a great success with over $5000 being raised for the food bank.

JaNoah and Damien put on a great talent show with sterling reviews from all around town. JaNoah solicited the prizes for the raffle and Damien coordinated sales and the awarding of prizes, quite a team!

RJ Barker was honored for his volunteer commitment to Good Cheer. He was then very surprised by a job offer to work at Good Cheer for the summer as a paid staff person. RJ is always the epitome of the tireless worker/volunteer at Good Cheer. He has worked in the distribution, office, food bank and thrift stores.

Rep. Norma Smith and JaNoah Spratt preparing for their appearance.

The original Talent Show idea came from a conversation between Norma and JaNoah during a tour of the Food Bank. Norma was not able to be at last year’s event but was here this year to sing Broken Road and lead the audience in a round of Happy Birthday for JaNoah’s 11th birthday. JaNoah was also the recipient of the Island Youth Hero award which he received last month.

Aljean and Dean Muncey: Always ready to pop the corn and make the world smell better. Aljean and Dean gave the evening that movie theater scent that brought everyone to the concessions, Yummy.

Tiger Martial Arts is always entertaining with their disciplined routines. JaNoah”s sensai Wendy Barker is also RJ Barker’s mom. The Barker family is very supportive of Good Cheer.

Volunteers baked and sold a variety of treats from cheese and crackers to popcorn.

Viriginia Linsey and Janet Karamanyan wore their Good Cheer finds with pride. They displayed the purchase price so people could see what the saving are at the Good Cheer Thrift Stores.

A Great Night and We Thank You for Your Support!

Good Cheer!

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