Arlington High School class of ‘65 donates reunion money to food bank

Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 23, 2025

ARLINGTON — Five members of Arlington High School’s class of 1965 visited the Arlington Community Food Bank on Wednesday to hand over a big check in both size and significance.

The class held its 60th reunion in September and people traveled from as far as Puerto Rico to attend, said Vera Raezer Wellmer, a member of the class of 1965 on Wednesday. By the reunion’s end, $1,209.92 remained in the class treasury used to fund the formal gatherings.

Instead of saving for the next reunion, it was decided to donate the money to the Arlington food bank — essentially making the 60th their last reunion.

“Life goes on, and we didn’t know how many people would be there for the next one,” said Krista Galde, another member of the class of ‘65, on Wednesday. “We wanted to serve the community where we all grew up.”

Since so few people could be there, Galde wanted to share photos with all the other classmates, she said. For the pictures, she crafted an oversized check to hand over — along with the real check — to Executive Director Carla Rankin.

“Our families will be very grateful, as am I,” Rankin said in an interview after receiving the money. “My dad went to Arlington and my mom went to Darrington. So it was like, ‘Oh, cool. They’re right in the same class era.’ And I thought it was just really a kind, generous, thoughtful thing to do.”

The big check will be hung up on the wall in the food bank office, Rankin said.

“I hope it encourages others to follow suit,” she said. “We are able to buy fresh produce and dairy and meats with private donation dollars, and that’s probably the biggest need and commodity, and we simply couldn’t afford it without donations.”

If you wish to donate money, food or time to the Arlington Community Food Bank, visit arlingtonfoodbank.org/contribute/.

Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay