Islanders help others for holiday

It was a week of amazing stories and success as Oak Harbor school kids netted more than 7,000 items to feed the area’s hungry this Thanksgiving. Four local schools contributed canned goods for a 10-day drive to “Fill the Bus.”

November 24, 2009 5:34 pm
Help House board president Becky King grabs a box of canned goods from Christina Lafferty as the “Fill the Bus” campaign drives up to the food bank. She’s joined by students from the participating schools ­— North Whidbey Middle School and Olympic View
Help House board president Becky King grabs a box of canned goods from Christina Lafferty as the “Fill the Bus” campaign drives up to the food bank. She’s joined by students from the participating schools ­— North Whidbey Middle School and Olympic View

It was a week of amazing stories and success as Oak Harbor school kids netted more than 7,000 items to feed the area’s hungry this Thanksgiving.

Four local schools contributed canned goods for a 10-day drive to “Fill the Bus.”

The new campaign was developed by North Whidbey Middle School teacher Larry Falcon. The goal was to stuff an entire school bus with food. In the past, schools worked individually on food drives, but today, they’re in alignment.

Friday afternoon, transportation director Francis Bagarella stopped at Crescent Harbor, Olympic View and Oak Harbor Elementary to pick up goods to be dropped off at the Help House on Hathaway Street. The boxes rose to the ceiling, every seat was full and the back window was covered.

The donations couldn’t come at a better time, Help House Executive Director Jean Wieman said.

“As fast as it comes in, it goes out the door,” she said.

In October, the Help House fed 12,393 people, which is about a 900-person increase over last year.

From her talks with families, she believes the faltering economy is to blame. Many people complain their hours were cut at work.

“We’re seeing people that we haven’t seen in five or six years,” Wieman said.

Gifts from the Heart, a food bank in Coupeville, is reporting a similar increase in clients, of about 35 percent. Overall, 33 percent of the clients are school-age children.

“The donations have been fabulous. We’ve had more food or cash donations than ever,” Gifts’ director Molly Hughes said. “Those who haven’t been hard hit by the recession are helping those who have.”

Gifts from the Heart is pushing for more holiday meal donations, which people can contribute to as they pay for groceries at Red Apple in Coupeville. A holiday meal is $19.99 and includes turkey, ham, a bag of potatoes, stuffing and gravy.

In Oak Harbor, another major food drive is happening at Upchurch Scientific, Inc. The New Covenant Fellowship is taking donations of dish soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and other bathroom items for their hygiene closet.

Falcon will continue the district-wide food drive next year, and he hopes to add a second school bus or even a dump truck.

The kids’ passion for feeding hungry families has left a lasting impression on Wieman.

“The kids never cease to amaze me. I’ve had some parents who told me that their kids were clearing out our cupboard and they asked, ‘What’s going on?’ The kids said, ‘We have to have food for the Help House.’”

The Help House is taking in any food items, such as soups, rice, holiday-style foods and basic day-to-day items. Despite the extra clients this year, supplies and donations have been steady. In the 32 years the Help House has operated, they’ve never had to close their doors due to a lack of food, Wieman said.

“We couldn’t do it without a community like Oak Harbor,” she said.

If the students take away one lesson from the drive, Falcon hopes that they understand how they are helping as a community.

“Not all of us have an easy time, but we are all here for a reason: to help each other,” Falcon said.

To make a donation this season, the North Whidbey Help House is located at 1091 SE Hathaway St. in Oak Harbor. Look for food bins for Gifts from the Heart throughout the Coupeville area.

It’s turkey time

Join a Thanksgiving dinner in Oak Harbor or Coupeville on Thursday, Nov. 26.

The eighth annual free North Whidbey Community Harvest Thanksgiving dinner will be served Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. at the Elks Lodge, 155 NE Ernst St. Bring the whole family to this free event; donations appreciated but not required.

Up to 5,000 diners are expected from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For volunteer or donation information, call 679-4483, or drop by and see Jack Stiltz at Bay Printing, 1131 SE Ely St., Oak Harbor.

Friends, neighbors, families and visitors are welcome to join the 11th Annual Community Thanksgiving potluck meal Nov. 26 at the Coupeville Rec Hall on the corner of Alexander and Coveland. A traditional spread will be served buffet-style from noon until 2:30. Turkey and ham are provided by the organizers, while the rest of the tasty menu is up to those who attend. To get involved, call Peg and Gordon Burton at 678-1667 or Kathy Griggs at 678-6000.