Help us meet a $5,000 Matching Grant in the form of a Community Challenge by Whidbey Island Bank who will match community donations now until August 31 up to a total of $5,000. Please type in "Community Challenge" in the online memo area when making a donation.

Use this link to donate with credit card or by a PayPal account.

Good Cheer is committed to creating a hunger-free community on South Whidbey Island.

Our Mission: Fund and manage an accessible Food Bank
Operate and promote successful Thrift Stores
Involve the community as volunteers, donors, and recipients

Good Cheer is South Whidbey's first community charity and has been helping people since 1962.

Good Cheer is the only food bank on South Whidbey, which has a population of about 15,800 people. The charity, which operates the food bank, an item receiving and distribution center, two general thrift stores and a clothing boutique thrift store, is run by 13 staff members and 348 volunteers. It is overseen by a 15-member elected Board of Directors representing our diverse community. Board members hold office for 3 years.

Good Cheer is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funded from three separate sources: income from its two thrift stores and clothing boutique, community donations, and a few small state grants. Good Cheer Thrift Store proceeds are generated by selling locally donated quality, still-usable clothing, shoes, housewares, books, furniture and appliances at its two South Whidbey Thrift Stores in Langley and Clinton.

Monetary donations to Good Cheer are tax-deductible and very much appreciated year-round. Checks may be mailed to Good Cheer Food Bank / PO Box 144 / Langley, WA 98260.

Hunger Needs In Our Community
Our numbers once again increased dramatically in 2009, as 5,046 individuals -- 1,002 more people than in 2008 -- turned to the Food Bank at least once during the year to help put food on the table.

Due to the high cost of living on South Whidbey and low island wages, we find that we are serving many families where either one or both parents are employed, in other words, the working poor; people who have lost their jobs; seniors on fixed incomes; the homeless; and the disabled on fixed incomes.

Good Cheer has developed an innovative food points system which empowers clients to choose their own foods in a grocery-like setting using monthly points based upon household size. Selection of fresh produce is encouraged through low-points for these healthful items. An on-site garden, tended with great community involvement, provides fresh-picked produce.

Good Cheer News:

Whidbey Island Bank Announces a $5k Community Challenge Matching Grant For Good Cheer Food Bank

Whidbey Island Bank is sponsoring a Community Challenge Matching Fund Drive now through August 30 to help raise needed South Whidbey’s Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview. The bank will match donations from the community up to a total amount of $5,000. The matched fund potential of $10,000 will help Good Cheer keep food shelves stocked through what continues to be a time of increased needs owing to the continued recession.

The community challenge was the idea of Whidbey Island Bank Assistant Vice-President Pam Bickel, who serves on Good Cheer’s Board and has seen first-hand how the Food Bank is striving to meet increased community needs.

“There is a definite need for increased support, and Whidbey Island Bank strongly believes in supporting charities in our communities,” she said. “Funds will be used to purchase food which will directly help feed families in our community.”

“We are very grateful to Whidbey Island Bank for their leadership in this matching fund drive,” said Kathy McLaughlin. “They continue to be strong supporters of Good Cheer in terms of both donations and employees who volunteer at Good Cheer.”

Donations are being accepted at all Whidbey Island Bank locations on South Whidbey, at all Good Cheer Thrift Stores and the Food Bank office, and online at the link above. They may also be mailed Good Cheer Community Challenge / PO Box 144, Langley WA 98260.  Donations should be identified  as “Community Challenge” in the memo area on checks and online.

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Installation Artist Seeks to Highlight Hidden Hunger on South Whidbey

Local installation artist Debra Calkins will be pushing 3,548 colorfully taped bamboo stakes into the ground on the front lawn of Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview on Saturday, July 31 to highlight the hidden problem of hunger on South Whidbey.

The month-long exhibit, titled “ Hidden Among Us” is a visual representation of the statistical information for last year’s use of Good Cheer Food Bank. The markers are color-coded to represent the number of children, adults and seniors who used the food bank as well as the general population. Each marker represents 5 Whidbey Island residents who accessed the food bank at least once in 2009. For South Whidbey, this came to 28.4% of the population with a breakdown of 1,665 children, 2,985 adults, and 396 seniors out of a population of 17,741.

Calkins is passionate about using her art publically as social commentary to generate awareness and discussion. “I tried to tie the tape to the bamboo stakes in public as much as possible to spark discussion on what I was doing. Every person I spoke with was surprised at the amount of hidden hunger and homelessness that we have here on Whidbey Island. People sometimes have a hard time visualizing statistics and numbers, so this is a good way to drive home how many people are at risk for going hungry without the aid of local food banks.”

The installation will start at 10 a.m., rain or shine on Saturday, and will take at least until noon, with the help of volunteers.

