A Year in Review. Together we served over 700,000 individuals in 2020. Thank you for your continued support! You are Helping Hands. We invite you to reflect with us in our 2020 Annual Report.
360.856.2211
helpinghandsfoodbank.org
PO Box 632
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
“A real community is one where people look out for each other, and
help friends and neighbors facing challenges. Helping Hands offers
daily proof that Skagit County is such a community, where every person
is treated with respect and dignity. We are proud to be a part of it.”
Robert and Rebecca Gates
staff to make sure they had the support they needed became a weekly
occurrence. The staff consistently went above and beyond to ensure
that food was available to those in need, regardless of where they
lived. With the support of the National Guard, our team was able to
serve over 710,000 individuals at thirteen satellite distribution points
and distribute seven million pounds of food. The scale and volume of
these statistics are truly staggering.
Once our processes and procedures were in place, the support poured
in from the community! Without this unprecedented community support,
Helping Hands would not have been able to serve the community in the
way we did. Through your generous contributions, Helping Hands
raised over $1.6 million in 2020. A year where the overall cost of food
was up 402% and there was unprecedented expenditures at seemingly
every turn. Helping Hands also took on the responsibility of making
sure Alger, Hamilton, Concrete, MarbleMount, Anacortes, MVHS sites
were supplied with food and PPE. We truly would not have been able
to do it without the support of our donors.
UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT
Macklin Hamilton – Vice President, Board of Directors
In 2020, the Board of Directors was faced with
a challenge: supporting the staff of Helping
Hands in distributing food to those who needed
it most in Skagit County, during a global
pandemic. Writing organizational policies, local
and state level advocacy, and checking in with
As we move into 2021, we are thrilled to have the continued support of
the National Guard, whose orders to continue operational support of
Helping Hands were recently extended through June 2021. Their
constant support, innovation, and answer to the call of duty has been
inspiring and integral to the success of Helping Hands in 2020, and will
continue well into 2021. Thank you for your service.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
President
Karl de Jong
City Council,
Sedro-Woolley
Vice President
Macklin Hamilton
Cascades Job
Corps Center
Secretary
Tony Smith
Sedro-Woolley
School District
Treasurer
Racheal Scholler
National Cascades
Institute
Members
Brian Williams
Retired
Jim Kaufman
Retired
Virginia Good
Safeway
If you are reading this newsletter, it is because you are a donor and
stakeholder of Helping Hands. I appreciate your ongoing support and
contributions, it is both appreciated and important. On behalf of the
Board of Directors, I want to say thank you. We look forward to
continuing to nourish our community with kindness and respect without
judgment in 2021 and beyond!
360.856.2211
PO Box 632
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
To set up a recurring
donation, please visit
helpinghandsfoodbank.org/donate
3
A YEAR IN REVIEW
Rebecca Larsen – Executive Director
THANK YOU
TO OUR MANY
SUPPORTERS!
Arliss Abbott
Dale Abbott
M.F Abbott
Sandarah Abrahamson
Cynthia Adams
Michael Adams
Evelyn Adams
Jacqueline Aiken
Larry Alderman
Judy Alexander
Susan Allen
Jacqueline Allison
Glenda Alm
Arlene Andersen
Julie Anderson
H.E. Anderson
Mary Anderson
Christine Anderson
Linda Anderson
Joyce Anderson
Roy Anderson
Arlene H. Anderson
Kris Anderson
Larry Andre
Pavle Anicic
Marie Anthony
Krista Applewhite
Milton Armstrong
Larry Ashe
Shazia Aslam
Michelle Axelson
M.D & R.L Ayers
Gary Aylward
Stephanie Bachmeier
Alexandra Baginski
Judith R Baker
Katherine Baker
Darryl Baker
Karen Bakke
Tess Bakke
Terri Bakke-Schultz
Suzanne Balam
Marsha Ballentine
James Ballew
David Barnard
Debbie Barney
Rebecca Barrett
Richard Barror
Elisabeth Bart
Daniel Barter
Rebecca Barth
Wendy Bartholomew
Patricia Barton
Toni Bateman
The world was challenged in 2020 in a way that
most people had never witnessed. We saw
communities rally behind essential workers,
grocery store shelves empty, masks, loved ones
locked behind glass windows and everyone
pivoting to find a new normal.
We even saw the rise of new words: Social distancing, contract tracing,
and my favorite, maskne. I remember my first email to the Executive
Director in Bellingham asking him, "What are you doing about this COVID
thing?" It seems like a lifetime ago that the Board of Directors had its last
in person meeting to decide the path Helping Hands was going to take
during this pandemic.
Fast forward to 2021 and I am writing this article "A Year in Review". Part
of me wants to share the tears, struggles, anxiety and fears with you all.
But my thoughts lead me back to all the amazing things that happened.
Helping Hands pulled together one of the most Herculean efforts I have
ever witnessed. From the donors, Board of Directors to the staff, National
Guard and volunteers, together we served 425% more individuals over
2019. 710,000 individuals received 7 million pounds of food and 85,500
food bags went to children.
Helping Hands was able to expand all our programs to every corner of
Skagit County and beyond. We never said no and that brought more
donors, volunteers and National Guard to help support the mission to
serve everyone without judgment.
Weekly I would get a letter with a donors check thanking me for all that we
were doing for the community. Little did they know that we were doing all
we could knowing that it might not be enough. We have had our voice
heard in Olympia and Washington DC basically begging for the support
and help we deserved and it has been amazing to see the support we
have had.
So thank you to all who gave their resources to help us this year. If you
gave time, energy, funds, or prayers, thank you. You made me stronger
everyday to keep this mission going. I have personally never felt so
supported. I am making a promise to the whole community today.
4
We all know 2021 didn't arrive with the end of COVID and everything
opening back up. We are facing another unknown, "What does the
recovery time look like?"
We know families will need us even more. My challenge to you is to stay
supportive of our mission. Please give us your time, energy and resources
and in turn we will not let you down. We will keep speaking for those that
have no voice, we will keep feeding those in our neighborhoods that need
food and we will add programs that support the recovery process of our
community.
Will you continue to walk with us during this crisis and pandemic? Will you
challenge your family and friends to make your community stronger? Will
you call your representatives and make Skagit County's voice heard? We
have lots of ways to help and stay connected. Give us a call at (360) 856-
2211 or visit our website at www.helpinghandsfoodbank.org. You can also
follow us on Facebook @helpinghandsfoodbank and Instagram & Twitter
@helpinghandsfb.
Thank you for allowing me to serve my community as the Executive
Director at Helping Hands. You make me stronger and moving forward to
always push for change and making this community great.
