As the community-based, non-profit food bank serving northern Whidbey Island, North Whidbey Help House is the provider of food for those in need.

Besides providing food baskets on a daily basis, we also distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to our civilian clients and to military families whose names are turned in by their command.

During the recent holiday season, we distributed 973 food baskets that fed 3,173 people. We also had 132 families “adopted” by groups and individuals who wanted to give people a little extra for the holidays.

We could not accomplish such a feat without the many volunteers from various commands at NAS Whidbey, the Aviation Ordnanceman Association, Brothers in Arms Motorcycle Club, Living Faith Christian Center and other individuals who donated 760 hours of time to help us prepare and distribute those baskets.

Special thanks to the employees of Upchurch Scientific who have an annual food drive competition among their employees and, this year, donated over 22,000 pounds of food; and to the many schools, commands and businesses that had food drives and promotions for Help House.

A heartfelt thanks to Dan, the employees of Saar’s Marketplace and the very generous people who donated gift certificates for holiday food baskets. This project cut the cost of our turkey purchases for both Thanksgiving and Christmas in half. We can’t forget the literally hundreds of others who donated through civic and social organizations, various businesses in town, churches and as individuals.

In 2007, we distributed 6,094 food baskets that fed 15,492 people and we were able to assist 132 people through the Salvation Army Prescription Voucher program.

Hunger isn’t only around during the holidays, it is here 365 days a year. Your donations during the holidays help to restock our warehouse for the coming year.

We are so fortunate that, unlike many other food banks throughout the state, Help House has never had to close its doors because of a lack of supplies. That says so much about our great community.

The words “thank you” seem so inadequate. From all of us at Help House (the board of directors, staff and volunteers), our sincerest appreciation for all you do to help us provide one of the most basic of needs (food) to those in need.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jean T. Wieman

Executive Director