Mercer Island residents dug deep into their wallets and pocketbooks on Nov. 25 to fund QFC gift cards that will be distributed to the city’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) Food Pantry to support Islanders in need. Between the north and south QFCs, Island firefighters from local union 1762 collected a total of $11,197.
“People are giving quite a bit,” said firefighter Eric Gaines as he surveyed the scene at the south QFC. “It’s great, and I think this year, even though it’s a little weird and a little different, people are needing it more than ever.”
Gaines has worked for the local department for a little over five years and has run the food drive for the last three years. He enjoys interacting with people as they stroll in and out of the grocery store.
Due to COVID restrictions, money for gift cards is only being collected this year as opposed to food items like in years past. Gaines said his crew set up its tables at the QFCs on Nov. 25 because the day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Added battalion chief Stephen Mair on the north end: “We’re having a great response from the community. We have a few community events that we have every year. (The food drive is) a very popular event with the guys, we usually have a pretty good turnout, so I enjoy coming out here and helping out.”
Tambi Cork, YFS community development and administrative program manager, said that prior to the pandemic, the food pantry served roughly 35 eligible Island households per week, and that number jumped to 70 during COVID times. Last week, the pantry had its highest week ever with 74 household visits. Single families receive $25 per week in grocery gift cards, and families with children receive $50 per week in gift cards. That averages to about $3,000 a week and between $10,000 to $12,000 in need per month to fund the food pantry at this point, Cork said.
In addition to the fire union, other vital community organizations that collect donations for the food pantry and the Winter Holiday Gift Program are the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation — which raised about $13,000 total at the recent recycling event and the Harvest Market — the VFW, Solemates, scout troops, service organizations like the National League of Young Men and the National Charity League and more. Cork added that the entire community lends a helping hand.
“It’s wonderful. The Mercer Island community is so generous and we really see an outpouring of support this time of year. From youth groups to organizations to businesses, individuals, it really is a collaborative community effort to fund our programs during the holiday season and for the rest of the year,” Cork said.
Due to the pandemic, YFS cannot accept pre-purchased gifts or food items for the Winter Holiday Gift Program this year. To donate online, visit https://miyfs.org/; personal checks made out to the MIYFS Foundation can be deposited (in an envelope) in the secure white lockbox in the City Hall parking lot or mailed to 2040 84th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