David Bates
Don Bates
Debra Bazinet
Sharon Beach
Jacqueline Beamer
Kathy Bechtol
Moureen Beddall
Alexa Bednarz
Cookson Beecher
Josefina Beecher
Greg Behrman
Jon & Carol Beima
Michael Belisle
Carol Beltrand
Janice Bennett
Harold Bennett
Sarah Berentson
Brianne Berger
Diane Berglund
Christine Bergman
Tony Berkman
Dennis Berry
Mavis Betz
Loretta Betz
Krista Bieren
David Bigge
Stephen Billick
Sara Birkett
Claude Blackburn
Christine Blair
Freyll Blanc
Raymond W Blank
Marie Blits
Tamara Blunt
Patsey Blunt
Virginia Bode
Neil Boeh
Sally Bogan-Kirk
Cheryl Bolden
Wesley Bone
Abigail Borchert
Eric Bosell
George Bosler
David Bostrom
Dillon Boten
Randy Boucher
John Bouslog
Joan Bovee
Karen Bowden
Alexis Bowen
Kevin Boyd
Mary Brady
Martha Bray
John Breckenridge
Lisa Marie Brems
Gayle Brenchley
Cathy Brennan
Jason Brisson
Tressa Brodie
Joseph C Brooks
Gabrielle Brower
Debbie Brown
Ronald Brown
James Brown
Dee Brown
Jeremy Brown
Allen Brown
Shirley Brown
Kirk Brownell
Justine Browning
Darby Broyles
Susanne Bruland
5
Erin Brumbaugh
Kurt Buchanan
Thomas Buckingham
Mount Vernon Building Center
Jodie Buller
Wendy Bullock
Rebecca Bunke
Debra Buntting
Beth Burger-Price
Marjean Burke
Joseph Burns
Katja Burrough
Janice Burwash
Tim & Cinda Busch
Suzanne Butler
Yvonne Buysman
Ann Buzaitis
James Caddell
Bonnie Callander
Kyle Caneva
Roger Capron
Connie Carman
Laura Carman
Sheila Carrigg
Betsy Carroll
Margaret Carrow
Nona Carter
Donna Carter
Hunter Cates
Ashley Catucci
Michael Cervera
Nancy Chamberlain
Alan Chandler
Rodney Chandler
Samantha Chang
Penny Chapman
Robert P Chase
Megan Chatt
Eric Chauvin
Suzanne Cheadle
Gretchen Chen
Barbara Cheyney
Ronald & Susan Chiabai
Judith Chilcote
Ronald Ian Ching
Emily Chong
Linda Christensen
Sarah Christensen
David & Jean Christensen
Susan Christensen
Peggy Christian
Malia Christiansen
Suzanne Christianson
Toni Christianson
Pamela Christison
Kathy Christoffer
Lawrence Cimoch
Jan Cimoch
Rebecca Clark
David Clark
Steve Clarke
Rebecca Clemans
Terry Close
Robert Cochran
Nancy Cochran
Robert Coffey
Sherri Cole
Deanna Collins
Joan Collins
Cynthia Collins
Susanne Conijn
Kathlean Conner
6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A YEAR IN REVIEW
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS
BY THE NUMBERS
INTRODUCTION TO THE TEAM
MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
A HELPING HAND
GIVING BIRTH TO MORE HELPING HANDS
ANACORTES 100
STUFFING THE BUS
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
A PLACE OF LOVE
...3
...3
...4-5
...4-7, 9-21
...7
...9
...10-12
...14-16
...18
...19-20
...21
...22-23
...25-26
...27-28
DONATIONS
92,505 volunteer hours
BY THE NUMBERS
FOOD
Thank you to Costco, Draper, Trident, Fred Meyer,
Food Lifeline, Pacific Coast and so many more
food donors that made this possible.
Deborah Connolly
Larry Cook
Judy Cookson
Rachel Cooney
Stephanie Cooper
Celeste Corcoran
Peggy-Mike Corning
Leslie Cornish
Sandra Cornish
Lynn Costello
Laurie Cottingham
Charles Cowles
Leslie Crandall
Barbara Crawford
C.W. Crider
Joan Cromley
Brian Crompton
Shannon Crossley
Becky Cullup
Joyce Curry
Sandra Curtis
Misty Curtright
Letty Curvers
Hanne Dalmut
Russell Dalton
Jeanne Daly
Keris Daman
Megan M Dana
Andrea Dana
Melanie Davidson
Deborah Davis
Lou Ann Davis
Donald Davis
Ken and Pam Davis
Mary Davis
Margaret Davis
Jennifer Dawes
Kevin Dawson
John Day
Melvin Decker
Arsene De Conde
Ken Deering
Dorothy de Fremery
Scott Degraw
K de Jong
Melba Dekok
Millard Deline
Jeffrey DeMet
Caron Dennett
Margaret Dente
Luke Deryckx
Margaret Desko
Matthew DesVoigne
William Devlin
Marilyn Didway
Molly Dight
Barbara Dills
Thomas Doan
David Doherty
Evelyn P Domby
Fritzi Donaldson
Anonymous Donor
Melissa Dougher
Ardella A Douglas
Mary Ann Douglas
Megan Douglas
Charley Drake
James Duffy
John Dyngen
Barbara Eades
Pamela Eagan
Gina Eakin
continued on page... 9
7
INTRODUCTION TO THE TEAM
We would like to introduce our new team members. COVID-19 hit the whole
community hard and Helping Hands responded by opening up services to
anyone in need all over Skagit County. During 2020 we looked at our
resources and knew in order to support the needs in Skagit County, we had
to add people to our team. We would like to introduce: Amanda Huffstetler,
Support & Development Coordinator; Rick Baillie, Deputy Director; Jake
Hildebrand, Warehouse Assistant; Kim Engberg, Administrative Assistant
and Emily Elliott, Volunteer Coordinator to this amazing team. They all
come from different backgrounds, but we know their hard work will help
feed Skagit County.
