About Our Food Bank

Good Cheer's new Food Bank relocated from Langley to 2812 Grimm Rd. off of Bayview Road on October 15, 2007.

We are currently serving about 22 families a day in our food bank which resembles a small grocery store. We are proud to be a model food bank for our region.

Good Cheer has developed a cutting edge food points shopping system to provide greater choice in selecting foods.

A one-person household receives 70 points, and for every additional persons 10 extra points are allotted. A four-person family would receive 100 points per month to spend on supplemental groceries.

Many clients are pleased about being able to shop more often and receive more food, especially food of their selection. Several fresh fruit and vegetable bins have been installed, and the donated display freezer and refrigerator cases contain everything from frozen chickens to frozen orange juice.

Good Cheer Food Bank staff are thrilled to be able to accept and store more food in the warehouse space and walk-in refrigerator and freezer. It has already made a tremendous difference! Please contact Kathy McLaughlin if you would like to host a food drive at your organization, school, club or church.

Good Cheer's Capital Campaign has exceeded the halfway point and is now at $784,000. The Bayview facility is but Phase I in a two-phased project which includes renovating Good Cheer's largest source of self-sustaining revenue: the Langley Thrift Store so that Good Cheer will be able to continue to operate the Food Bank for decades to come. 

Food Bank Q & A

Q: When is the Food Bank open?

A: Our new food bank at Bayview is open six days a week: Mondays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays noon to 7 p.m.; and Wednesdays, Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Q: Who uses the Food Bank?

A: People in a wide variety of life situations access the Food Bank. Some are seniors on fixed incomes... some are single parents having trouble making ends meet... some have lost employment and need short-term help while they search for work... some are homeless teens... some are on permanent disability.

Good Cheer currently helps more than 2,780 individuals, including 1,012 children and 173 seniors, in the South Whidbey community (from south Whidbey up to and including Greenbank).

Q: How does a person access the Food Bank?

A: Just show up. The Food Bank is located just north of historic Bayview Corner at 2812 Grimm Rd. and is located in the former Masonic Lodge.

One of our food bank coordinators will welcome you and ask a few simple questions such as name, proof of South Whidbey residency, number of people in household, and any dietary restrictions.

This information is confidential and used only for internal record keeping.

Good Cheer staff don't ask a lot of questions. We trust people when they say they need food.

Clients are given a base of 70 points, plus ten extra points for every member of the household in addition to one. For instance, a family of four would receive 100 points a month to spend on selection of food in the Food Bank. Foods receive points ranging from one to fifteen for items that include cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, soup, pasta, flour, beans, rice, eggs, milk, bread, lunch meat, peanut butter, jam, noodles, sauces, potatoes, oatmeal, juice, chili, meat, chicken, and fish as available. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also available.

Reserved Food Bank parking is located directly to the side of the food bank in marked spaces. Handicapped parking is available directly in front of the Food Bank in marked handicapped spaces.

Q: Where does the food come from?

A: Some of it comes in as a result of food drives through churches, schools, civic organizations, clubs and private businesses.

Contributions, along with proceeds from Good Cheer's two thrift stores (which provide 65 percent of the Food Bank's budget) are used to buy food through several purchasing programs open to area Food Banks. Every dollar Good Cheer spends in buying food from a regional food bank network, has the equivalent buying power of $9.

Q: How often can I receive food?

A: With the new points system, the choice is up to you. You may visit as often as you wish as long as you stay within the allotted points for the month.

Good Cheer is designed to supplement and stretch a person's food supply. However, if your need is urgent, come and talk with us, and we'll work something out. We don't turn anyone away hungry.

Q: How can a person help support Good Cheer?

A: We welcome and need volunteers, food donations, monetary donations, and items donated to Good Cheer's Thrift Stores. We also appreciate patronage of the thrift stores.

In addition, the Food Bank welcomes donations of surplus fresh garden produce and accepts clean, cartoned and dated eggs.

Help Available On First and Third Tuesday Mornings To Help Clients Sign Up For Food Stamps

A client services coordinator from the Opportunity Council is available at Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview to help people sign up for food stamps through the Basic Food Program from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Tuesday of every month. Appointments can be scheduled in advance by calling Good Cheer’s Operations Manager, Rita Burns, at 221-4868.