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Page 44 — Shelton—Mason County Journal Thursday, April 20,
fen ck fi. a” .
Ten sea lions catch some rays Saturday morning, their collective weight
dropping the Port of Allyn dock into
the water. It was unclear whether they paid their moorage fees for
anchoring at the dock.
Hera/d photo by Gordon Weeks
orth Mason Food Bank wins free internet
By Kirk Boxleitner
kbox/e/z‘ner@masoncounty com
The North Mason Food Bank re-
cently won a year of free internet from
Astound Broadband as part of the
company’s effort to recognize small
businesses for contributing to their
communities.
“We believe that smaller locally
owned organizations like the North
Mason Food Bank are integral to the
success of the communities in which
they reside,” said Patrick Knorr, chief
commercial officer for Astound Busi-
ness Solutions, a broadband service
provider, “We wanted to help make
a difference for small local business—
es by providing an essential service,
while easing their bottom line, allow—
ing them to continue delivering their
positive impact on our communities.”
Astound representative Mark Pe-
terson noted the North Mason Food
Bank, which has been operating in
Belfair since 1983, works to eliminate
food insecurity and makes its commu—
nity more interconnected.
The food bank collaborates with
other service providers in the com-
munity, providing holiday meals with
Faith in Action, the HUB (Hospital-
ity, Unity, Belonging) Center for Se-
‘niors, North Mason Resources and
the Giving Tree.
Tara Schmidt, executive director of
the food bank, estimated it serves 125
to 160 clients per week, which adds
up to about 30,000 pounds of food
per month, with money from the gov-
ernment covering 90% of that food.
The bulk of its operating expenses
come from money donated from the
community.
With budgets always tight, Schmidt
expressed her gratitude for the free
internet, which she predicted would
knock $70 off the food bank’s monthly
expenses, and extended those thanks
to community members who nominat-
ed the North Mason Food Bank for
Astound’s small business initiative.
Schmidt said cash donations allow
the food bank to buy certain items in
bulk for cheaper than What its donors
could get by buying those items on
their own.
However, she did ask for donations
of sugar, jelly, jam, coffee and hygiene
supplies, including toothpaste and
bars of soap.
One of the bank’s most pressing
emerging needs is more space.
The food bank moved into its cur-
rent home in 1999, and Schmidt
credited the generosity of the former
owners with allowing the charity to
afford to purchase the land and the
building in 2020.
However, the growing demand for
the food bank’s services is taxing its
parking lot and storage spaces, and
with wetlands complicating any at-
tempt to expand upon its existing
property, Schmidt said the search is
on for other facilities in the area.
The food bank has to 40 devoted
volunteers, but Schmidt said another
need is for more truck drivers and la-
bor—ready warehouse loaders. Many
of its current older volunteers have
the will and the love for their work,
but not always the physical ability
for the food banks more demanding
tasks.
To learn more about the North Ma-
son Food Bank, go to northmason’
foodbankbrg or call 360-275—4615.