To the editor:

They say it is all in the name. Our community is so blessed that 47 years ago the founders of the local food bank named it “Good Cheer.” The name itself implies happiness, hopefulness, neighborliness, optimism and joyfulness.

A caring community, dedicated volunteers and a committed staff work diligently to live up to the name of “Good Cheer.”

Though the economy has been full of gloom and dark skies, Good Cheer provided some sunshine as our new on-site garden took shape and led to cooking classes delivering the message of healthy eating. Clients received freshly picked vegetables and fruit, and their grateful smiles brought a new level of joyfulness to our work.

The on-site garden is a visible project for our community, but what is less apparent are the stories of those who walk through the food bank doors. Stories such as…

…that of the family of Joe, a toddler, who needed life-saving surgery. His family did have medical insurance, but the mounting costs of travel, lodging, childcare for siblings, plus the anticipated expenses related to his long recovery and possible follow-up surgery forced them to turn to Good Cheer Food Bank for help.

…Then there’s Beth, who credits Good Cheer Food Bank for getting her health back after nearly

10 years of a meth-mentality. She has been coming to the food bank for four years, and is a mother of four children ranging in age from 7 to 20. She has been clean for the past three years and travels to the mainland four days a week to earn a degree from City University.

…Sara, a waitress at a popular local restaurant for the past five years, visited the food bank for the first time this year. With fewer people spending money eating out, Sara’s income from tips was drastically reduced. Good Cheer Food Bank not only helps the working poor, but also helps local businesses hold onto their workforce.

People are coming to the food bank for a range of reasons: homelessness, home foreclosures, joblessness, physical and mental health problems and escalating utility costs. Good Cheer’s active database represents 4,944 such stories, and that number represents 1,636 children, 2,914 adults and 394 seniors — all South Whidbey residents.

In the month of October, Good Cheer served 778 families. Seventy-five of those families had never used the food bank before. The first day of November the food bank served 94 families — the most we have ever served in a single day in our 47-year history. The need is growing at a rate which alarms us. So far this year, a record 501,468 pounds of food have been supplied to local families. We have kept our shelves stocked, but we depend upon you to continue to serve these high numbers of neighbors in need.

During the holidays, Good Cheer not only provides normal monthly food allotments based on a point system, but also offers food for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals with no extra points charged. It’s our way of spreading some Good Cheer around the holidays to dispel the doubt, gloom or feeling of hopelessness experienced by many of our clients.

Once again, we are asking for your help to ensure that all of the children in our community are able to enjoy a holiday meal with their families.

The name Good Cheer is full of optimism, but to live up to our name we need your help. Please send a generous tax-deductible year-end gift to Good Cheer, or make a secure donation on our Web site at www.goodcheer.org.

Thank you for your compassion. May you have a joyous holiday and a new year full of hope and happiness!

Kathy McLaughlin

Executive Director

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores