Invitation to all to give, volunteer

Neil Watkins, who runs the food bank in Monroe, said, “I think … big hearts, energy and family” when asked for three words to describe the volunteers working at the food bank, while showing Mrs. Schroeder’s sixth-grade honors class around the food bank on Nov. 4. The food bank, which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Monday nights, takes volunteers who are willing to come help, and they all are needed.

The food bank receives 74,000 pounds of food in one month, and gives away 81,000 pounds in one month. The volunteers work all the time they’re at the food bank, from giving away the food, to moving meat in the giant refrigerator/freezer, to driving to stores to get donations. The volunteers help the food bank give gifts to children at Christmas, and give school supplies in August as well. The food given away is received from food drives, drop-in donations, money donations, or from the local grocery stores. The food bank was opened in 1976 by Julia Morris, and then was later run by her daughter Julie Morris, and now is run by Neil Watkins, who is “retired.” Although he runs the food bank, Watkins said that it was owned by the community, not by him. “It’s just the best thing I’ve ever done. You don’t make any money … but it’s a different kind of income,” Watkins said. That income is the joy of helping others — something we all can receive.

The food bank takes volunteers older than 12 with their parents. If you qualify, and you want to help, you can go down to the food bank to sign up. If you are 16, you can volunteer without a parent, although you do need their permission. Park Place Middle School will host a food drive on Dec. 7. Let’s all get together to give service and help those who aren’t as lucky as us in any way we can!

Genevieve Martin

Park Place Middle School

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, March 28

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Initiative promoter Tim Eyman takes a selfie photo before the start of a session of Thurston County Superior Court, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. Eyman, who ran initiative campaigns across Washington for decades, will no longer be allowed to have any financial control over political committees, under a ruling from Superior Court Judge James Dixon Wednesday that blasted Eyman for using donor's contributions to line his own pocket. Eyman was also told to pay more than $2.5 million in penalties. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Editorial: Initiative fee increase protects process, taxpayers

Bumped up to $156 from $5, the increase may discourage attempts to game the initiative process.

Protecting forests and prevent another landslide like Oso

Thank you for the powerful and heartbreaking article about the Oso landslide… Continue reading

Boeing’s downfall started when engineers demoted

Boeing used to be run by engineers who made money to build… Continue reading

Learn swimming safety to protect kids at beach, pool

Don’t forget to dive into water safety before hitting the pool or… Continue reading

Comment: Why shootings have decreased but gun deaths haven’t

High-capacity magazines and ‘Glock switches’ that allow automatic fire have increased lethality.

Washington state senators and representatives along with Governor Inslee and FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez break ground at the Swift Orange Line on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Community Transit making most of Link’s arrival

The Lynnwood light rail station will allow the transit agency to improve routes and frequency of buses.

An image of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin is reflected in a storefront window during the State of the City Address on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at thee Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: State of city address makes case for Everett’s future

Mayor Franklin outlines challenges and responses as the city approaches significant decisions.

FILE - The massive mudslide that killed 43 people in the community of Oso, Wash., is viewed from the air on March 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: Mapping landslide risks honors those lost in Oso

Efforts continue in the state to map areas prone to landslides and prevent losses of life and property.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, March 27

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Burke: ‘Why not write about Biden, for once?’ Don’t mind if I do.

They asked; I’ll oblige. Let’s consider what the president has accomplished since the 2020 election.

Comment: Catherine missed chance to dispel shame of cancer

She wasn’t obligated to do so, but she might have used her diagnosis to educate a sympathetic public.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.