Call (360) 221-6454for additional information regarding the food bank, thrift stores, volunteer opportunities, making a donation, or scheduling an item pick-up.
Food Bank Location:
2812 Grimm Rd. in Bayview
Mailing Address:
PO Box 144
Langley, WA 98260
Phone: 360-221-6454
Food Bank Hours:
Mondays:
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays:
Noon to 7 p.m.
Wednesdays thru Saturdays:
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sundays: Closed
Item Drop-Off:
2812 Grimm Rd. in Bayview
Mondays:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays thru Fridays:
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays: Closed
Use this link to donate with credit card or by a PayPal account.
SERVING THE SOUTH WHIDBEY COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS!
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 16 staff members and 470 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 thrift store, 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 have increased dramatically over the past several years, and remain high, with more than 800 families a month accessing the Food Bank 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:
Take your Mom to the 'Mother of All Talent Shows" This saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at South Whidbey High School
The Mother of All Talent Shows will again be a part of Mother’s Day weekend for the third year in a row.
The show takes place Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. in the South Whidbey High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at any Good Cheer location or Coastal Community Bank in Freeland. They are also available at the door on the day of the performance.
The talent show will include a variety of South Whidbey’s finest vocal, musical and dance talent, including award-winning Island Dance competition dancers. The ladies of Tap Dancing will also be back to show off their old school talents.
Our own State Representative, Norma Smith will sing a tune, and Helen Price Johnson, Island County Commissioner, will show us her creative side as well. Might there be a straw poll competition at intermission?
In between acts there will be Good Cheer staff ‘commercials’ celebrating highlights of 50 years of service to the community.
Raffle prizes this year include an iPad2, Wii game console with several games, and two one month-long memberships to Island Athletic and Revolution Cycling.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 and are for sale at all Good Cheer outlets and Coastal Community Bank. Proceeds benefit Good Cheer Food Bank.
Our Masters of Ceremonies this year are JaNoah Spratt and Kay Stanley. JaNoah came up with the idea for the talent show while giving a tour of the Food Bank to Rep. Norma Smith. He has been busy signing up sponsors for the event, procuring raffle prizes and selling tickets.
Kay Stanley has been on the Good Cheer Board for 21 years and performed during the commercial breaks during last year’s talent show.
Like every event at Good Cheer, this is one is volunteer driven, and we thank all who are involved with making it happen.
All of the volunteer talent onstage and backstage helps to raise money for neighbors in need.
Volunteers will staff the concession stand during intermission, selling baked goods, meat and cheese plates, drinks and fresh popcorn.
Turn off the TV dance and song competitions and come and see a live show with the best talent that South Whidbey has to offer!
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Double Yummm! Dark Chocolate Fudge to Benefit Good Cheer!
Buy a Spring Treat ~ For someone special…. ¼ pound of Dark Chocolate Fudge in a fun Good Cheer Gift Bag for $6.25, just in time for Mother's Day. It's a Spring treat made especially for you by Whidbey Island Fudge to celebrate Good Cheer’s 50 years of serving South Whidbey. Hurry in to Good Cheer Thrift Stores for your fudge before they're all gone. It's a sweet way to support our community Food Bank.
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Yummm! Good Cheer's Cookbook Is Available
You'll want to buy Good Cheer's 50th Anniversary Cookbook for family and friends... and one for yourself! You can feel good about your purchase because proceeds stay right here in our community and benefit the Food Bank.
The colorful cookbook is chock full of delicious recipes from local South Whidbey Island families of both yesteryear and today. It contains a collection of recipes from the original 1960s cookbook as well as new ones from our garden volunteers. Illustrations by local artist Kathy Marshall are shown throughout the cookbook.
There is a brief history of the organization plus a pictorial section of the Good Cheer Garden.
The first part of the cookbook has handwritten recipes from old South Whidbey families on everything from how to properly clean clams and make clam fritters to how to catch steelhead off Bush Point and Lagoon Point.
The $19.95 cookbook is available at all Good Cheer Stores and some local retailers. Proceeds help the Food Bank, so when you purchase it as a gift, you are giving a gift that gives twice.
