Each year the community gathers for a day of fun and fundraising for the Gifts from the Heart food bank.

Teams are formed with a minimum $100 sponsorship to participate in the Harvest Fest Relay Races.

Activities are food and agriculture–related and are always a secret up until the day of the races.

This year’s relays are noon Saturday, Oct. 11 on the community green.

All funds raised from the event go directly to the Coupeville food bank.

In the previous two years, $10,000 has been raised.

This year, there is an exciting opportunity for one of the teams to raise $15,000.

Each year the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association sponsors the Coupeville High School drama troupe relay team.

Executive director Vickie Chambers announced last week that an anonymous donor approached the drama troupe about matching any funds raised by the team 2 to 1.

So if the team raises $5,000, the donor will give $10,000.

After sending an email out to everyone she could think of, Chambers quickly raised several thousand dollars.

Donations are rolling in.

As of Tuesday, the team had raised $3,500.

Gifts from the Heart is a vital organization within this community, supporting 110 families.

It is also in its second year of its Meals 2 Kids program, which provides weekend food for needy children in the school district.

This program costs $5 per child, per week and there were more than 40 students supported in its first year.

It’s not every day someone steps up to encourage fundraising with matching donations.

The generosity in this community is astounding, and whether you donate $5 or $500, every little bit helps.