Kingston Food Bank faces bare Thanksgiving shelves

KINGSTON — The top shelves are completely empty. Two freezers and a refrigerator hold nothing save some butter and a few other items. Dust is collecting on the metal shelves that should be filled this time of year with dry goods, canned food and soups.

The Kingston Food Bank in the VFW Hall in Kingston is in its own time of need when it should be helping others who are worse off.

“It’s so bad, I can’t believe,” said food bank director Vi Weaver. “We’ve never been this low. Ever.”

While Weaver has plenty of green beans, pasta, sauces, potatoes and peanut butter, she’s short on this season’s top order.

“We need turkeys desperately,” she said. “We have no turkeys.”

Weaver said she didn’t know why things are so bad this season, but that she was going to try her hardest to crank out baskets for her clients next week.

“Possibly between 20-25,” she said with a sigh of how many dinners she expects to prepare.

All the regular Thanksgiving fixings are needed for the food bank’s Thanksgiving boxes — turkeys, stuffing, pumpkin mix, cranberries, anything for a traditional dinner.

The non-profit always needs eggs, margarine, bread and milk, Weaver said, noting she has two freezers and a fridge to store cold items.

She also pointed out that there are single seniors who would like a chicken, ham or roast, which would be more appropriate than a whole turkey.

While the stocks are minimal, Weaver said she expects this was just a dry spell for Thanksgiving. Between turkey day and Christmas, people become more generous with toys and food, she said. For now, she has a week and a half to get goods for about 25 baskets.

Weaver is receiving a little support from the community as the bank will benefit from the Kingston Junior High food drive on Nov. 21. A local veterinary clinic and the North Kitsap Herald are holding supporting food drives as well.

Nov. 18 is the last day Weaver will take orders from clients for Thanksgiving Day baskets. Baskets will be available for pick up Nov. 24.

As the time line nears, Weaver was quick to point out that folks donating should not forget the center piece of most Thanksgiving meals.

“To get us through Thanksgiving is the main thing,” she said. “We are desperate for turkeys.”

The Kingston Food Bank is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, call (360) 297-4861.

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