Whidbey Island Bank is truly a community bank and it happens to be the only bank that still has a headquarters on the island. The bank was started by a group of Whidbey Island business people in Coupeville back in the early 1960s.
Today, the bank is one of the largest employers on Whidbey Island. This is a bank that cares about the community and how it does the business of banking.
Last year the bank earned a 5-Star rating from Bauer Financial for financial strength and stability. Nice to know that we have one of the strongest banks in the nation right here on the Island.
Whidbey Island Bank has a challenge for you!
Whidbey Island Bank is sponsoring a Community Challenge Matching Fund Drive from now through August 31st to help raise needed funds for the Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview. The bank will match donations from the community up to a total amount of $5,000. The matched fund potential of $10,000 will help Good Cheer keep food shelves stocked through what continues to be a time of increased needs owing to the continued recession.
We are all at our best when we are helping others!
According to Pam Bickel the manager of the Langley Branch, “The idea of a fundraiser began with an article in the South Whidbey Record in June about the increased use of and decline of monetary donations for the Food Bank. Whidbey Island Bank feels very much in partnership with the communities it serves and wanted to help in some way. The bank felt it could maximize a donation by matching contributions made by our community members during a month-long campaign up to a total amount of $5000.00. Part of being a good neighbor means stepping up when the community meets challenging times.”
We are very grateful to Whidbey Island Bank for their leadership in this matching fund drive. They continue to be strong supporters of Good Cheer in terms of both donations and employees who volunteer at Good Cheer.
Donations are being accepted at all Whidbey Island Bank locations on South Whidbey:
Clinton Branch - Branch Manager Candy Anderson at 360-341-5238
Freeland Branch – Branch Manager Anne Bobinac at 360-331-5868
Langley Branch – Branch Manager Pam Bickel at 360-221-0203
Donations can also be made at all Good Cheer Thrift Stores and the Food Bank office in Bayview. You can mail donations to Good Cheer Community Challenge / PO Box 144, Langley WA 98260 or click here to contribute online.
Donations should be identified as “Community Challenge” in the memo area on checks and online.
Good Cheer!
JaNoah Spratt and The Good Cheer Food Bank; sound familiar? Wow, what an example for all of us to follow!
Here is the story of the fundraiser through the eyes of his father Todd Spratt:
“Good Cheer volunteer JaNoah Spratt has coordinated another Fundraiser with his fellow Black Belt Club students from Tiger Martial Arts. They just completed another very successful fundraiser to benefit Good Cheer Food Bank.
The fundraiser was held Saturday July 3rd from 9:00 am and 4:00 pm and was stationed in front of Ivar’s Restaurant. Ivar’s graciously agreed to let JaNoah setup their table with brochures, Pamphlets and a collection box. The bulk of the collections where donated by the fine folks that were parked waiting for the ferry.
It was a long day and we were beat but we managed to bring in around $1000.00 for the Good Cheer Food Bank. Ivar’s staff was awesome. They said we were their guests and boy did they make us feel special. They treated us all to lunch, whatever we wanted and an ice cream of our choice. That was a life saver. Thanks so much for all you did Ivar’s.
The Washington State Mukilteo Ferry staff was wonderful too. They set us up with reflective vests, explained a few rules and let us do our thing. Our thanks goes out to the Mukilteo Ferry staff as well.
The kids hit the pavement asking for donations. Only two kids 10 years or older could be in the parking lot at one time and had to be accompanied by an adult at all times. We also had to leave the parking lot area when cars were being loaded, so you had about 10 minutes between rounds. The initial response was encouraging and we knew it would be a productive day.
Sensei Wendi Barker of Tiger Martial Arts took turns escorting kids through the parking lot and her son Good Cheer volunteer R. J. helped man the table doing a fine job collecting donations. The next wave of helpers were not far behind Liz, Leah and Rebecca Merrow showed up and gave some much needed relief to Todd and JaNoah Spratt and Jesse Barker. It was a lot of walking and talking but we were all having fun and consistent success.
We had planned the event so that the volunteers would come at predetermined intervals during the day so that there would always be fresh help. Gabe Sherlock and Jonathan Deritis had the 1:00 to 2:30 slot and did a great job. Paula and Dustin Scharwat were the last crew scheduled for the day. They both worked the parking lot with JaNoah and helped carry everything back when it was over.