Erin Earles
Jason Easton
Gail V. Ebel-Higgins
Larry Edwards
N.Jay Edwards
Constance Edwards
Norma Edwards
Kelsey Eickhoff
Kyndra Eide
Emily Elliot
Phil Elverum
Roger & Beth Emerson
Roger & Mary Emerson
James Emery
James Engberg
Christine Engelhardt
Pamela Englett
Cheryl Ensing
Marilee Erickson
Emily Erie
Gail Ermi
Amy Cameron Eskeberg
Louise Eusterman
Michael Evans
Terri Ewing
Glenda Exner
Susan Fahey
Jay Fallihee
Christine Farrow
Beverly Faxon
Irene Feddema
Ina Feenstra
Amy Fenlon
Gale Fiege
Gloria Jane Fish
Martha Fishel
Cheryl Fisher
Judy Fisher
Kelli Fitchlee
Joseph Fitzpatrick
Shelly Flaig
Candace Fleischer
Cheryl Fletcher
Becky & Kevin Fletcher-Tighe
William Flint
Donna Foley
Larry Forsythe
George & Ruth Ferguson
Foundation
Pamela Fowler
Howard Fox
Tami Francis
Rodolfo Franco
Joyce Frasier
Loyd and Joan Frazier
Bruce Freet
Susan Freeto
Stephanie Freier
Andrew Friedlander
Matthew Friedlander
June Fritz
Frieda Fuhrmann
Rosemarie Funderburg
David Gale
Judith L L Gamble
Jonathan Gamson
Brian Ganske
Judy Garrison
Robert Gates
Steve Gates
K Isserlis Gauthier
Nicole Geertsma
9
10
Nancy Gentry
Daniel R Gerhard
Molly Gerhard
Benjamin St Germain
Richard Gibbs
Ralph Gittins
Paula Glackin
Elaine Glasow
Bob and Elaine Glasow
Karen Glaze
Susan Glesne
Jeanne Glick
Jen Glyzinski
Wiliam Goe
Diane Goetz
Mary Jane Golden
Peter Goldfarb
Margarita Golub
Kelly Gomez
Viki Gonzales
Virginia A Good
Glenn Good
Jan Gordon
Joan Gordon
Roy Graebener
Debbie Grant
Duane Grant
Lori Graville
Sadie Green
Stephen Green
Bob Green
Mark Green
Joseph Greene
William Gregory
Beulah Grimberg
Thomas Grimmer
Mary Alice Grobins
Stephanie Gross
Claudette Gubrud
Lydia Guel
Karla Gulke
Gerri Gunn
John Gunn Jr.
Lynette Gunter
Barbara Bricka Gurney
Kay Haaland
Mike Hackendorf
Karen Hadman
Jenifer Haedt
Danny Hagen
Ruth Haines
Julia Hale
May Haley
Gregory Hall
Viktoriya Hall
Larry Hall
James Halpin
Eric Halvorson
Jay Ham
Anthony Hamilton
Gayle Hamlett
Jayne & Henry Hammingh
Patricia Hammond
William Handy
JoAnn Hanesworth
Marlene Hansen
Janet Hansom
Jana Hanson
Craig Hanson
Robert Hardin
Pat Hardy
Alan Hargus
MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
Miranda Wilson – Programs Manager
Needs in the community have changed greatly
during the pandemic. One of the biggest changes
has been how we provide services. Pre-COVID we
would connect with participants when they visited
the Solution Center, for the food bank. Now we are
connecting with community members through
distribution, advertisements, community partnerships, homeless outreach,
website request forms, home visits and by phone. As the new Programs
Manager at Helping Hands Solution Center, I would like to give you a few
examples of some services and referrals I was able to provide recently
during this crisis.
Sunrise Services called in regards to our distribution for their client and after
asking more questions about the person, I identified there were a lot more
services they were qualified for. I was then contacted by their client, a 58
year old single female. She stated she was staying temporarily at a motel in
Mount Vernon. She had no transportation, no food, suffering from alcohol
withdrawal, had a medical condition which was causing her to have
seizures, in a domestic violence situation, disabled and suffering from
extreme depression. She felt she had no options as she had reached out to
other agencies who had no options for her. She felt totally alone and
helpless. I was able to get her signed up for free medical transportation to
get to her appointments, assisted making an appointment at Life
Connections for alcoholism, assisted with appointment and forms for Social
Security Disability, got her added to our mobile food delivery route, gave
resources for low income housing, supplied referral for DV services and
talked with her about resources to help with her depression. She started to
cry when she thanked me and I told her the true thanks goes to the
community because they care about her and make what we do possible.
A single mother with her son living at home was in need of wood. I was
contacted by the ladies friend who stated her friend had cancer, receiving
chemo and had no wood. Due to her cancer treatments she was feeling
extra cold. I contacted her and learned her only source of heat was her
wood-burning stove. I learned she was also in need of food but had no
transportation to our distribution site. Based on this information we were
able to provide her with wood donated to us by Mount Vernon Kiwanis. I
added her to our mobile food delivery route. She now is able to be warm
after her treatments and does not have to worry about getting food for her
and her son.
At one of our distributions I was able to connect with a husband and wife who
are currently homeless. They are living in their car and moving from campsite
to campsite as they can only stay at each site for four days. They moved to
Washington due to air quality and the husband's health. He was in need of
medical care and was unable to find a doctor in Washington. The husband
was receiving unemployment when they moved here, but has since lost his
benefits. His only work experience is in retail. Due to his health he feels
unsafe pursuing a job in this industry. Them having to move from campsite to
campsite has cost them extra money they don’t have. I was able to assist him
in finding a medical provider that accepts his insurance. I gave him
instructions on how to file for his unemployment based on his medical
condition. I referred him to DVR and WorkSource for assistance with training
and finding employment. I was able to provide them with a list of low income
apartments and assistance with their Housing Authority application. They
were in need of food beyond what they were able to receive at distribution
due to not having a way to cook. Due to being high risk they were in need of
supplies for sanitation. I was able to provide them with masks, disinfectant
and hand sanitizer. They had no money to buy personal hygiene items. I was
able to provide them with what they were in need of. I was able to give them
gift cards to help with purchasing gas and other supplies they needed. I will
be meeting with this couple twice a month to give them food and supplies to
assist them until their situation changes.
Marion Harmon
Mark Harp
Jennifer Harp
Donald Harper
Charles Harrah
Louise Harris
Carol Harrison
Richard Hart
Heidi Hartley
Laura Hartner
MaryAnn Hatfield
Melissa Haumerson
Tara Havard
Carol Havens
James Haworth
Jacob Hayes
Vicki Hayes
Kandy Hayes
Kelly Hayter
Beverly Haywood
Scott Hazelgrove
Robert Heckendorn
Ted Hegg
Donna Hegstad
Kristi Hein
Darrell Heisler
Elizabeth Heller
Laura Henderson
Janet Henderson
Shannon Henderson
Keith Hensley
Anthony Hernandez
Megan Hershaw
Lisa Hervieux
Denise Hewitt
Curtis Hezeau
Tiffany Hickman
James Hickman
Victoria Hildreth
Dawn Hill
Larry Hilliard
Julie Hinckle
Eric Hinton
Matthew Hitt
David Hodgson
Thomas Hohmann
Phillip Holder
Edith Holland
Jadyn Holmgren
Elizabeth Holtcamp
Angie Homola
James Horak
Patti Horn
Cynthia Hosick
Holly Hoskinson
Gaylen Houser
James Houston
Janet Houtsma
Randy Howard
Sharon Howe
Tim Howland
Helen Hubka
Robert Huet
Mary Huff
Robert Hughes
Travis Huisman
Gary Huisman
Sandra Hulst
Ronals Hunt
Stephanie Hunter
James & Barbara Hunziker
Jeremy Hurewitz
To learn more about programs available at Helping Hands, please visit helpinghandsfoodbank.org or call (360) 856-2211.
