Island Herb in Freeland donates half of Nov. 28 sales for Giving Tuesday

Island Herb owner Lucas Jushinski is donating green of a different kind this holiday season.

Good old-fashioned money.

Jushinski, a Freeland resident and regular donor to South Whidbey charities, embraced Giving Tuesday through his recreational marijuana business in Freeland.

To get into the spirit of Giving Tuesday, Island Herb donated half of after-tax store sales for Tuesday, Nov. 28 to the Whidbey Homeless Coalition.

“We made just a hair over $5,000 after tax in sales over the day, which is decent for a week day,” store manager Eric Wing said. “Our plan here is to cut them a check for $2,535.48.”

Wing described the act as a “maiden voyage” for Island Herb, which opened its doors in April 2016. The store selected Whidbey Homeless Coalition due to “good faith with an organization that gets good results and uses their funds well.”

Wing added the store is looking forward to donating money for Giving Tuesday next year.

“We are encouraged by Island Herb’s support,” Faith Wilder, executive director for Whidbey Homeless Coalition, said. “It’s really about community, compassion and commitment. Lucas Jushinski has always exemplified the best of all three.”

According to a press release, Jushinski suggested the donation was merely returning the favor to South Whidbey. As an Iraq War veteran and combat corpsman who was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 2008, Jushinski said the South Whidbey community came to his aid when he needed it.

“One of the most amazing things about Whidbey is the community,” Jushinski said. “We support each other here. Whidbey’s one of those places where if you need something, someone will provide it.”

Jushinski has donated funds to Good Cheer Food Bank and the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center in previous years.

Giving Tuesday is a “global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration,” according to the organization’s website.