MARYSVILLE — The first day of this year’s Christmas meal distributions at the Marysville Community Food Bank held steady with previous holiday seasons, and so have the needs of the families that it serves.
Food Bank President Dell Deierling reported that 225 clients were served more than 12,000 pounds of food on Dec. 16, by 77 volunteers from the Marysville Sunrise and Noon Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, missionaries from the local stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sailors from the USS Nimitz, Boy Scouts, and students from the Marysville-Pilchuck and Getchell high schools.
Last year, the food bank served 155 clients on its first day, but that was a Monday. On the Tuesday of last year, it served 250.
As Deierling looked ahead to the remaining two days of Christmas meal distributions on Dec. 19 and 22, he took stock of which items the food bank needs most heading into the New Year. Canned fruit, beans and corn, as well as tuna, chili and tomato sauce, are all in demand, as are Size 4 and 5 diapers.
At the same time, Deierling praised the community for coming together to assist each other, even more than he’s seen in previous years, as well as with assisting in new ways, such as the Kiwanis providing coffee and hot chocolate to waiting families.
“That’s such a nice touch to lift the spirits of folks,” Deierling said. “One gentleman called me, in desperate need of food for his young son and himself, and made a special trip to the food bank before hours, to just get enough food for breakfast and lunch. When I saw him again, later that day, he’d landed him a much-needed job. Taking care of the basic need of food can move people into a position where they can focus on the next level of priorities to better their lives.”
Besides food and money, Deierling’s biggest request for 2015 is for more volunteers, ideally for the 8:45-11:30 a.m. shifts on Mondays and Fridays.
“I think you’ll really enjoy the experience,” Deierling said. “The need for helping others is year-round, so as spring approaches, think about planting extra veggies to bring to the food bank, in support of our ‘Giving Gardens’ program.”
Deierling likewise encouraged donations to the “Food For Thought” program, which serves more than 300 grade school children in Marysville, who would otherwise be at risk of not getting enough food to get them through the weekends.
“It’s truly amazing the amount of good people do in this town,” Deierling said.