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Jennifer Hutchison
Marie Ibsen
Yonkman Construction, Inc
Judy Ingrum
Laura Irons
Charlie Isaacson
Steven T. Iufer
John & Mary Jackson
Patricia Jacobsen
John Janicki
Mike and Lisa Janicki
Elizabeth Jann
Kari Jellison
Bette Jenkins
Christopher Jensen
Katherine Jensen
Linda Jensen
Phillip Jerman
Allen Jett
Greg John
James Johnson
Yvonne B. Johnson
Brooke Johnson
Karen Johnson
Carol Johnson
Kate Johnson
Dale Johnson
Ellen Johnson
Deanna Johnson
Anita Johnson
Kirstin Johnson
Jayme Johnson
Julia M Johnson
Jennifer Johnson
Maureen & Warren Johnson
Mary Johnson
Steven Johnson
Virginia Johnson
Vicki Johnson
James & Marilyn Johnson/Kenney
Jacquelin Jolly
Donald Jonasson
Thomas Jones
Tamara Joplin
Linden Jordan
Ross Joyce
Robert Joyner
Juanita Judd
Aaron Kaehr
Geri Kaigh
David Kawashima
Suzanne Kazanjian
Bruce Keenan
Melissa Keener
Conor Keeney
Debra Kelly
Rachelle Kelly
Kymberly Kelly
Arthur Kendall
Leslie Kendall
Leslie Kendig
Megan Kenoyer
Julie Kiefer
Steve Kiefer
Julie Kinder
Galen Kindred
Sandra Kindrick
Pam King
Eileen King
Astrid King
Steven King
Hallie Kintner
A community member contacted Helping Hands for assistance for her friend
who was in need of food for the holiday. Her friend is a single mother with no
resources. I was able to supply her with food for the holidays and beyond as
well as presents for her children. When the lady came to pick up the food and
gifts I found out her license was suspended due to being unable to pay her
fines and them going into collections. She is a single mother of 7 children and
had never had a license. Due to never having a driver's license the cost was
higher than if she had. I had met with someone who works for the courts and
she informed me about the relicensing clinic in Skagit County. Being part of
this program, they can pull her fines from collections and set up a payment
plan to allow the release of her license while she is making payments.
Although she is employed, she is still low income and can do part of her
payment in lieu of community service. Because of her situation she is able to
get a voucher from DSHS for DMV to help pay for her licensing fees. I was
able to connect her with these services and now she is able to drive legally to
meet the needs of her family and work.
The work we do would not be possible without the support of our community
and the partnerships we have developed with other agencies. To ask for help
is not easy. This is why we always treat people who come to us with dignity,
respect and kindness without judgment. Every person's situation is unique.
What services one person qualifies for, another may not. A lot of agencies
have very specific qualifications. Here at Helping Hands we provide services
to everyone who is in need. It is my job to listen, learn and connect them with
the programs they qualify for.
Helping Hands is currently searching for volunteer Navigators to assist in the
connection of individuals to appropriate programs. If you would like to become
a Navigator, please visit www.helpinghandsfoodbank.org/volunteer to fill out
the Navigator Volunteer Application. If you have any questions, give us a call
at (360) 856-2211 or email programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org.
12
Leni C Kinzli
Randi Kivett
Marlene Klein
Shirley Knapp
Linda Knapp-Strobel
Sherry Kness
Kyle Knoble
Marjorie k Knott
Ingerlise Knudson
Kevin & Glenda Kok
David Koller
Mark Kolner
Matthew Kon
Julie Kongs
Germaine Kornegay
Bernita Korthuis
Cheryl Korthuis
Margaret Kotal
Susan Kovar
Lauren Kowalsky
Bobbi Krebs-Mcmullen
Susan Krienen
Gary Kruger
Cyndi Kuehny
Lawrence Kunzler
Eldon Kutscher
Joseph Kutz
Nels Lagerlund
Nate and Diya LaHue
Racquel LaMora
Rob and Christy Lancaster
Lettie Lance
Cindy Lane
Sandra Lane
Joan Lang
David Lang
Wendy LaRocque
Kathryn Larson
Dyane Larson
Beverly Lasswell
Phil Latendresse
Lisa Latham
Sandra Latham
Elizabeth Laue
Ruth Laughlin
Kathleen Lawson
Robert Leber
Leslie Lemley
Nicolette Levai
Howard Levine
Chloe Lew
Jennifer Lewis
Oliver Libby
Monica Liebert
Nancy Liggett
Ronald Lindsay
Sharon Link
Dan Lint
Janet Livingstone
Daniel Lofstrom
Michele Lomsdalen
Roberta Lomsdalen
Dennis London
Joy London
Nichole Long
Erin Long
Kathryn Longfellow
Ricky Loop
Richard Loop
Steven Lospalluto
Gary Lowe
Janet Lowry
13
LeAnn Lucas
Shane Lucey
Arlene Ludwig
Douglas C. Lundgren
Douglas Lundgren
Mary Lynn lyke
Michael Lykins
Carie Mackenzie
James Macy
Maria Magana
Janell Majewski
Heather Malcolm
Rose Mallon
Deborah Malone
Sylvia Mangold
Timothy Manns
John Manso
Katherine Marilley
Danl Markham
Anne H Martin
Shona Martin
Barbara Martin
Lori Martinelli
David Martinez
Joshua Martinez
Marijo Martini
Anthony Massarelli
Laura Mathews
Casey Matranga
Sylvia Matterand
Robert Matthews
Dorothy Matthies
Edward Matts
Tyler Maxwell
Gina Mayfield
Ruth Mazur
Robert Mazur
Francine McAdow
Sue McCallan
William McCann
Marlene McCauley
J.K. McConahey
Joanne McCormick
Gary & Sharon McDaniel
Gary McDaniel
Priscilla McElhose
Robert McGary
Mary McGoffin
Tara McGown
Richard McKenzie
Nancy Mckeown
Gloria McKim
Jessica Mckinlay
Susan McLoud
M.E. McMillian
Molly McNicholl
Jack McTaggart
Marg Meece
Sue Mehler
Leah Meissner
Garnet Mell
Thyrza Melsby
Cassandra Mendoza
Genie Metcalf
Jonathan Metz
Starla Meyers
Jack & Anne Middleton
Judith Middleton
Philip Mihelich
Linda Milbourn
Debbie Miles
Karen Miller
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Erik Larsen – Operations Manager
2020 started for us on a high note. In January we
started a second location in a local community that
had lost their food bank and, working with the
existing volunteers, were able to maintain help to
that community. After a full year in our new facility,
we had established procedures for operation in a
new environment that we needed but never had. We saw an increased
growth in our distribution outreach as word of our new model and hours
continued to spread to the people who needed us. But then COVID hit.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we realized that while our
numbers would continue to grow, our existing model would not safely
support such a growth. Even with our current participant numbers we were
not able to maintain a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and
participants. Even our beloved volunteers were at risk, as over 80% of them
were very susceptible to this new virus.
