ROTARY TO COLLECT FOOD FOR FOOD BANK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 6, 2008

Rotary to Collect Food for Food Bank

Members of the Stanwood-Camano Rotary Club will collect food and cash donations on November 25^th and 26^th from 11am until 7pm at the doors of the QFC and Haggen grocery stores.  All donations will be given to the Stanwood Camano Food Bank in anticipation of the increased holiday and winter demand.

"This year is especially important," explained Club President Jim Jonson, "Our local and national economy is putting an extra strain on our families as the cold winter months loom ahead."  Last year, Rotary was able to provide more than 3,500 pounds of food and $2,000 in cash donations from their two day food drive.  "This year we will all need to dig deep to help those who are struggling day to day," said Jonson.

The Rotary Club recently delivered more than 400 new winter coats to the food bank for distribution to families using funds raised during its annual auction event.  "You have to support the whole family not just one aspect of it," explained Jonson, "Food for nourishment, coats to stay warm and books for the mind."  Along with the food drive and winter coats, the club also offers a program that provides new hardcover books for children aged birth to five at no-cost through its Imagination Library.

"We ask that as you think about your Thanksgiving meal, please take a few moments to help those in our community who are struggling and turn those thoughts into an action as you place two, four or twenty-four items into our carts for the Food Bank," said Jonson.

Cash donations may be made on-line anytime at www.StanwoodRotary.org or in-person during the food drive.  The food bank is seeing a large number of first-time users - 489 since August.  Your support will help many within our community including the nearly 150 new families that have turned to the Food Bank for assistance in September and October.

The Stanwood Camano Rotary Club will provide more than $40,000 for community and international projects during the next twelve months including warm coats for children in need, student scholarships, foreign exchange opportunities and the Imagination Library which provides free monthly new hardcover books to children from birth to age five within the Stanwood Camano School District's boundaries.