Every year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, helping your local food bank becomes as easy as can be, thanks to the letter carriers in each town who distribute bags and then pick them up fully loaded so that our most vulnerable are cared for.

It is an annual phenom that is perfectly timed and eagerly anticipated by agencies like Fishline, which all experience the concern over empty shelves that happen in the spring.

Our community comes through for us each year, opening hearts and pantries to bring about a river of goodness that flows to Fishline for one solid day. It is an inspirational sight that sticks with you — rows of volunteer drivers and postal carrier trucks, lined up to drop off the hundreds of bags scattered throughout neighborhoods and rows of mailboxes. The total this year? More than 16,000 pounds, around 40 percent more than last year!

These amazing donations then went into the hands of the volunteer army that came together to help us sort and store the precious commodities. Volunteers from local churches, schools, service clubs, employees of Les Schwab Tire Center, and even the Pipsqueak Soccer Club and local Girl Scouts worked side-by-side with such enthusiasm and determination that some had tears in their eyes when recounting it. As one volunteer said, “It is so beautiful to see how community can really make good things happen.” These are powerful words that speak a truth we see illustrated every day at Fishline, but especially so on a day like this.

On behalf of all of us at Fishline, we thank you. Our shelves are full again, and we’re ready for the summer ahead. And to the letter carriers, their managers and Postmaster Harry Kleinfelter at the Poulsbo Post Office, a special thanks goes to you for going the extra mile with such kindness and positivity.

North Kitsap Fishline staff

Poulsbo