FISH launches first funds campaign

Increasing demand has depleted reserve funds

George Le Masurier

of the Gateway

The Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank is doing something new: asking for monetary donations.

Jan Coen started the organization in 1976 with a group of dedicated volunteers to provide emergency aid to the Gig Harbor and Key peninsulas. Since then, unsolicited donations have always exceeded operating expenses.

In the years prior to 2005, FISH created a $100,000 reserve fund from the excess donations. But current economic conditions and the ever-expanding need for services in the growing community have rapidly depleted the reserve.

Since 2005, FISH has operated at a deficit averaging $30,000 a year.

FISH volunteers Jim Hines and Ted Sanford are leading a drive to replenish the reserve fund and get the food bank’s budget balanced once again.

“We’ve got to get out ahead of the challenges,” Hines said.

The unlikely pair — Hines, a conservative, and Sanford, a progressive — have found common ground to team up for FISH.

“I didn’t even vote for Jim in the last state election,” Sanford said. “But we share the belief that our community’s principal resource for helping our neighbors needs help.”

FISH, which is also known as “social services,” has never had a marketing or awareness campaign. But soon, Hines and Sanford and others on the committee will be knocking on the doors of businesses and organizations to solicit support.

“And if we’ve missed your door, please pick up the phone and call us,” Hines said.

Sanford said FISH will use the $100,000 goal of the campaign to expand emergency financial aid and support for low-income children, as well as shore up the reserve fund.

Almost half of the people helped by FISH are children. The organization currently works with Peninsula schools and school counselors to identify low-income children who need clothing, after-school counseling, tutoring and summer camp programs.

In 2007, FISH received unsolicited donations of $129,827 in amounts ranging from $5 to $5,000.

Coen, who presently serves the organization’s president, said she’s proud that operating expenses only consume 5 percent of donations. FISH has no paid staff and a list of more than 200 volunteers.

“The concern that the Board of Directors for FISH has is that we don’t seem to have much recognition in the community,” she said. “We are a community resource for (the) under-employed, disabled and elderly among us.”

Last year, FISH donated food to 8,567 people at a cost of $191,403. Almost half of that went to feed area children. Some of the food came from donations by Albertson’s, Costco, Safeway, Fred Meyer, QFC, Starbucks and others.

But FISH had to purchase $60,000 of additional food above the in-kind donations.

Sanford said many people know FISH only as a food bank, even though it provides many more services, including:

Emergency financial aid and transportation

Clothing, especially for children in need

Counseling and referrals

Christmas baskets and toys

Summer camp for at-risk youth

Sanford said FISH provided $51,000 in financial aid to families with emergency needs resulting from loss of jobs, injuries or illnesses, temporary homelessness, medical bills or some other crisis.

The fundraising campaign has generated about $46,000 to date, including $10,000 from Pierce County.

State Sen. Derek Kilmer, State Reps. Larry Seaquist and Pat Lantz, County Council Chair Terry Lee and Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter all support the FISH campaign.

“We are facing challenging economic times, and more and more families are struggling to make ends meet,” Kilmer said. “FISH acknowledges the ideal that I am my brother’s keeper, that I am my sister’s keeper.”

He said when people are struggling, we all have a moral obligation to help.

“Our state is providing more support to food banks, but organizations like FISH play such a critical role beyond what any state can do,” Kilmer said. “That’s why I’ve embraced their efforts.”

Recipients express gratitude for help

FISH President Jan Coen has many touching stories from those who have received help.

Here is one of her stories:

“One day when the food bank was very busy, with several families waiting for help, we noticed a gentleman with his wife and several children waiting patiently for their turn at the counter. When he finally had reached his turn, he quietly handed the volunteer on duty $200 in cash and told her that ‘FISH helped my family with food several times, and now that I have a job, I want to help the food bank. Thank you.’

“The volunteers on duty at the time were in tears. It was so obvious that this young father had felt strongly about having to ask for help, and as soon as he felt able, he wanted to take his turn at being the one helping. He was so proud of his ability to donate and show his family, as well as others, that he was a contributing member of society.”

How you can help

Contributions to FISH can be sent to: FISH, P.O. Box 154, Gig Harbor, 98335. Please write “Campaign” on your check.

Reach Publisher George Le Masurier at 253-853-9248 or by e-mail at publisher@gateline.com.