So we came up with a new emergency food distribution model. In this
model we were able to safely continue our mission of serving our
community with dignity and respect, without worrying about putting our staff
and volunteers at risk.
Asking for additional help in the community, many new volunteers stepped
forward to assist us. Mostly younger, furloughed or laid off workers, flooded
us with help and we were grateful. As days went by, though, we realized we
needed even more assistance.
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At this time, the Governor activated the National Guard and here was our
answer. Initially we requested 8 guardsmen to help as we thought at this time
that 8 people would be enough to tell our new volunteers to stay home and
take care of themselves and their families, but it was not. Requesting 12
more, that showed up the next week, allowed us to really help our
distributions and handle the increased amount of food we had to process and
pack in order to meet the need.
When word got out of the assistance we had received from the state with the
guardsmen, we were approached by 3 other food banks that were forced to
close their doors for the same reason we had to change. Their volunteers
were also at risk and they did not feel safe operating and putting them at risk.
They requested our help in reopening so they could serve their participants
with manpower and food and, of course, we said yes.
Starting in Alger, Concrete, and Hamilton we started assisting them with drive
through distributions and the response was very positive and immediate. The
Skagit County Department of Emergency Management and the immigrant
council reached out to us as well to assist with those who were unable to
make it to any distribution, to deliver food to nursing homes for the employees
that could not get out and get the food they needed themselves and assisting
in opening and providing food for a distribution at the Mount Vernon High
School, which we eventually took over when their funding ran out. Skagit
County Health Department requested our assistance in delivering food to
COVID positive families who were under quarantine, and many more.
Mark Miller
Constance Miller
Judith Miller
Grant & Michele Miller
Elizabeth Miller
Dean Millican
Joseph Millman
Joseph Mills
Yvonne Minerich
James Minton
Katharine Mintz
Sarah Mintz
Lisa Mirante
Donna M. Mixon
Janine Moden
Craig Mohler
Jane Molenkamp
Marla Molskness
Ross Moncrief
James A Montgomery
Sonja Moon
Lois Moore
Gunnar Moore
Frances B. Moore
John Morgan
James Morrell Jr.
Mike Morrey
Laura Morris
Brent Morrison
Colleen Morse
Frederick Morton
Michael Moser
Thomas Moser
Betty Moser
Russell Moser
Kristin & Steve Mowat
Linda Moyer
Patrick & Patrick Mulcahey
Joseph Mulcahy
James Murphy
Pamela Murphy
Kitti Musch
Susan Musselman
Charles Nafziger
Sue Nagel
Kevin Nagel
Arthur Nakis
Janet Navert
Nicole Navratil
Shelley & Andy Nelsen
Kathryn Nelson
Reggie Nelson
Barbara Nelson
Lorine Newcomer
Tam Nguyen
Sarah Nichols
Allen Nickerson
Zackry Nightingale
Mark Nilson
Jack Ann Noble
Lori Nordgulen
Shirley Nyland
Monica Ochs
Donald Odegard
Carrie Odlin
Terry Ogdon
Matthew O'Hagan
Rich Oickle
Gwendolyn O'Keefe
Barbara O'Keeffe
Jessica Oliver
Tashawna Olson
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Gail Omdal
Linda Oppe
Kenneth Osborn
Catherine Ousselin
Vicky Overbay
Kelsey Overby
Jay Pace
Sandra Paciotti
Laura Paise
Lorna Haycox Parent
Ardis A Parker
Annette Parker
Scott Parrett
Elizabeth Paschke
Barbara Pattee
Thomas Patterson
Mary Patterson
Gerald Patterson
Marietta Paulus
Mary P Pavia
Kenneth I Payne
Troy Pazaski
Nathaniel Pearson
Daniel H Peck
Mark Peek
Erica Peel
Carol Pellet
Andy Penner
Joseph Pepia
Dorothy Perkins
Sandy Perkins
Barbara Perra
Robert Peter
TessaRose Petersen
Scott Petersen
Marjorie Petersen
Carol Peterson
Arlene Peterson
Duby Petit
Richard Petit
Cathy Pfahl
Kimberly Piazza
Gretchen Pickett
Beth Piotto
Logan Pirkl-Demarest
Sinead Plagge
Gailyn Ploeg
Aaron Pomerinke
Emily Porret
Raymond Powell
Greg Powell
Tom Powell
Paul Powell
Paul Power
Geraldine Power
Rebecca Pratt
Stacy Price
David Price
Nancy Price
Tammy Prouty
Dean L. Puckett
Gregory Pulley
Arthur Pullman
Charles Quigg
Lynn Rabenstein
Caroll Raczkowski
Chelsey Radonski
Roxana Rafatjah
Mary Ramborger
Martin Rand
Alyssa Randell
Joanne Rasmussen
Another food bank in Anacortes reached out to us as well. This one was in
dire need of help and wanted to join the Helping Hands family. We spent
months working with them and assisting with food until time came for them to
truly merge with us. Opening up a temporary drive though distribution in a
local church parking lot as their old facility was not optimal, allowed us to not
only feed their participants, but participants from Island County as well.
Our community is amazing. As the need kept rising and the asks kept coming
in, the donations exploded allowing us to truly help our whole county, who we
always considered our community. For every dollar spent on food or pound
handed out, the community gave back double. We are so blessed to be able
to say we truly are a middle-man for our community to help each other.
