The need is growing... We are seeing more clients at the Food Bank... Please donate to Good Cheer Food Bank via the Paypal link below.

Good Cheer is committed to creating a hunger-free community on South Whidbey Island.
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 nearly 15,000 people. The agency is currently run by 12 staff members and 220 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-useable 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
In 2007, Good Cheer assisted 2,780 individuals, (including 1,012 children) or 18 percent percent of the population of South Whidbey. Even so, we are certain that we are not reaching a large number of residents experiencing food insecurity.

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. Increased fuel costs and higher prices are squeezing more and more lower income families, seniors on fixed incomes, and the disabled on fixed incomes. We are seeing an increase in the number of people accessing the food bank and expect to top 3,000 clients in 2008.

GOOD CHEER Upcoming Events:

May 10 Postal Carriers Food Drive to "Stamp Out Hunger!"
Please attach to your mailbox or hand to your postal carrier food items for Good Cheer Food Bank on Saturday, May 10. Postal boxholders may also drop off canned goods and other food items at their local post office. Let's top donations from last year!

May 17 Lions Club Pancake Breakfast to Support the Food Bank
Save the date Saturday morning, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.in the lower level Fellowship Hall at Langley United Methodist Church in Langley.

South Whidbey Lions will be serving delicious pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice for a minimum $5 donation to Good Cheer Food Bank. Come early and come hungry!

There will also be an opportunity to donate food items to the food bank plus old eyeglasses, hearing aids, and cell phone recycling through the Lions Club.

May 24 Clinton Food Drive at the Clinton Mayfest Celebration
Save the date and plan to attend this community celebration at Clinton Community Hall at State Route 525 and Humphrey Road.

Bring a favorite item for the food bank and help fill Good Cheer's truck with food items.

Everyone who donates a food item will receive a raffle ticket for an opportunity to win a $100 gift certificate for Clinton FoodMart.

Good Cheer is holding a Food Drive Community Challenge this summer to see which South Whidbey community (Clinton, Langley or Freeland) can donate the most food. Clinton kicks off this challenge at Mayfest!

Mayfest is also Clinton Community Hall's Spring Fundraiser and will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. with food and music continuously.

Performers: Three Boat Wait at 3:30 / Rural Characters at 5:30 / Janie Cribbs at 7 p.m.

Ticket price: $12 in advance from any branch of Whidbey Island Bank and Lynae's Island Framery. ($15 at the door.) This price includes BBQ and fixin's from Chef Sheila Sebree.

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Wow! Have You Seen Langley Thrift Store Lately?
It’s goodbye to the double hanging clothing racks and narrow, dark aisles... and hello to a reorganized space with a brighter look, spacious clothing aisles and enlarged shoe sales area.

(Thanks to volunteers Larry Wright and Bill Tullock for building our new clothing and shoe racks.)

The back room now houses children’s clothing. The craft, notions and linens department has moved to the room to the rear of the collectible room. Stop by and take a look!.

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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.

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Community Demonstration Garden Project Takes Shape

The Community Demonstration Garden project is taking shape at Langley Middle School. Volunteers are always welcome. To find out more about this project which grows fresh produce for Good Cheer, contact Kimmer at kimmerlyzimmer@yahoo.com.

The Garden crew began about a year ago growing greens for the Food bank as a student Service Learning.

Become a Good Cheer Reserve Corps Volunteer
Become a member of Good Cheer's new reserve volunteer corps -- people who will only be called upon during times of urgent need.

What's an urgent need? It could be when there is a major food drive and volunteers are needed to restock food shelves. It could be when there are higher than normal item donations and all hands are needed to process the items swiftly. It could mean help during an upcoming relocation of the food bank to its new home at Bayview. If you would like to make the difference at Good Cheer, either stop in at the Langley Thrift Store or at the new Bayview location and fill out an application, or click here for a downloadable form which you can mail in or email back to Good Cheer at kathy@goodcheer.org.

Downloadable Volunteer Registration PDF form.

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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