This is Calkins’ second art installation following last year’s “Memorial” installation depicting the deaths of military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq. She is a mixed media and installation artist who earned a certificate in Fiber Arts from the University of Washington last year.

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New Hours for Good Cheer Two and The Rack Start This Sunday, August 1

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Quilt Raffle to Benefit
Good Cheer's Garden; Tickets Are Only $1 Apiece

This year's queen-size quilt is a cheery strawberry motif.

Tickets are $1 apiece and are avalaible at all Good Cheer sites: the Thrift Stores in Langley and Clinton and the Food Bank and distribution Center in Bayview.

The quilt is on display at the Langley Thrift Store.

The drawing will take place at 3 p.m. at Good Cheer's upcoming Harvest Party & Music Fest on Saturday, September 11.

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Good Cheer Item Donation Receiving Center in Bayview Is Now Open Until 7 p.m. Tuesdays Through Fridays

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Choochokam Root Beer Float Sales Generated $1,090 for the Food Bank.  Thank you, volunteers!

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Tiger Martial Arts Students, Led by JaNoah Spratt, Raised More than $1,000 in Ferry Line Donations

Thank you to the students (JaNoah Spratt, Liz, Leah and Rebecca Merrow, Gabe Sherlock, Jonathan Deritis, Paula and Dustin Scharwat), and to Wendi Barker, son R.J. and daughter Jesse, all the parent volunteers, WA State Ferries, and the staff of Ivars Restaurant who took good care of the volunteers.

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SpeedBoat Pizza Food Drive Yields 255 pounds of food and $250 in donations

Thank you, Speedboat Pizza and Family Dining owners Jeff and Judy Hadlock for holding this new summer food drive! And thank you to all who showed up and participated in the drive and the fabulous 4th of July BBQ cooked by Jeff.

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Windermere Volunteers Make a Big Difference at Good Cheer With Their Annual Day of Service

We are grateful to have had the Freeland and Langley offices of Windermere Real Estate out at the Good Cheer facility on June 11. This was Windermere’s Community Service Day and the third year that Good Cheer was selected. The realtors mentioned how much the Good Cheer Food Bank has done to help those in need within our community and they wanted to help.

The decision as to where to help out is a decision that is made by everyone at the Windermere offices. This year Windermere was involved in painting the community room at the Freeland Library and giving a big helping hand with just about anything that you can think of at Good Cheer. Many thanks, Windermere!

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Use Our Monthly Grocery Item Donation Calendar for the Food Bank and Save 25% Off Your Thrift Store Purchases*

People have asked, “What food items would you like me to donate to the Food Bank?” Our clients appreciate variety, so here’s a giving guide to provide a wide selection of foods.

Donate an Item on the day listed above at out Thrift Stores and take 25% off your total Thrift Store purchase. (*Excluding those items marked with an “X”.)

Click here for a printable PDF of the calendar.

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Basic Food Aid (Food Stamps) Signups Are Available at Helping Hand on the First and Third Tuesday of Each Month
A client services coordinator from the Opportunity Council is available by appointment the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Helping Hand offices in Langley at 816 Camano Ave. opposite the Island County Fairgrounds.

The coordinator will help people determine if they are eligible to receive Basic Food Aid and can also provide help with energy assistance and rental assistance if needed. The representative will be available by appointment between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Appointments should be scheduled in advance by calling Helping Hand at (360) 221-7777 weekday mornings.

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Tight Budget? Visit Good Cheer Thrift Stores!

Don't panic in these uncertain economic times... just shop smarter!

A good way to do this is to make a habit of shopping Good Cheer Thrift Stores in Langley and Clinton.

Whether it's clothing, shoes or a winter jacket you are looking for, Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley and Good Cheer Clothing Rack in Clinton have a variety of sizes and styles for all members of your family at a very affordable price. And look for our Big Bag Sales the first Tuesday of every month where what clothing fits in a bag only costs $6.

Seeking housewares, toys, sporting goods and tools? Check out both Clinton and Langley Stores. Large appliances -- look the Clinton store. Televisions? Both stores. Crafts and sewing supplies? Both stores, though the Langley Store has a slightly larger selection. Bedding and large pieces of furniture? The Clinton Store. Our merchandise changes daily -- so come often and take a look at what's new. Also, look for a Val-Pak coupon in the mail for extra savings.

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Bargains for the Whole Family at Good Cheer Clothing Rack At Clinton Thrift Store

The store sells gently-used clothing for the entire family, everything from sleepwear to winter coats, plus shoes and accessories for $7 or less. Proceeds help fund Good Cheer, which operates the community food bank.

Good Cheer’s Clothing Rack is open every day from noon to 5 p.m.

Bad Tie Day Is Every Friday
Wear an outrageous, ugly or just plain "bad" tie to either Good Cheer Thrift Store on Fridays and receive 10% off your purchases.

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