JaNoah got his second wind sometime after lunch and started working the area in front of Ivar’s hard in between parking lot rounds. He’s really good face to face and it’s hard to turn him down when he’s standing in front of you.
JaNoah’s next project is to add the Mukilteo Fundraising chapter to his book ” How I Helped My Community and You Can Too” get it published and use part of the proceeds to generate more money for Good Cheer Food Bank. Leslie Kelly has offered her expertise and is assisting with the process.”
Quite a story; don’t you think:)
Are you looking for a back yard recycler? You have to check out the BugaBay Worm Box by, you guessed it, JaNoah Spratt. There is a a video and other good information about composting that could be very useful to you.
JaNoah, his family and friends understand that volunteering is a form of giving. It is sharing what we value with others without counting on the reciprocal expectation of recognition or gratitude.
“The value of man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”
–Albert Einstein
Good Cheer!
Summer is finally here and it got me to thinking about the hydroplane races on Lake Washington. Having just celebrated the 4th of July I thought it might be appropriate to bring you a story on Mira Slovak; the famous pilot of the Miss Wahoo. It is a story that talks about the desire to be free and it brings back memories of my childhood, hydroplanes and the Pink Lady.
There were many memories of working with my father in his workshop building a wooden hydroplane; the Hawaii Kai. We would tie the boats to the backs of our bicycles and run them around the baseball diamond; nails in back of the boat provided the rooster tail effect.
I wanted to share an article written by Bob Karolevitz on Mira Slovak and his flight to freedom. They have just recently restored the Miss Wahoo; you’ll find the photos interspersed throughout the article. I spoke with David Williams at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Seattle and he directed me to some photos by Jim Clark Photography. If your a hydroplane buff; they are both great sites!
Dr Randy Pillow (on the left) longtime hydroplane racing enthusiast and Seafair supporter sharing a moment with Myra Slovak in 2009. Dr. Pillow is a friend of mine who served as a driver, owner, medic, and general chairman for numerous hydroplane races throughout the Pacific Northwest from 1950 to 1975.
The men who pilot unlimited hydroplanes are a brave, speed-loving lot with many interesting stories to tell. One such story begins when the late Major General Claire L. Chennault unfolded a letter which reached him in Taipei, Taiwan. The writer was a crop-dusting pilot in Yakima, Washington, a young man whose message moved the fighting old general who knew first-hand the ravages of Communism.
The letter read:
“I escaped from Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia last year by flying an airliner from Prague to Frankfurt, West Germany. I was granted political asylum in the United States in December, 1953. I feel an obligation to fight against the Communists because I saw what happened in my country. I will fly with you, against the Communists, anywhere, and for no salary. I have only one wish in my life and that is to fight these terrible aggressors.”
The letter was sent by Myra Slovak who later became a favorite of many hydroplane fans here in the Pacific Northwest.
The escape would be made on a scheduled flight from Prague to Brno. Mira would be the pilot of a C-47 Dakota which would carry 26 passengers and three crew members. Among the passengers were Hana and Helmut Cermak and Bozidar Medic, a television engineer who was a last-minute addition to the conspiracy. At 7:20 p.m. the plane lumbered down the runway and took off in the direction of Brno, 115 miles to the southeast.
Once in flight, Slovak turned the controls over to his Communist co-pilot and walked back among the passengers. Helmut Cermak and Medic then accompanied him up front on the pretext of seeing the pilots’ compartment. With weapons brought aboard by the pilot, the escapees overpowered the other crew members and locked them in a baggage compartment. Almost casually Slovak made his final radio contact over Benesov, then tipped the ship downward in a steep dive.
Leveling out well under 1,000 feet, which was below the effective radar screen, the pilot banked the plane sharply toward the west and the 45-minute hedge-hopping flight to freedom. At any moment they expected MIG fighters to pounce upon them. As an additional menace, an attempt was made by Communist passengers to break down the door of the pilots’ compartment. Mira pulled back hard on the wheel and then shoved it forward quickly. The effect was like hitting a huge air pocket and the lurching plane dissuaded any further passenger counter-revolt.
By this time colored lights began to appear in the towns and cities below them. “We knew we were over West Germany then,” explained Mira. “In Czechoslovakia we had no such lights, just dim white ones because of the power shortage.”
Circling high above the American Air Force Base at Rhein-Main, Slovak contacted a passing jet and was led down. The time was then 9:50, and a more suspenseful two-and-a-half-hour drama could not he created on stage or film.