Stop in at any Good Cheer location to see and purchase the cookbook.
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Thank you Lions Club members!
The Lion's Club raised $1,076.39 plus more than 200 pounds of food for Good Cheer. They were at all 5 stores on Saturday to accept donations. The money they collected will give us over $9,000 in food! Thank you to all who gave their time and their resources to the Lion's Club Food Drive!
Local Knights Donate A Ton of Potatoes to Good Cheer Food Bank
For the sixth year, the local Knights of Columbus, Langley Council 11357 from St.. Hubert’s Church in Langley have driven up to Fidalgo Island, bagged potatoes donated by a farmer, and then driven and delivered a ton of potatoes to Good Cheer Food Bank, just in time for the holidays.
“We love the Knights, and appreciate their generous donation of service at this time of year. It’s great to see our cold storage unit filled with bags of just harvested potatoes,” said Kathy McLaughlin, Executive Director of Good Cheer Food Bank which serve more than 800 families a month on South Whidbey.
The Knights also donate potatoes to the CMA Soup Kitchen and to the South Whidbey Mobile Turkey Unit.
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Good Cheer Food Bank Gets Ready for the Holidays
Dinner for 800 families times two? That's what Good Cheer's staff and volunteers are gearing up for as Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays draw near.
We are fortunate to be able to provide No Points Holiday Fixings to clients once again this year, especially since many other food banks in the region are finding it hard, if not impossible to do the same due to budget cutbacks and donation shortfalls.
Thank you, South Whidbey, for caring for people in need in our community.
Our Winter newsletter will soon be mailed out, and when it arrives in your mailbox, please take a moment to take stock of your blessings, and then share them with your neighbors via a donation to Good Cheer Food Bank. Thank you.
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The Quintessa Offers November Discount and Donation to Good Cheer
Stay at The Quintessa in Clinton in November for half-off the regular rate and your entire accommodation fee will be donated to Good Cheer Food Bank which serves more than 800 families every month.
That time of year is soon upon us again when we Give & Give Thanks in November during Thanksgiving!
Join The Quintessa owners in celebrating this by getting the word out about The Quintessa. During any booking received in the month of October for a stay the following month of November, they are offering a "1/2 off for the Good Cheer Special!"
Please let your friends know about this unique property which is able to accommodate up to 32 guests comfortably. Perfectly suited for intimate weddings, family reunions and corporate retreats, the Quintessa on South Whidbey is the place to make your memories for Thanksgiving with your out-of-town family and friends!
Note: Accommodation fee is to be paid directly to the “Good Cheer Food Bank”, PO Box 144, Langley WA 98260. 3 night minimum stay required - cleaning, deposit, insurance & hospitality tax applicable. Standard booking commission paid to travel agents & Realtors will be waived during this period.
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Good Cheer Food Bank Among Recipients of Trinity's 'Donation Sunday' Check Distributions
Good Cheer Food Bank was among 16 recipient agencies on the local, regional, national and international levels to receive check disbursements from Trinity Lutheran Church on one of its two yearly 'Donation Sunday' services. On Sunday, October 2, Pastor Jim Lindus gave a sermon on being blessed to be a blessing to others. At the end of the sermon, congregants held up checks totaling $20,000 -- which is 1/7 of what Trinity projects to distribute to charities on an annual basis. The Food Bank received the second highest check for $2,100 for food purchases. Other local checks included Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hand of South Whidbey, Gifts From The Heart Food Bank in Coupeville, Hearts & Hammers, and Young Life. Thank you TLC!
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Scenes From This Year's Fabulous Harvest Party & Music Fest!
Take a look at all the fun and activities from this year's Harvest Party & Music Fest. Couldn't come? Save the date for next year.
More than $31,000 raised in Whidbey Island Bank's Community Challenge for Good Cheer's Capital Campaign
A total of $31,240 was raised during the recent Whidbey Island Community Challenge to benefit the last push for Good Cheer's Capital Campaign. ($21,240 in community donations, plus a $10,000 gift from Whidbey Island Bank.)
