Community Extra: Filling Arlington family needs and donaters’ stomachs

Published 4:31 pm Friday, August 28, 2009

ARLINGTON — Donated crayons and cans of tuna can score you a tasty meal on Saturday.

The first 150 people to participate in an effort to collect food and school supplies for low-income families in Arlington are to be treated to a free catfish lunch.

The drive is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Three Peas in a Pod restaurant, 318 N. Olympic Ave. A donation of three nonperishable food items or three school supply items gets you a seat at the table.

Brandon Dutton, of the nonprofit LKI Vision Quest Family Services in Arlington, said he hopes lots of people show up with donations and empty stomachs.

“We’re hoping to get a large group,” Dutton said. “It’s a tough time of year for families with school children.”

Arlington Food Bank volunteers will be on hand at the restaurant to gather up food and monetary donations. Food bank officials hope to have plenty of food to distribute on Tuesday.

School supplies, including backpacks, pens, pencils, crayons, paper and facial tissues, will be distributed by the family services group to low-income families, foster children and at-risk teens, Dutton said.

Three Peas in a Pod, a nonprofit business related to the family services agency, employs teens to give them work experience. The restaurant opened in May and has become a popular lunch spot in downtown Arlington. The catfish, cooked Southern style, will be served with all the fixings.

For more information about the food and school supply drive, call 425-446-2087 or 360-435-4449.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

LKI family services director and Three Peas in a Pod owner Yvonne Ito (standing at left) talks to a family at the restaurant in May. The first 150 people who show up at noon Saturday with several food or school supply donations are to be treated to a catfish meal.