FRIDAY HARBOR FOOD BANK

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Cub Scout Troop 90 delivers half ton of food

Realtors collect more than a ton of food

posted 10/28/04
San Juan Association of Realtors members collected 2,020 pounds of food and $375 cash earlier this week during the Dorothy Lawson Annual Food Drive. The Realtors delivered the donations to the Friday Harbor Bank Wednesday, Oct. 27.

"We got our work cut out for us," said Lawson as she surveyed tables filled with a wide variety of goods.

"It's just wonderful," added Lawson, who has volunteered and managed the food bank for more than 20 years.

"The people on this island are so generous," said Joan Johnson, a food bank volunteer.

The real estate agents topped the number of pounds collected last year. "It was a great effort by everyone," said agent Samantha Garl.

Food drive later this month

posted 10/07/04
With winter rapidly approaching, the Friday Harbor Food Bank is in need of contributions. San Juan Association of Realtors members will conduct the Dorothy Lawson Annual Food Drive later this month. The volunteers will be dropping off bags at homes Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004. Donors can place the filled bags on their doorsteps for pickup Tuesday, Oct. 26. Bags will be picked up by 8 p.m.

In the past nearly a ton of food per year has been donated through the drive. Besides food; paper products, feminine hygene products, unused greeting cards, and food for babies and children is also needed.

Food bank reopened Sept 25, 2003

posted 09/23/02
Friday Harbor Food Bank will reopen Wednesday, September 25, 2002 if all goes as planned according to volunteer Bob Charters. The parking spaces need to be paved and an occupancy permit obtained. The paving is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Food Bank building was moved August 17, 2002 from Tucker Avenue to Market Street in Friday Harbor. The move was necessary because the Town needed the lot the food bank was on for the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. The town had leased the lot for a nominal fee to the food bank for seven years.

Charters said the generosity of several local contractors has been instrumental in the move. He thanked

• Ron Howard Construction for helping with the moving
  
  
• Richard Lawson Construction for utility work and paving
  
  
• Lowe Construction for interior work
  
  
• Friday Harbor Electric for "pulling guys off other jobs to get the meter up and running."
  
  

Food Bank moves to new home

posted 08/28/02
Friday Harbor Food Bank moved it building from Tucker Avenue to its new home on the Market Street early Tuesday morning. The building was placed on the Mullis Community/Senior Center property.

Utilities need to be hooked up and parking spaces paved before the building can be used at its new location.

The Food Bank is closed for a few weeks during the transistion.

Seniors serve up good news to the Food Bank

posted 07/13/02
San Juan seniors stepped up to the plate and provided a home for the Friday Harbor Food Bank. Now the Food Bank needs to come up with money for moving costs, sewer hook-up, and paving for the parking lot.

The advisory committee which oversees the running of the Mullis Community Senior Center met with Food Bank Director Dorothy Lawson and other representatives of the Food Bank on Wednesday, July 17. Since the Mullis Center has tax-exempt status, there are restrictions on how the building and property can by used. The state Dept. of Revenue sent a letter confirming the move would not jeopardize the center's tax status.

With the tax question out of the way, the discussion centered on logistical matters. The building will be located west of the two small buildings on Market Street near the driveway. The Food Bank representatives said they plan to put in a gravel parking lot. According to the Town Permit Coordinator Warren Jones parking lots must be paved.

The Food Bank will need to pay a sewer hookup fee. Jones said it would cost about $8,400. The Food Bank representatives may ask the Town Council for a waiver of the fee.

Food Bank may have found a home

posted 07/13/02
Friday Harbor Food Bank will move its building to Mullis Center property if the state agrees its tax status doesn't jeopardize the center. Mullis Center Advisory Committee Chair Georgia Baciu said the committee voted unanimously July 11, 2002 to allow the Food Bank to relocate to the property on Nash Street in Friday Harbor.

The committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17 to review the tax status and work out the details. Bacui said someone will need to pay the electric bill for the food bank.

The committee also agreed to let the San Juan Island Family Resource Center use the two small buildings on Nash Street. The group will be charged a nominal fee. Baciu said Family Resource Director Joyce Sobel is putting together a grant application for funds to renovate and connect the two buildings.

Friday Harbor Food Bank must move

posted 04/02/02
Friday Harbor Food Bank needs a new home. Since 1995, the food bank has leased (for $10 per year) space on property belonging to the town's sewer district. With expansion of the wastewater treatment plant set for later this year, the 90-day out clause in the 20 year lease will soon be invoked.

Prior to moving to the town's site, the food bank operated out of the 4-H building at the county's Fairground. Plans to demolish that building led to the relocation of the food bank in 1995. "The Town had the space," Town Administrator King Fitch said. " We warned everybody up front we may need the property in the future." After a meeting with the engineers next week (April 10, 2002,) Fitch will have a better idea of exactly when the space will be needed. The thrift shop also needs to find a new home.

Dorothy Lawson who has run the food bank for 20 years said the community donated money and labor for the building. Because the building is on a concrete slab she doesn't believe it can be moved. "We're very comfortable here," she said. "This is quite a blow to us. I hope we don't have to close down. We thought we'd be here 20 years."

The food bank which serves 45 to 50 families each week needs space with adequate wiring for its three refrigerators and four freezers. Lawson noting the number of vacant buildings in town said, "It's too bad we can't use an empty office building." She believes a solution will be found. "I have a feeling something is going to come up," she said. Lawson can be reached at 360.378.2915.

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