As 2020 comes to a close, we are looking forward to 2021. With transitioning
back to our facility with a drive through model and welcoming new and
existing volunteers, and eventually welcoming back our participants into the
building. We have some exciting new plans to introduce to the participants
and community.
Again, we feel so blessed to be part of this truly amazing and supportive
community and I personally want to thank each and every person who has
supported us in this very difficult time of need and am so proud of what we
were able to accomplish with your help. I myself look forward to continuing to
serve and nourish our community and build our organization to create a better
future for everyone.
If you are interested in future volunteer opportunities, please visit
www.helpinghandsfoodbank.org/volunteer to fill out the Volunteer Application.
If you have any questions, give us a call at (360) 856-2211 or email
volunteer@helpinghandsfoodbank.org.
Gary Rasmussen
George & Audrey Rasmussen
Karen Rawe
Kimberlei Rawson
Karla Reed
Andrea Rees
Martin Reese
Ann Reid
Daniel Reilly
Rachel Reim-Ledbetter
Marvin Remillard
William Requa
Scott Rhodes
Janet Rice
Karen Richman
Ruth Richmond
Amanda Richner
Mary Kay Richter
James Rider
Sharon Rigdon-Clark
Raymond Riggles
Kelly Rinehart
Gayle Rings
Mary Lou Ritter
Linda Robbins
Patricia Robinson
William Robinson
Cheryl Robison
Nancy Rodriguez
Andrea L Rogers
Dauna Rogers
Andy Rogers
Kristin Rogers
Pamela Rolfson
Kenneth Ronk
Jordan Roorda
Martha Rose
Robert Rose
Beth Rosenstiel
Mount Vernon Rotary
Charitable Foundation
Paul W Roveda
Brad Rowe
Daniel Royal
Sarah Ruether
Charles Ruhl
Lori Ruhl
R & K Ruschmann
Danielle Russell
Sarah Rutherford
Andrea Ryon
Loretta Saarinen
Teri Saben
Rober Saben
Sharon Sackett
David Sackman
Doreen Sadler
Kathryn Sager
Barbara Saleeby
Doug Salyer
Meli Sameh
Ben Sanders
Wendelin Lee Sanderson
Jill Santiago
Lisa Ann Sargent
Chirs Sargo
Barbara Schaeffer
Carolyn Schafer
Kate Schellie-Stram
Kitty Schiffer
Rebecca Schlaht
Ada Schmidt
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Al Schmitz
Wayne Schneider
Sally A Schroeder
Edward Schrowang
Patricia Schuberg
Janet Schuirman
Rita Schulze
Michael Schweigert
Deborah A Scott
Susan Seefeldt
Daniel Segars
Betty Seguin
Richard Sentner
Kayren Shaffer
Paula B Shafransky
Jennifer Shainin
Ashley Sharp
Lea Shato
Richard Shaughnessy
Janice & Rich Shaughnessy
Gwen Shay
Henry Shea
Giles Shepherd
Steven Sherer
Bert Sheridan
Nora Shuler
Anne Sidbury
Mercy Sidbury
Kathleen Sieber
Beverly Siegrist
Renae Sigmen
Karen Silverio
Jeff Silzer
James Simonson
Lance Sims
Daniel Sims
Becky Sindora
Stan Singer
Catherine Sisk
Jonathan Sjogren
Darrell Skiles
Elisabeth Slabodnik
Brian Smead
Janet Smith
Glen Smith
Marcia Smith
Margi Smith
Phoebe Smith
Clete Smith
Anthony Smith
Benjamin Smith
Trevor Smith
Deborah Sodl
Mark Soine
Chris Soler
Harley & Susan Soltes
Jane C Soong
Brian Soots
Marcus Sorenson
Cynthia Sorestad
Tanya Sparks
Leslie Speedy
Anne Spink
Rebecca Spurling
Perry Squires
Linda Staab
Arlene Stadler
Mark Stadler
Milo Stafford
Robin Stambaugh
Dennis Stanchfield
Michelle Stanton
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COVID and I suffered the worst at home alone. I needed food, then I realized
the food bank has a mobile food drop off program where they bring your box
of food to your porch no contact and leave it. Between that and close friends
cooking me meals and dropping them off I have fully recovered. The
compassion and willing to help those in need is why I volunteered and I miss
that feeling of gratitude. I cant wait to get back to donating some of my time to
help Helping Hands nourish and support our community with respect
kindness and food without any type of judgment. Nobody should go hungry.
Give Helping Hands a call at (360) 856-2211 if you have a food need.
Sometimes in our life we all need that helping hand.
A HELPING HAND
Keith Kirchgesler – Volunteer
Ahoy there! It's Keith Kirchgesler, also known as
Captain Seaglass. What a challenging year 2020
was! During that year I got a first look at some of
the amazing programs and things Helping Hands
has to offer. I went from being a dedicated
volunteer to a client. My whole household got
To learn more about programs available at Helping Hands, please visit
helpinghandsfoodbank.org or call (360) 856-2211.
GIVING BIRTH TO MORE HELPING HANDS
Kathy Young – Volunteer
Marblemount, WA is a little village nestled along the entrance to the North
Cascades Mountain Range. Around 200 people live here. Some were born in
the area and have chosen to stay. Others transplanted themselves here,
replacing chaotic urban living with the quiet, minimalistic life of forest dwellers.
Retired seniors, families with children and those with new dreams and
inspiration live in this scenic place. I like to say the Spirit of the trees reached
down inside me and grabbed ahold.
But because of where it is, Marblemount is colder and hotter and wetter and
drier. Before COVID-19, our food bank was held inside at the church. Usually
over 120 people came through every other Wednesday, walking around the
tables set up with donated and rescued canned goods, breads, dried foods,
veggies and meats, eggs, milk and juice. As a volunteer, I was blessed to get
to know some of my neighbors who visit our food bank.
Many come on bikes and scooters, carrying backpacks and pulling wagons. I
watched different individuals who visited for the first time, looking down at the
floor, unsure of what to do and say. Shy and timid, they let us respectfully
help them load up food items.
I listened to an elderly woman quietly tell me, "This food is such a blessing, it
really helps me get by between my Social Security checks."
And the young woman who told me she didn't have any way to heat up food.
So we helped find appropriate items for her.
