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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.