This chapter of Mira Slovak’s life came to a close when he and five of his passengers were granted political asylum, and the next morning headlines throughout the Free World proclaimed the escape.
For over a year Mira worked closely with the U. S. Air Force, in Germany and in Washington, D. C., where he arrived in December of 1953. For his cooperation during those long months of interrogation, he won permanent residency in the United States.
The rest of Mira’s story — from crop-duster to hydroplane pilot — is familiar to all devotees of the sport.
Jim Clark sent me a photo of Mira Slovak riding in the Wahoo with David Williams, Director of the Hydroplane Museum, at Seafair last year, The one on the right is Miss Wahoo.
This post was from Mark Clawson who helps Kathy with the blog site for Good Cheer.
Kathy will be back on Friday for more Good Cheer!
Just last week we had volunteers from Windermere at Good Cheer. This sets a tremendous example for the people in the community. It also affirms the efforts that are made daily by our volunteers at the Good Cheer Food Bank and its Thrift Stores.
Volunteering is a form of giving. It is sharing what we value with others without counting on the reciprocal expectation of recognition or gratitude.
“The value of man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”
–Albert Einstein
True giving is done without expecting something in return. Most of the time we are giving someone something they need, and they usually don’t have the means to give anything back. Usually, the act of giving is to help and the only thing that could diminish that act, I believe, is to do it expecting something out of it.
Good Cheer is blessed to have many volunteers that know the true value of giving. This past Father’s Day we had two Dads who couldn’t be with their children; so why not help out at the thrift store.
This is a photo of Mike and Sydney with Cary Peterson (Good Cheer Garden Coordinator) at the Summer Volunteer Party.
Mike Hoffman was recently assigned the new role of managing the Langley Thrift Store Hardware department. Mike and his wife Sydney (a food bank volunteer) got together with Don and Anne Zontine and decided to spend some time organizing the hardware department. By day’s end they had spent 5 hours at the thrift store on Father’s Day giving back and doing what only comes naturally to them.
This is a photo of Don and Anne working at the Good Cheer garden this past week. Anne is a regular garden volunteer and Don is a truck driver volunteer for Good Cheer.
It was far from an easy task to organize the hardware area at the Langley Store; I know that Mike has been working on it for a while.
There has also been great progress at the Clinton Thrift Store where you will find a large selection of tools to help you around the home.
The Good Cheer Food Bank is a life line for families who get cut off from the work force. Many who had traditionally supported organizations such as ours (prior to the collapse of the economy a few years ago) now find themselves as recipients of this service.
Corrine Bayley Food Bank Volunteer works the check in counter every Tuesday afternoon and is our professional volunteer photographer.
When many public assistance programs were eliminated during the 1980s local communities found themselves swamped to provide basic nourishment for the elderly, families subsisting on one worker income at minimum wage, the unemployed and their children.
Colby Snow volunteers at special events and is the driver of our soap box derby car and provided technical support at our talent show.
Volunteer efforts through churches, local clubs and private organizations came together in many communities to provide this vital assistance.
Lou Donaty is Damien Cotez’s back-up man in the Food Bank.
But for the self-sacrifice of individuals who themselves are not wealthy and the generous donations of many others, many children in this country would suffer developmental issues related to nutrition and diet; and elder citizens on a fixed income would have to choose between their food and their medications.
Jim Engstrom is a longtime volunteer worker at Good Cheer Two, in the Food Bank and also the Distribution Center.
The volunteers that we have highlighted are just a few of the people that are so essential to the Good Cheer Food Bank and Thrift Stores.
If you have any interest in giving through volunteer work here is a link to helping in the fashion that suits you best.
Good Cheer!
We were very grateful to have the Freeland and Langley offices of Windermere Real Estate out at the Good Cheer facility on Friday. This was Windermere’s Community Service Day and the third year that Good Cheer was selected. The realtors mentioned how much the Good Cheer Food Bank has done to help those in need within our community and they wanted to help.
The decision as to where to help out is a decision that is made by everyone at the Windermere offices. This year Windermere was involved in painting the community room at the Freeland Library and giving a big helping hand with just about anything that you can think of at Good Cheer.
First Island Financial made sure that the day started with a nourishing breakfast to get everyone’s motor going.
Ron Eaton, from First Island Financial, thought a tractor of sorts would help with the process. He headed down to Double R Rentals and they were kind enough to donate the use of one of theirs. The added muscle was appreciated by everyone helping out!
