POULSBO — Each expression of generosity has been warmer than the cups of hot cider and bags of hot popcorn Kate Long hands out at the Albertsons in Poulsbo Village.
“It’s wonderful, because there are people out there who don’t have enough food this season,” Long said of the generosity she’s seen at her table in Albertsons. “One person gave $20. That was real generous, but every penny counts.”
Holiday cheer from Long, her fellow clerks, and community volunteers have been rewarded with donations to North Kitsap Fishline. And in a big way: Albertsons is on track to raise $20,000 by Christmas for Fishline, which provides a host of services — including food — to help residents in need get out of a rough patch and back into self-sufficiency.
Albertsons is raising money in several ways. Long and other courtesy clerks staff a table near the deli, offering cider and snacks to customers. In response, customers have pitched in to a donation box on the table.
Customers can add a little bit when they pay for their groceries. And outside, the American Legion, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have worked one-day shifts, collecting food and cash donations for Fishline.
The Boy Scouts collected $820 in one day. “That was huge,” said Stephanie Buckner, Poulsbo Albertsons’ service operations manager.
Legionnaires did pretty well too, collecting about $440 cash and 688 pounds of food in a six-hour shift recently, Legion adjutant Don Spinar said Dec. 5.
Regarding food donations, Spinar helps potential contributors by giving out bookmark-sized handouts that list the items Fishline needs.
Spinar’s impressed — but not surprised — by the generosity.
“I think people want to help out,” he said. “This is the fifth or sixth year we’ve done this, and we get great responses every year.”
All told, customers contributed $10,000 by Thanksgiving, Buckner said. “Hopefully, we’ll raise another $10,000 before Christmas.”
Last year, Albertsons raised a year-end holiday season total of $15,500. “Our goal this year is to get to $16,200. But I’m thinking we’re going to get closer to $19,000 or $20,000.”
If that doesn’t make you feel as warm as a cup of hot cocoa or a nice warm hot dog — um, Albertsons barbecues on some weekends to encourage holiday donations, by the way — consider this:
“We’re reminded that there a lot of people out there in need this holiday season,” Buckner said. “Fishline is important because there’s a lot of families … I have a daughter of my own and it can be hard. I think about the kids and my heart goes out to those families.”
Buckner is thankful for each donation. “Our Poulsbo community is pretty generous,” she said.