We have now reached our goal of $1.4 million which includes donations received, remaining pledges, and in-kind donations, all thanks to the generous support of individuals, community businesses and service organizations, and regional foundations. (For more infiormation on the capital campaign, visit the campaign page.
Special thanks go to Freeland Branch Manager Anne Bobinac (left above) for spearheading this effort. Anne was aided in organizing the challenge by Langley Branch Manager Pam Bickel (pictured right above), who led a similar, successful challenge last year to benefit the Food Bank. Thank you community, and thank you Whidbey Island Bank!
Good Cheer’s Langley Thrift Store, which has been in continuous operations since the mid-1960s, is in the final stages of a renovation to add an additional 1,140 square feet of retail space, which over time, has the potential to produce up to an additional $71,000 in sales annually --—money which supports the charity’s operations, including the Food Bank.
The renovation also includes installing an elevator for moving items into temporary holding, replacing an old furnace, installing an integrated smoke detector and fire sprinkler system for the whole building, building a fire-walled stairway and exterior exit, new electrical wiring, better insulation for the roof and walls (which should save on utility costs), plus a new display window.
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Thank You Clinton FoodMart For May 28 Raffle Proceeds Benefitting Good Cheer's Capital Campaign
Many thanks to Clinton FoodMart owners Clay and Candy Anderson for designating the $1,427 of proceeds of this year's Customer Appreciation Day Raffle for Good Cheer's Capital Campaign, now in its final phase. Congratulations Steve Lewis, the winner of the 47" flat screen TV that was the main prize.
Please continue to drop off your Clinton FoodMart sales receipts to any Good Cheer location. Clinton FoodMart donates money equaling 5% of purchases (some item exclusions apply). Thousands of dollars have been used to purchase food over the past three years since the program was begun to honor the late Mike O'Sullivan, the grocery store's previous owner.
Watch Good Cheer Board President Jay Ryan (pictured below selling tickets prior to the raffle) as he draws the winning ticket in the video.
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Keep Those Coupons Coming In! Good Cheer's Queen of Coupons, volunteer Ula Lewis, welcomes all of your food coupons for the Food Bank's now official Creative Food Buying Program which is designed to maximize savings on food bank purchases by utilizing savvy coupon know-how at area retail grocery stores. Coupons can have a major impact on local food banks; at Good Cheer 25 to 35% of our food comes from the use of coupons and rebates.
Food Bank staff look for those items that are the healthiest for our clients. Saving money through the use of coupons and rebates have affected other parts of the Food Bank's operationby providing more flexibility in creating greater variety of food choices.
Food coupons expired? No problem. We'll send them off to military families overseas (via local American Legion Posts 141) who can use them up to a year after their expiration date at US military commisaries. Just drop your copouns off at the food bank or at any Good Cheer Thrift Store.
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Come Join Our Tuesday Night Work Party in Bayview
Would you like to volunteer at Good Cheer's Bayview Distribution Center and Food Bank, but work during the week?
Come to our Tuesday evening work party at 2812 Grimm Rd. in Bayview at the Food Bank facility. We are open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. We have opportunities to sort and price merchandise donations for the thrift stores, as well as several other helpful tasks for the Food Bank.
Many hands make light work, so please come join us. Contact Good Cheer's Community Outreach Coordinator Shawn Nowlin for more information.
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Find Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores, and The Rack Clothing Store on Facebook
Bookmark all these sites for the latest Good Cheer news!
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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.
Good Cheer is South Whidbey's first community charity and has been helping people since 1962.
Good Cheer is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funded from three separate sources: income from its two thrift stores and clothing boutique thrift store, 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.
in community donations, plus a $10,000 gift from Whidbey Island Bank.) 
Good Cheer's Queen of Coupons, volunteer Ula Lewis, welcomes all of your food coupons for the Food Bank's now official Creative Food Buying Program which is designed to maximize savings on food bank purchases by utilizing savvy coupon know-how at area retail grocery stores. Coupons can have a major impact on local food banks; at Good Cheer 25 to 35% of our food comes from the use of coupons and rebates.
Don't panic in these uncertain economic times... just shop smarter! 