Sure makes it easier to spread the gravel; though I’m sure there will be some sore muscles to follow.
Lining the parking lot was a very time consuming job and very much appreciated.
Fresh coats of paint were applied.
Helping out in the kitchen.
Donations were sorted.
Shelves were cleaned.
Plants were planted and earth was moved in the garden.
What is Community Service Day?
The photos tell a story of giving and it comes from the heart. This is the true essence of giving. When you give from your heart, you put yourself in line to experience a deeply rewarding truth. There really is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.
Creating vibrant communities is one of the things that inspire the Windermere network to be involved in service projects that make things a little brighter for all our neighbors. Supporting the communities Windermere serves is at the core of the company’s formation and growth.
Every year since 1984, Windermere associates dedicate a day of work to complete neighborhood improvement projects as part of Windermere’s Community Service Day.
Community Service Day gives Windermere Real Estate an opportunity to give back to the communities where we live and work. They clean, landscape and repair parks, playgrounds, schools, shelters and community buildings.
We all want to thank Windermere Real Estate and it’s wonderful employees for brightening our day!
Click Here to view a slideshow of Windermere’s Community Service Day at Good Cheer.
Good Cheer!
Soroptimist International of South Whidbey Island is having a fund raising event on Saturday June 19th. The event is called Shred-It and will take place from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Trinity Lutheran parking lot in Freeland.
The event is being sponsored by the Whidbey Island Bank and the proceeds will be used for programs and training.
In the age of identity theft shredding documents can be a very good safeguard; plus it frees up space in your home and office.
Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Almost 95,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories contribute time and financial support to community based and international projects that benefit women and girls.
Soroptimists are women at their best, working to help other women to be their best.
I have been a South Whidbey Soroptimist for 24 years, and with that have come many close friendships, an increased sense of community, and a lot of FUN!!! I would recommend becoming a Soroptimist to anyone who cares about their community and likes to have a good time.
You can click on the above photo to view a video on the Soroptimists.
Soroptimist members belong to local clubs, which determine the focus of volunteer work to their communities. Club projects range from renovating domestic violence shelters and providing mammograms to low-income women, to sponsoring self-esteem workshops for teenage girls.
Loosely translated, the word Soroptimist means “best for women.” Soroptimist International of South Whidbey Island is celebrating 25 years of dedication to making sure other women can do their best.
I’m going to highlight a couple of programs so that you can get a better feel for what the Soroptimists are dong on Whidbey Island. One youth program is called Island Girls “Live Their Dreams” Daycamp; you can get to the website for this program by clicking here.
The Heart of a Woman” program provides heart-screening for hundreds of women in conjunction with Whidbey General Hospital’s Wellness Program, an effort that includes follow-up workshops for those at risk for heart disease. If you click on the photo of Janie Keilwitz in the above photo you can view a video on the program.
Local Soroptimists also sponsor “Kicking and Screaming,” a self-defense training workshop for girls, as well as having begun the “S Club,” a commnuity service club at South Whidbey High School.
Another program that is high on the pride list for local Soroptimists is the Whidbey Island Share a Home program that began as a focus project for past Soroptimist president Karen Thomas. Here is a link to a post that we did on WISH.
Here is a list of presentations that were made at SISW’s 25th Grants and Awards Dinner at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club, May 6, 2010.
Scholarships:
Violet Richardson Award – presented to a young woman between the ages of 14 and 17 who through her volunteer efforts is committed to making the world a better place.
Our recipient was Michelle Young from South Whidbey H.S. who’s record of community service is exceptional, not only in our own community but also in the world community. She has worked in Botswana with the Tshebe Outreach Project to reduce the effects of HIV/AIDS which she has documented in her own video. In addition, Michelle has volunteered at Hammond House, Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity and other community organizations. Michelle was also selected over 74 applicants for the SIA Violet Ricardson Regional Award which was presented to her at the Regional Conference in Anchorage, Alaska for her exemplary volunteer activity. She received a $500 Soroptimist club award along with $500 for her chosen charity and a $1000 award from SIA Region. The award was presented by Soroptimist District Director, Lynn Bangston.
Mary Broderick Scholarship – named for the first SISW president, this $500 scholarship is given to South Whidbey H.S. students who’ve been members of the Soroptimist sponsored S-Club for 2 years. The recipient must have plans to attend college or vocational school and have a 3.0 grade point average or better. They must also document completion of 200 hours of community service, with 50 of those hours on S-club related projects.
Our recipients were Michelle Young (Pres. of S-Club), Katie Holt, and Natasha Kamps. The awards were presented by former SISWclub president and S-Club advisor, Claudia Cox.
Professional/Technical Award – this $1000 award is granted to a high school student who will be enrolling in a community college or technical school and is seeking a professional or technical certificate. Former club president Pam Bickel presented this award to Alexaundrea Soli, a graduating senior at Bayview H.S., who received impressive recommendations from her teachers and advisors.
Women’s Opportunity Award – is a signature program of SIA and was established in 1972 to assist women with primary education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their family. SIA gives more than $1 million each year to women who qualify for these awards in 19 different countries. The award of $1000 can be used for any costs associated with educational efforts, including tuition, books, educational tools, child care and transportation.
A highly qualified applicant was chosen from the SIA Region. The award was given to Mitzi Racine, Project Coordinator at the Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center in Billings, Montana where she works to empower tribal partners in developing public health services. She is, in addition, the sole provider for her three children.
Ruby Award for Women Helping Women – named for the SIA founder of this program honors women who, through their professional or personal efforts make extraordinary differences in the lives of women and girls.
This honorary award was presented to Wendi Barker by SISW president Gail Pierce.
Dorothy Cleveland Award – is given to honor an exceptional club member who’s made substantial contributions to improve the lives of women and girls in their professional or personal commitments.
SISW 2009 recipient, Joan Caldwell, presented the award to Kathy Habel who’s been a community volunteer for many years. Besides serving as president for two terms, Kathy has served on the boards and volunteered with the Greenbank Farm, Good Cheer, South Whidbey Schools Readiness to Learn project, the American Cancer Society, WISH, Island Girls Day Camp, the Soroptimist International Human Trafficking awareness program, among others.
Good Cheer!
On June 12th blues and roots rock singer and songwriter, Cee Cee James, will be piloting the very first Mighty High Music Soul Revival Roadshow at the old Red Barn at Greenbanks Farm on Whidbey Island.
Cee Cee is a native of the Northwest who has lived on South Whidbey for the past three years. This past week, Cee Cee was awarded the Best Blues Songwriter Award for 2010 by the Washington Blues Society.
The Cee Cee James Band has two recent CD’s. Low Down Where the Snakes Crawl and Seriously Raw – Cee Cee James – at Sunbanks. Low Down Where the Snakes Crawl debuted at #15 on the March 2010 Living Blues Charts and peaked at #8 on the overall Roots/Blues Charts. Low Down also held at #1 on the Washington Blues Charts for nine straight weeks.
Some have compared her work to that of Janis Joplin. This is seriously good music! Click on the above photo to listen to Low Down Where the Snakes Crawl; it will rock your soul! You will find the song on the right hand side of the page.
The group plans to take the show nationwide. It is a “Roadshow” that brings the community together through Mighty High Music. The Whidbey Island musical youth group Indigo will open the show, followed by a short talk by Transition Whidbey. Cee Cee James and her band will then take the stage. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this show go to Transition Whidbey, with the other 50 percent being placed into a “not-for-profit” fund to support future Soul Revival Roadshows.
Just click on the photo above for a video from Britt Walker Co-Founder and Director of Transition Whidbey.
This is a great video that highlights the wonder of this community and the people who live and work here; perhaps you will see a friend or even yourself in the video:) Be sure to watch the video in full screen mode.
Whidbey Island, what a great community of people who truly care!
Cee Cee says that ” we engage the community with potluck we ask the charities to bring in local testimony, how they have helped people and have people come in and speak….how people have overcome adversity. We are really interested in bootstrap charities where people pull themselves up by their bootstraps and look for help so that they can get back on their feet.”
This event is about bringing people together to dance, sing and to develop a broader awareness of the community charities that exist on the island.
The show will be held in the big red barn at Greenbank Farm, starting at 4:00 and ending at 9:00. Tickets are available at Cee Cee’s website through Paypal and can be purchased at some local businesses including 1504 Coffee Bar, Island Angel Chocolates, Llynya’s, and the Transition Whidbey Office in Langley. This is a potluck, so all are invited to bring a dish. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12 years.
You do not want to miss this event!
Good Cheer!