Margaret Stapleton
Eric Stark
Leah Starr
Robyn Stein
Mia Steinberger
Linda Steiner
Heidi Stendal
Shannon Stephens
Sally Stern
William Stevens
Gregg Stiglic
Larry Stiles
Tessa Stiles
Keith Stobie
Eric Stollwerck
Corinne Story
Denise Stoupa
Patricia Stowe
Janice St. Peters
Cole Strassburg
Dave Streeter
Sven Stroosma
Thomas Strotkamp
Albert C Stubbs
Isobel Stuifbergen
Diane Sukovaty
Hannah Sullivan
Theresa Sundance
Betty Sundquist
Joni Sutten
Kathryn Sutton
David Svaren
Nancy Swalling
Rebekah Swanson
Angela Swatzina
Christine Sweeney
Jennifer Swenson
Stephanie Swenson
Chris Swenson
Richard Swetman
Cherrish Swiger
Daniel Symonds
Jennifer Tada
Becky Taft
Alice Takehara
Gary Talbert
James Tangaro
Ann Tanner
Tina Tate
James Tautfest
Bonnie Taylor
Megan Tewinkel
Marty Thawsh
Scott Thomas
Jean Thompson
Naoma Tiffany
Jon Kevin Tighe
Aaron Tinling
Marianne Tobiason
Donald K & Diane Torset
Deborah Torseth
Debbie Torseth
Nichole Townsend
Renate Trapkowski
Dave Trout
George Tsiatis
Jack W Turner
Kent Turner
Nancy Twine
Vicki Tyler
Susan Uker
Joy A Ulskey
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Charlie Urbick
Janet Vaillancourt
Kimberly Valden
Pamela Valentine
Ruth Valleysegovia
Mary Vance
Rob Vander Stoep
Andrea VanPelt
Elizabeth Vansickle
R. E. Van Valkenburgh
Sara Van Zandt
Chris Varela
Joseph Vellegas
Carolyn Vellutini
John Vendeland
Mark Venn
Carolyn Vinyard
Mick Visten
Laury Volwiler
Sandra Von Trapp
Mark & Nancy Vorobik
Tom Wachs
Lauren Wachsman
Mark & Jody Wade/Byers
Michael Wagenbach
Paula Wagner
Keith Wagoner
Stanley Walker
Laurie Wallace
Shane and Kim Walley
Stanley Walsh
Katherine Walter
James Walters
Samantha Walters
Catherine Walton
Patrick Ward
Johnette Ward
Sarah Ward
Heather Warner
Eric Warner
Debra Warren
Louis H Watanabe
Marguerite Watkinson
Holli Watne
William Watterson
Diane Weaver
Catherine Weech
Cathy Weiss
Marc Weiss
Gail Welborn
Rebecca Welch
Sarah Welch
Steven Welcome
M. Cyrene Wells
Rocky Wens
Carmen Werder
Martin Werr
David Wesley
Heather Westendorf
Ruth Westerbeck
Jeffrey Weyand
Richard A Weyrich
F.C. White
Lori White
Sharon Whiting
Adriana Whitmer
Susan Whittle
Cynthia Wiese
Steven & Linda Wilhoit
Shirley Wilkinson
Debra Willer
Jeffrey Williams
And one hot summer a woman told me they didn't have a refrigerator. For
real. They dig a hole in some shady ground to place certain perishable items.
The one thing we all have in common is food. I have noticed that eventually,
those that come visit our food bank share a sense of family. They happily
stand around sipping hot soup checking up on each other's last two weeks.
With the gift of full bellies, the food bank hours became more like Happy
Hours, for both the clients and volunteers.
The assurance of regular food supplements can move hearts and minds. Now
with COVID-19, people have to follow a drive through food distribution. They
stop, stay in their car and have a volunteer place the boxes of food in their
trunk. But in our community many do not own a vehicle. So many people who
now stop at the drive through also pick up for their friends and neighbors who
are stuck at home.
Helping Hands Food Bank has given birth to more Helping Hands. In
addition to many making deliveries to their homebound friends, people are
eagerly sharing with others in need. In our community, I have witnessed
eager responses from people wanting to donate more food than was even
asked for, to some who had nothing to feed their families.
I have to wonder, does this now weekly food distribution of basic food staples
create a safer environment with less theft? Healthier bodies + dignity and
sharing = less crime. It would be an interesting study. One that I may
investigate myself, once COVID-19 has been exhausted.
Also, I would be remiss in not giving a huge THANK YOU to the assistance
we have received from the National Guard for almost a year now. Without
their helping hands, the boxes would not be getting prepared with donations
and would not be distributed. Many Thanks!
Helping Hands and the National Guard served close to 19,000
individuals in Marblemount in 2020. Thank you to Inspire Church,
donors and volunteers who made 2020 a plentiful year.
– Rebecca Larsen, Executive Director
For daily and weekly updates on our operations, please be sure you are
following us on Facebook @helpinghandsfoodbank
ANACORTES 100
Jim Kaufman – President of the Board,
Anacortes 100 Food Bank
On behalf of the Board of the Anacortes 100 Food
Bank, I would like to thank all of our original 100
donors and the Samish tribe for beginning the work
of serving our fellow Anacortes residents in need of
food support over more than three decades. We are
in debt to our beloved former manager Belinda Dye
and her family, including David Scott, her son-in-law, our last manager for their
dedication to all who relied upon our services. Lastly, we appreciate the
hundreds of individual donors, churches and local businesses whose
generosity meant the world to thousands of people in need here in Anacortes.
K.A. Williams
Katherine Williams
Brandon Williams
Martha Williamson
Stella Winberry
Anne Winkes
Rebecca Winters
Leanne Wiseman
Richard Wisniewski
Barbara Woiwood
Michael & Carla Wood
Flora Woodring
Susan Woods
Jane Worlund
Erika Wudtke
Kelli Wuerth
Randy Wurtele
Janet Wyman
Andrew Yamashita
Roland Yarcho
Mike Yeoman
Brian Young
Sandra Young
Frederick Young
Derrick Youngquist
Sandra Youngren
Michael Youngren
Erin Yousling
Alison Zak
Breanna Zamora
Heidi Zeretzke
Jane Zillig
Frances Zimmerly
Elaine Zonnefeld
Donald Zorn
Thank you to everyone
who showed their support
in 2020 through time,
energy, monetary or
physical donations,
sharing our mission with
friends, family or on social
media and more.
We appreciate your
dedication to nourishing
your Skagit Valley
neighbors.
360.856.2211
PO Box 632
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
To set up a recurring
donation, please visit
helpinghandsfoodbank.org/donate
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STUFFING THE BUS
Nichole Long – Director of Development & Marketing
Helping Hands, like many organizations and businesses in our community,
found new and innovative ways to serve its community in 2020. With removed
restrictions to ensure all children in Skagit County would receive food through
its C.H.O.W. (Cutting Hunger On Weekend, Weekend Meal Bag) Program, it
needed to enlist additional help to deliver the thousands of bags each week to
children in the community.
