Almost 7,000 pounds of produce from a local volunteer garden went to the Stanwood Camano Food Bank & Thrift Store this year, according to a Nov. 4 update from Stanwood-Camano Kiwanis.
The club’s harvest update, shared by the food bank, thanked volunteers, local businesses and Island Harvest Farm for their support.
The garden has been helping stock the food bank for several years. A spring 2024 Kiwanis regional magazine report, on page 20, described the club’s work on the garden and a grant for planter boxes.
Have extra produce to share?
You do not have to belong to the club to contribute food from your own garden. The food bank accepts garden-produce donations Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Check its donation guide before packing a delivery, or call 360-629-2789 with questions.
The guide lists leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, fresh herbs and other garden crops among the foods it welcomes. Preparation matters: carrots and beets should be washed, with their tops and dirt removed. Apples and pears should be free of worms and scabs, and the food bank does not accept fruit picked up from the ground.
If you are unsure whether something is suitable, a quick call can help you bring food the staff can use.
Other ways to lend a hand
The food bank also has an online volunteer application. Its listed opportunities include sorting produce and other food, receiving donations, stocking the shopping floor, helping customers and delivering farm produce.
Neighbors interested in helping can start with the application or contact the food bank at scfoodbank@scfbs.org to ask where help is needed.