I thought that this might be an interesting topic since we have just finished with our Talent Show event. JaNoah Spratt was a moving force behind the fund raiser and a symbol of what the young can and are doing throughout the world.
The actions of a few can change the world. It all begins with small steps; random acts of kindness and focused attempts to help one another.
This story was written by Mark Clawson. It is a wonderful story about young people taking time out of their lives to help others.
Here is his story:
If you haven’t noticed; young people are getting involved. This seems to be a generational change and one that bodes well for the future of our planet.
My daughter’s husband, Joe Osborne, spent time in Kenya a couple of years ago working at an AIDS hospice. While he did have a bout with malaria; his real memories come from the time spent helping the people. My daughter, Meredith, spent time working as a children’s counselor for Americorp helping those with less.
Last year the two of them made a trek to South Africa, setting aside time in their lives, to help others. They were a part of an organization called Generation Joy.
Here is a photo from South Africa; Joe is on the bottom far left and Meredith is in the yellow jacket.
My African connection:
Their trek reminded me that it was an anniversary event for me! Forty years ago, in July of 1969, I began a very memorable year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I was stationed at the Ethiopian Mapping Mission, thankfully not in Vietnam. This was a foreign aid project that was involved in mapping certain regions in Ethiopia.
I remember being surprised to find high-rise buildings and telephone poles. Most of what I knew about Africa came from National Geographic or from watching “Abbott and Costello in Africa”. The biggest surprise came as I was walking into town and came across a television store; right in front of me was Neil Armstrong stepping down on the Moon!
July 20, 1969 - ”That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
There is much that can be learned by experiencing another person’s culture. This type of education is not in books; it flows to your heart and soul. People are wonderful everywhere you go, that is why it is such a great experience to give.
Meredith and Joe were part of the Generation Joy Foundation; their trek involved bringing donated goods to the children of a small town in Africa.
The Generation Joy Logo is a symbol of unity in diversity; oneness of humanity in spite of cultural differences.
Curtis Betzler the founder of the Generation Joy Foundation is a science teacher at Beaver Lake Middle School in the State of Washington. He says that the idea of “kids helping kids” began nine years ago on a personal trip to Ghana.
Betzler found that there was an incredible need for educational resources and the basic needs that we all take for granted.
“Knowing that I teach in a place where, in many cases, we have an excess of resources and most all of our basic needs are met, I began working on a way to connect the two regions.” Betzler believes that in the right environment; all people want to learn and also that all people like to share.”
“This idea really took off due to the efforts of the children in the community where I work. They readily gave not only resources, but time, energy, planning and commitment to see this project through. The effort was rewarded when I witnessed the joy of children in Africa when receiving these resources and the impact it has had on their lives and community.”
Last year, Generation Joy filled two 40-foot freight containers with supplies. Among the thousands of goods packed in those vessels were 11,000 books, 170 computers, 60 bicycles, and hundreds of soccer balls.
You can view the Generation Joy South African slide show by clicking here 
“The potential is endless,” he said. “I think kids enjoy giving. They just need an outlet and a resource.”
Another group of teenagers growing up in Cincinnati started a program called H.O.P.E. with the idea of making a difference in the world. H.O.P.E is an acronym for Help Other People Endure. You will be very impressed with what these young ladies have accomplished. When you view the video make sure you view it in full screen mode.
We have a wonderful network of giving on South Whidbey; what a blessing to live in this community!
Good Cheer!
Sunday May 9th “Myth, Magic and Romance” a concert benefit for the Good Cheer Food Bank will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland at 3 p.m. This will be a great Mother’s Day event; a chance to spend the afternoon listening to classical piano music. Admission is by donation; whatever you feel comfortable with is just great.
Judith Burns and Satyavati D’Antoni met at Artists of South Whidbey and discovered their mutual interest in classical piano.
There are other coincidences about these two musicians that bear mentioning.
Judith and Satyavati were each recovering from a serious injury to a hand and had each faced the dire possibility that they would never again play the piano. Judith had fallen and cut her left hand open at the base of the thumb necessitating surgery. Her surgery had recently healed and she was working on restoring the use of her hand. About 15 years ago, Satyavati had injured her right hand – catching the right little finger and folding it all the way to the back of her hand. She had severe nerve damage. It was thought that she would never play again. After more than a decade, she discovered that the nerve had regenerated. She had just started practicing again when she met Judith.
