How this community works – identify a need, line up the right partners, call for donations and volunteers. The Tillamook Rotary Club did just that in early November. The Pioneer did a story (https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/tillamook-county-rotary-grocery-outlet-tillamook-ymca-partner-to-provide-food-boxes-donations-needed/) calling for donations for $50 to help support providing the food boxes, and the time they were hoping to provide 100 boxes. Fast forward to Monday November 24th – distribution day at the YMCA – and the group raised funds and distribute over 260 – 265 to be exact food boxes. It was a logistics, coordination, volunteer and community driven effort that was AMAZING! Here’s what Tillamook County Commissioner Mary Faith Bell shared on social media.
From Tillamook County Commissioner Mary Faith Bell – who volunteered to help distribute the boxes on Monday November 24th:
Bravo and thank you to the Rotary Club of Tillamook and the Tillamook County Family YMCA for teaming up to provide Thanksgiving dinner boxes for 265 families! And thank you to Tillamook Grocery Outlet for supplying everything needed for a traditional turkey dinner for six including pie for $48 per box.
What makes this fabulous service project simply amazing is that it came together from idea to execution in a few weeks! At a recent Rotary Club meeting people were talking about hunger in our community; a member suggested Thanksgiving dinner boxes, and everyone said yes!
In short order the Rotary Club and the Y collected donations to buy the supplies, and 265 applications for food boxes. Two weeks later, Grocery Outlet delivered a truckload of food to the YMCA gym, where 50 volunteers filled boxes for families. Recipients drove up, and their groceries were delivered to their vehicle by friendly volunteers.
It was a beautiful thing to witness and be a part of. I so love this community. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
