This weekend a Thanksgiving food drive was organized by Sommer Cronck, a Gate 2 resident. Both financial and food donations were collected on Friday and Saturday. The goal was to provide 10 local families with full Thanksgiving meals, with the hope to have enough extra to offer a selection of non-perishable items as needed.

For the financial contributions, the Sudden Valley RE/MAX agents – including Sommer, Greg Paul, Sheila Walls and Chris Weitzel – offered to match each dollar given up to $500. With their matching, over $1,500 was collected within 48 hours.

Signs by Tomorrow in Bellingham donated signs to help promote the event on short notice (they were in front of the Valley Market) and the Sudden Valley Salon and Day Spa was a major donor of both food and money. Several children from Christ the King Church eagerly helped unload a truckload of groceries and unpack them for organizing, along with Jason & Heather Manning, Jackie Rasmussen, and Sam Ashlock. Many, many residents were extremely generous in their contributions!

The donated funds allowed for a very large Fred Meyer Clicklist order as well as a substantial Costco run.

The families helped either heard about the event on social media or had a neighbor who heard about it get a meal on their behalf. The Geneva Elementary School counselor helped by reaching out to families they knew might be in need as well. By noon on Sunday, 4 families received complete Thanksgiving meals plus plenty of other food and general items, and came for household items. In addition, families had asked for extras like toddler training pants or gas cards, which were able to be given out. The remaining 6 Thanksgiving meals will be distributed this week. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance with a Thanksgiving meal, please contact Sommer at 360-389-1671.

The ultimate goal of the event was to establish an ongoing “community cupboard” which will operate like a small-scale food bank. It is currently stocked with non-perishable food items, as well as household goods like toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant, diapers and more. There will be drop locations throughout the Valley (there is already a blue bin inside the YMCA lobby, a sign will be posted on it this week) where non-perishable goods and supplies can be donated.

Members in need of food or other goods can currently text or call Sommer at 360-389-1671 to arrange a time to access the cupboard. Soon there will be at least one hour a week where it will be held open for drop-in visits.

The cupboard is currently in a temporary location but a permanent home is being arranged. There will be a need for shelving and an upright freezer once the location is finalized.