As our year-end statistics came together, we wanted to share them with the community that made them possible, as well as recap milestones of our 2009.
As a supporter of ShareNet’s mission to alleviate hunger, you are making the difference between destitution and hanging on for many in our community. The short distance between the two is the space ShareNet works within.
ShareNet experienced another year of unparalleled growth in 2009, serving more than 2,500 more individuals than in 2008 for a total of more than 8,100 residents served. Meanwhile, ShareNet nearly doubled the total amount of food distributed, from 101,418 pounds to197,044 pound.
In 2009 ShareNet added the valuable Grocery Rescue program, a way for local stores — in our case the Kingston Albertsons and Poulsbo Walmart — to safely donate groceries they can no longer use. Grocery Rescue has significantly increased our food supplies and their variety, allowing ShareNet to serve more people more food, though it does not mean ShareNet no longer needs to purchase food. We must purchase food to keep our shelves full, and to stock staples not covered by Grocery Rescue.
The program means increased work for our staff and volunteers and for the staffs of our local stores, but the result is an expanded stock which helps to meet increased demand.
Let your local Walmart and Albertsons know you appreciate the assistance they give to ShareNet and our community through the Grocery Rescue program.
In 2009 ShareNet was awarded with Food Lifeline’s award for Community Resource Development, one of only five excellence awards given annually in Washington, and only the second win ever by a Kitsap agency. The award acknowledged ShareNet’s innovative efforts and approach in developing local resources to help people struggling in our community. Our staff and volunteers at ShareNet were surprised and humbled by receiving the award, and acknowledge any of our success as both a team and community effort.
ShareNet’s Thrift Store continued to increase the amount of support it provides to the Food Bank operation by improving sales and marketing strategies that raise the store’s profile. Every dollar a shopper spends at our store goes back into the ShareNet operation.
ShareNet was able to provide an incredible $25,000 in crisis assistance to local residents whose power or housing was threatened, making us a significant force in crisis prevention for our part of the county. Few agencies in Kitsap, none of our size, were able to provide that magnitude of assistance.
During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday events, ShareNet distributed more than 400 boxes serving more than 1,700 individuals. Our Christmas gift shop held at Bayside Community Church helped make a brighter Christmas for about 100 children and teens. American Marine Bank (Columbia Bank) graciously organized and hosted our school supplies drive, providing more than 100 students a fully outfitted backpack for a good start to the school year.
ShareNet is very grateful to the many new volunteers who learned of ShareNet’s needs in 2009, took an interest, obtained an application, and got on the schedule, and to the donors who make our operation possible.
Mark Ince is executive director of ShareNet.
