Locally Grown Solutions to Combat Hunger During Winter

[caption id align="alignnone" width="4608"]

Photo by Scott France  [/caption]

News by Scott France

As the dark, wet days of winter envelop Jefferson County, the depth and breadth of hunger threatens to rise. And with it, the challenge for local food assistance programs to meet the need becomes more formidable.

In 2024, 2,700 family units accessed the services of at least one of the four food bank sites operated by the Jefferson County Food Bank Association (JCFBA). Currently, there are 3,400 family units accessing Food Bank services.

One of the most appreciated aspects of the food distributed by the local food banks is its ability to supply fresh produce. A downside is that when we move past the late summer/early fall harvest season for most produce, a shortfall can occur.

This need, recognized 40 years ago, prompted local churches to form a local effort to gather food and cash donations from area residents to help the food-insecure through the winter.

The WAVE (What a Valuable Experience) Food Drive began in 1985 when Ernie Carbaugh, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Port Townsend, and Pastor Ray Smith decided to help the food bank with a community food drive in October. The Jefferson County Ministerial Association thought it was a great idea, and its members divided Port Townsend into sections with each faith community taking a section and canvassing the town with volunteers picking up food items at each house.

In subsequent years, the drive evolved with local community groups and homeowner associations joining the effort to stock the food bank with provisions for the winter months.

The group's early success in collecting food soon led to the challenge of storage. A novel solution was struck. “Where they stored the food was in the bunkers at Fort Warden,” said Rosine Koehler, who, with her husband, Paul, has been assisting WAVE for much of the project’s life.

The WAVE food drive has operated every October for the past 40 years. Last month, the drive received 575 pounds of food and a record $44,000 in donations. Those donations are supplying the Jefferson County food banks to keep shelves full for clients throughout the winter.

Last year, Port Townsend First Presbyterian Church took over the coordination of WAVE from the First Baptist Church in Port Townsend. Working with Patricia Hennessy, who was the director of the JCFBA at the time, they worked to promote WAVE out to East Jefferson County through the media.

To complement the recently completed WAVE food drive, the JCFBA will launch a new initiative in January called the Full Pantry Project. The Project is billed as “an

innovative initiative designed to provide consistent support to families and individuals in need throughout our community and throughout the year. The program fosters community engagement by encouraging local teams, groups and organizations to participate in a monthly giving cycle.”

How Full Pantry Project Works

• Each participating team or group receives branded Full Pantry Project bags.
• Every month, teams receive an updated list of the most-needed non-perishable food items.
• The shopping list is limited to 4 items, and you are asked to only purchase or donate what is requested.
• Team leaders collect filled bags and drop them off at the Tri-Area Food Distribution Center on a set day of the month, or can arrange for a volunteer to pick up the bags.
• FPP will then give the team a new set of bags and a new list of needed items.

The cycle repeats, creating a steady stream of essential food donations to the four food

banks in Brinnon, Port Townsend, Quilcene and Tri-Area currently serving over

3,400 households a month.

People Power…No Matter Their Means

If the Full Pantry Project garners a spirit of giving similar to that of the 40-year-old WAVE food drive, Jefferson County can beat back hunger and food insecurity through the attention and generosity of its residents.

“People who want to help, help with what they can,” Rosine said. “WAVE received two donations of $2 each. It just makes me almost cry.”

For more information, email info@jcfba.org with the subject line – FULL PANTRY PROJECT