ARLINGTON – Sometimes the gift of time and hope during the holidays is the greatest gift of all.
Arlington volunteers gave plenty of both during the holiday food basket distribution to families in need at the Arlington Food Bank and the Operation Christmas Hope toy store at the Boys &Girls Club.
Jerrie Inman, a food bank board member, marveled at the outpouring of monetary and food support that was still coming in Wednesday when a crisp, new $100 bill was handed to her as an anonymous donation.
Inman said the Arlington community’s giving spirit always shines brighter this time of year.
More than 300 Arlington and Darrington families with assigned times filled their shopping carts with their choice of either a turkey, ham or chicken, along with dairy and produce, and an assortment of canned and boxed food items, many of which are staples at the holiday table.
About 50 volunteers – entire families, K-12 and college students, school district employees and parishioners – worked steadily helping clients through the food line, unpacking box food items and keeping aisles stocked.
If the pace was a little less frenetic this year, Inman said, it’s because the food bank closed the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas distribution dates so that volunteers could get a head start on sorting and preparation. Volunteers had 200 baskets ready to go first thing.
Post Middle School student Faith Graf likes volunteering at the food bank. “You’re putting yourself in a position to help the greater good,” Graf said.
This was the first time volunteering at the food bank for Arlington High School ninth-grader Olivia Kraski.“It feels good to help,” she said.
Leah Robinson is a board member, and she works for Arlington Public Schools.
“It’s just very fulfilling. You get families who are just trying to get out of this vicious cycle and are still having trouble making ends meet. Some have trouble choosing whether they should pay for child care or food. This helps make that decision easier.”
Jim Corbett said layoffs at his company put his family in a precarious position, so he’s thankful for the food bank. “We’re just getting by for now, but the food and toys really help.”
In addition to those served at the food bank, another 104 will receive baskets at their homes courtesy of Arlington High School DECA students, Arlington Rotary Club members and by the food bank.
The Operation Christmas Hope toy store was next stop for many food bank families.
Tina Davis, a toy store coordinator, was pleased with how it turned out.
“We moved here to the Boys &Girls Club last year, and it really has worked out great,” Davis said. “I love how the community comes together to make this happen.”
Sara Katanik is a key toy store volunteer and food bank board member. She filled the role of ticket-taker and checked in families once they arrived from the food bank.
“This is my favorite time of year,” Katanik said. “I was so exited about today that I got up at 4:30 a.m., went over early to help get things ready at the food bank, then got here to do my part at the toy store.”
The toy store was initially run by the American Legion Post No. 76 for more than 20 years, Davis said. Post volunteers in 2012 had a tough year, and they asked for volunteers to take over.
Davis stepped up. She organized a dozen or so banks and credit unions in Arlington to serve as collection sites for toys and other donations.
Operation Christmas Hope has received support from various organizations topped by the Stillaguamish Tribe, which recently gave a surprise $100,000 donation.
