KINGSTON — The community contributed just over $59,000 to ShareNet’s 2015 Neighbor Aid campaign.
That’s $2,000 more than the 2014 campaign and equals about a third of ShareNet’s annual budget. And each contribution makes a big difference in the non-profit agency’s efforts to ensure all North End residents have access to food, can keep a roof over their heads, and can keep the utilities on.
“The programs that ShareNet has been able to bring to the greater Kingston area since 2008 are all dependent on funding from local residents and businesses,” ShareNet executive director Mark Ince wrote in a column in December. “Programs like F2GO (Food to Grow On, in our four local public schools), Crisis Assistance (energy shutoff and eviction prevention), and Fresh Look (produce distribution) are all funded through donations made by people like you.”
“Your support, whether time, money, or service, ensures ShareNet can continue to operate. If you met our clients directly, they would tell you themselves how grateful they are. We extend that gratitude toward you.”
ShareNet is a state-registered non-profit operating under the 501c3 of Bayside Community Church. ShareNet operates a food bank and thrift store, and provides emergency food provision, emergency power and rental assistance for residents faced with shut-off notices or eviction, and a weekend take-home food program for school children.
This year, ShareNet begins offering COMPASS Vocational Services at its site and other locations to be determined. Services include vocational assessment, one on one counseling, case management, and education and skill-building workshops.
ShareNet’s service area is Kingston, Eglon, Hansville, Indianola, Little Boston, Port Gamble, and some border addresses in Poulsbo and Suquamish. The rest of North Kitsap is served by Fishline.
ShareNet is affiliated with the Kitsap County Food Bank Coalition, the Washington Food Coalition, Feeding America, Food Lifeline, and Northwest Harvest. The purchasing power of these networks helps ShareNet stretch every dollar.
“The myth still persists that food banks get everything donated, so there’s little cost in operating one,” Ince wrote. “Some food banks do attempt to operate from purely donated stock, but ShareNet has always wanted to offer more than randomly donated goods of varying quality and freshness.
“Depending on the alliances and connections they’ve made and qualified for, food banks do receive donated food, and upon further qualification some small federal funding. Any funding of that type also comes with the cost of administering and reporting on it. But neither stream is anywhere near enough to operate at our current service levels.”
He added, “News of the economy is better and, probably as a result, donations are significantly down … This is true even while food bank service numbers have not significantly declined, the way you might expect them to in an improved economy.
“Research suggests several reasons for this: more people are working lower-wage jobs, more of these jobs are part time, and more Baby Boomers without adequate retirement are crossing that threshold — and ours — everyday. In any case, the majority of ShareNet’s service is to two groups: children and the elderly.”
If you have need or would like to contribute to ShareNet as a donor or volunteer, here’s the contact information:
Street address: ShareNet, 6061 United Road (off Highway 107), Kingston.
Mail: P.O. Box 250, Kingston, WA 98346.
Phone: 360-297-2266.
Online: www.sharenetfoodbank.org.
NEIGHBOR AID SINCE 2010
Contributions to ShareNet’s Neighbor Aid campaign since 2010.
2010: $60,000
2011: $73,846
2012: $56,785
2013: $73,334
2014: $57,056
2015: $59,000
In 2011, an event, “The Five Levels of Leadership featuring Dr. John C. Maxwell,” at the Kitsap Convention Center Harborside in Bremerton, raised $13,000 for ShareNet, resulting in a record-breaking fundraising campaign.