The two started getting together to practice once a week. They explored a lot of music. Rejected some, decided to give some a try. People started asking when they were going to get to hear what they were up to. So, they got serious about creating a program that other people might like to hear. For 8 months, they rehearsed and they performed their first concert in June of 2008.
In Dec 2009 they put together a Holiday program and entertained folks at local senior centers. Finding interesting and satisfying music written for two people at the same keyboard is quite a challenge. They started trying out various pieces and rehearsing for the May 2010 Mother’s Day concert last Fall.
They considered how they might share great music and at the same time benefit a community service organization. They called Good Cheer and there you go!
Judith Burns and Saytavati D’Antoni are honored that their joy in making music can be translated into support for Good Cheer.
Music is a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day. We hope you will come!
Good Cheer!
Payless Foods Steps in to Help Families Hit by Shipyard Closure
I think that this headline says a lot about what Payless means to this community. It was back in November of 2007 when Payless Foods donated $20,000 to the Good Cheer Food Bank. The Nichols Brothers shipyard closure was creating hardships for many when 185 workers were laid off in early November of 2007.
”When we heard about the Nichols Brothers situation, we knew the food bank was going to be affected,” said Kim Blain of Payless Foods.
”We wanted to make sure the entire community had enough food. I am proud of how the people of South Whidbey stick together”, Blain said. Payless gave Good Cheer a $20,000 store credit. We buy food monthly from Payless at cost and that is wonderful.
Nichols Brothers has rebounded from bankruptcy in 2008 after being purchased by Ice Floe, headquartered in Texas. It has obtained a steady flow of contracts to build large tugboats and catamaran ferries, along with refitting and maintenance work. It also is a subcontractor with Todd Pacific Shipyard to build three 64-car ferries for the state of Washington.
Payless and the Blain family have been longtime supporters of the food bank and donated $25,000 to the Good Cheer Capital Campaign.
There are so many ways Kim has reached out to the food bank. They have not only supported us financially, but also by consulting. Kim and her employees have always shared their expertise with us.
Every time a customer brings in their own shopping bags to use at Payless Foods in Freeland, the store donates a nickel to the Good Cheer Food Bank. Customers can also donate the nickel per bag that Payless gives them by telling the cashier. It’s good for Good Cheer and good for the environment. Nickels add up; it should be noted that in 2009 Payless donated $10,834 from their cloth bag incentive and so far in 2010 they have already donated $5,115.60
The Clinton Foodmart
Shortly before his unexpected death, Clinton Foodmart owner Mike O’Sullivan designed a 5% gifting plan on grocery receipts (excluding alcohol and tobacco products) submitted to Good Cheer Food Bank.
This is an incredibly generous program, and we are deeply touched by the gesture. I was fortunate to have given Mike a tour of the food bank several weeks before his passing. He was surprised at the high number of food bank clients, and developed this great donation program as a result.
Mike O’Sullivan is the son of Linda Anderson and the grandson of the late Mildred and Al Anderson, longtime supporters of Good Cheer who had owned “The Big Penny” general store, the building now occupied by Good Cheer’s Langley Thrift Store. Foodmart shoppers may drop off their receipts at the nearby Good Cheer Two Clinton Thrift Store, the adjacent Clothing Rack, or Langley Good Cheer Thrift Store.
Receipts may also be brought directly to Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview, or mailed to Good Cheer, PO Box 144, Langley, WA 98260.
After monthly receipts are totaled, they will be submitted to Clinton Foodmart Manager Clay Anderson, who will then donate 5% of the total to Good Cheer to help keep the Food Bank’s shelves stocked.
The Goose Community Grocery
Coincidences and how they help people:
This past summer, the Goose Community Grocery donated a five-minute spree to a fundraiser held by the Freeland Chamber of Commerce. The winners, Bayview residents Ed and Chris Halloran, decided to donate their spree to Good Cheer.
“We support Good Cheer and the Goose and thought it would be a fun thing to do, as well as highlight the need that the food bank has this time of year,” said Chris Halloran. “We have food, but there are those that don’t, and this is our chance to help spread the word.”
Community spirit and warm hearts go hand and hand:)
The Star Store
The Star Store has also been a great friend of the food bank. Star Store owners Gene and Tamar Felton included Good Cheer in their 25th Anniversary Celebration last May and presented Good Cheer with a donation. They have also provided support during our food drives; recently helping the Lions with their Lions Day food drive.
We thank everyone who has Good Cheer in their hearts.
Good Cheer!
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