Skagit Transit and Helping Hands soon found a partnership within each other that helped benefit both
organizations. Skagit Transit could continue to provide much needed hours to drivers on its team, and
Helping Hands could continue to accept and deliver food to the youth of Skagit County.
“In this moment of collective challenge, Skagit Transit is committed to remaining as flexible as we can in
support of our partners at the Helping Hands Food Bank and it’s mobile food programs,” Cheryl Willis,
Marketing and Public Affairs for Skagit Transit shares, “Skagit Transit is committed to being a link in the
critical lifeline of collecting and distributing food where it is needed in our local communities in partnership
with the Helping Hands Food Bank.”
Need for support for the C.H.O.W. program has grown due to children staying home for from school and due
to the impacts of the economy to on many families. Prior to COVID-19, C.H.O.W. served 1,100 children in
the Sedro-Woolley & Mount Vernon School Districts. With removed restrictions to ensure no child is left
behind, the program soared to over 2,250 students in a matter of months.
“Out of the overall percentage of growth of food distribution programs, C.H.O.W. has seen the biggest rise.
Many students are on this program for the first time ever, and we’re just so grateful in part to our donors and
partners like Skagit Transit who help us so we can continue to ensure children will have food.” Nichole Long,
Helping Hands Director of Development and Marketing, described.
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The partnership between Skagit Transit and Helping Hands is more than just food delivery though. The
original coming together of the two groups began with a food drive idea: Stuff The Bus. What was supposed
to originally be the way to kick off the Skagit Fair in 2020, it was quickly adapted to ensure the safety of
volunteers and the community by hosting a drive-through donation drive for C.H.O.W. at Burlington’s
Cascade Mall. Through food and monetary donations the drive successfully fed over 8,500 students.
The food drive proved to be so successful that Skagit Transit, Helping Hands, and The Cascade Mall will be
hosting another one on Saturday, February 27th 2021 from 12 PM to 2 PM. This time all food items will be
accepted to support the many food distribution programs Helping Hands is serving throughout Skagit
County. To learn more about February’s Stuff The Bus Event, visit the Facebook event page at:
bit.ly/StufftheBusFoodDrive or email: development@helpinghandsfoodbank.org.
To learn more about how your organization, business or service group can become the next Community Champion
at our Stuff the Bus Food Drive, please call (360) 856-2211 or email development@helpinghandsfoodbank.org
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BLACKBURNFOUNDATION.ORG
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
SUPPORT!
Helping Hands would like to thank
The Blackburn Foundation for their
support in 2020!
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
Israel Lopez – Intern
In 2020, Helping Hands had the privilege to work closely with Skagit County to
provide services to your neighbors, friends, and community. During the
COVID-19 Pandemic we saw the need for safe and fair access to food
increase over 425%. Many new partnerships had been established during this
time, and one of the most notable is our partnerships with Skagit County
individuals and agencies. Skagit County Public Health reached out to us to
help provide food for those who received a COVID-19 positive diagnosis, or were quarantined. Just in the
last 3 months of the year we delivered to 200 families who struggled with food access due to their diagnosis.
Our team stepped up and served those directly affected by COVID-19 with kindness, respect, and without
judgment.
Skagit County Department of Emergency Management (Skagit County DEM) was the first to call at the
beginning of the pandemic. "What do you need" was the ask. When Helping Hands first introduced the drive
through model the DEM offered support with; Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), cardboard boxes and
hand sanitizer. Their support was vital to ensuring a safe, and efficient food distribution operation. They were
essential advocates for receiving and keeping the National Guard manpower. Also all three County
Commissioners wrote a letter to Governor Inslee to keep the National Guard here in Skagit County. With the
National Guard help, Helping Hands distributed over 7 million pounds of food in 2020.
Along with multiple agencies from Skagit County, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the County
911 department held food drives for Helping Hands. They donated 100s of pounds of food. It is because of
selfless agencies like these ones, that helped us serve the 710,000 individuals of your community.
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A PLACE OF LOVE
Vance Whippo – Chaplain, National Guard
Back in August 2020, as a National Guard Chaplain I was transferred to Task
Force Olympic North – Sedro-Woolley #20-027 at Helping Hands, with a bit of
trepidation. I arrived at the Solution Center with fast moving machines and
people going everywhere which seemed very chaotic to me.
My first month was one of gaining my balance and finding my place within this
machine, all parts working seamlessly in unison but doing different things. I felt like an outsider as many had
been here since April 2020 and built strong relationships. But I was welcomed from the beginning and made
to feel like part of the family.
Not only have I had the honor to work with this great team, I have counseled them in their relationships,
mental health issues and even officiated a wedding for one of them. Helping Hands provided for over
710,000 individuals this last year due to the help of the National Guard members on mission.
As a chaplain, I feel great pride in this accomplishment and am proud of each one of these service
members. I have had the opportunity to get to know the wonderful staff who has allowed these service
members to take over and run many of the day to day operations. A well-run operation is only capable due to
the leadership and this food bank is fortunate to have an incredible Director, that saw the need and asked for
the help so that no one would go without.
The first month of my stay changed to one of admiration as I learned how each of the multiple tasks of
providing food where executed. Each member of the staff and every service member assigned to Task Force
Olympic North – Sedro-Woolley #20-027, volunteered to be here and each one is proud of the work they do.
I know this feeling of pride in my work and those I work with.
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Serving the citizens of Skagit County as it has struggled with many hardships such as homelessness,
hunger, COVID-19, and political discourse has added to the struggles and hours of long work required of all
the wonderful staff, volunteers, and soldiers.
I have now been here five months, only half as long as others, but have grown with and experienced the
aches and pains with those on this mission. As I sit here in the midst of the chaos with 10 new soldiers in
processing and as we say goodbye to some of our brothers and sisters off to other missions, it is both a
solemn moment and one of regeneration.
Every day has brought new challenges and new triumphs for both the food bank and the service members
present, but we have been able to meet each challenge due to the hard work of leadership and workers
alike. It is my hope that we can continue to provide this much needed help as long as needed.
What is our purpose if not to help another, or as Sophocles stated, “If we always helped one another, no one
would need luck.” The food bank is an institution that has been here during the worst times and must remain
here into the future. Though, changes are destined to happen, food, comfort and love are always needed,
which is what the Helping Hands Food Bank provides, some stability in times of uncertainty. As a chaplain I
truly believe that love is what will conquer all troubles in this life and Helping Hands Food Bank is a place of
love.
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For daily and weekly updates on our operations, please be sure you are
following us on Facebook @helpinghandsfoodbank
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