Lately I feel a little bit like a broken record, repeating the same phrase over and over, “Oh my goodness, that’s Amazing!” or “Incredible” or “Awesome”. Day after day, even in the midst of this crisis, there is another reason to make this exclamation. I often call our community “small but MIGHTY”. And, it’s true. Out here in our rural corner of the world, we have literally thousands of people chipping in to take care of each other. When my heart begins to ache as I watch the news stories about urban food pantries having to close down for lack of food, I only have to look closer to home and my heart begins to swell with joyful gratitude. Perhaps you too, need a little lift today.
Today, I’m going to tell YOUR story, the story about how YOU are taking care of POM.
When the lock down began and POM had to close our thrift store (which provides 1/3 of our total annual income) we looked at each other with fear in our eyes and asked, “What are we going to do?!” But, with just a few humble words asking for help, we had several thousand dollars within days; within three weeks you had literally made up our projected deficit.
A couple weeks into the lock-down, we began to see the need for rental and utility assistance skyrocket. Some 70% of people seeking help had never had to ask POM for help before. We knew our normal budget for financial assistance would be stretched beyond its limit. But again, you kept on giving. You didn’t stop. Many have given more than once. Several have signed up for monthly pledges, knowing we are likely in this for the long haul.
The City of Enumclaw has pledged an additional $20,000 to help clients who reside within the city limits with rent and utilities.
Even in the midst of their own Covid-19 challenges, Enumclaw Rotary granted POM a $5,000 matching grant for our May fund raiser (one of only four we hold each year). Allowing us to stretch our donor’s dollars and help twice as many people.
When our food bank numbers increased by 40% in one week, and at the same time, our regular NW Harvest deliveries were shrinking, you came through again. Beth Madill, of Enumclaw, started “$5 Food Bank Friday”, hoping to gather some of her friends on social media to chip in and buy some food for POM’s food bank. After just two Fridays it grew into a mighty force for fund raising! This community effort has raised over $8,000, bringing hundreds of pounds of food to POM’s pantry and over $4,000 cash for food, rent, and utility assistance.
Two local businesses have held fund raisers for POM. One Of A Kind Prints (OOAK) is selling T-shirts from which part of the proceeds are donated to POM. They’ve donated several hundred dollars so far! And, Jessie B. Nutrition & Wellness is donating proceeds from those who sign up for her coaching or meal plans!
Meat is always in short supply at our food bank. But last week a donor, new to POM, called us and asked if she and her husband could donate 50 pounds of ground meat from Olson’s Butcher! “Yes!” we said! She ended up bringing us 57lbs! We are always excited to be able to offer meat to our clients!
When we ran alarmingly low on hand sanitizer and wipes (needed in between clients at our drive-through food bank) we put out a call on social media, thinking it might be a long shot, but we were wrong again! People shared the post, searched among their friends, repeated the call on community pages and….You delivered!
Then, when we were down to only 4 paper grocery sacks that we use to pre-pack the food items for our drive-through food bank, we put out another call and OH MY what a response! Within 24 hours we had so many we buried our washer and dryer!
The Thunder Dome Car Museum held a “Corona Cruise Food Drive” to help feed the food bank! They brought in 825 pounds of food!
Several people have been making masks for those who need them and asking only for donations to POM in return. We’ve received over $200 from this effort!
During several of our food bank days, people have driven up and simply handed us cash. “No, no, we don’t need food.” they’ll say, “We just want to give you this.” And they simply drive away while we watch them with hearts swelling.
Sometimes people drive up to the office door, knock and simply hand us an envelope with cash. One couple gave over $1000 in cash. “No, we don’t need to give our name. We’ve just been tithing and want to help.” Again, we were left looking at one another with stunned faces and grateful hearts.
There are many more of your stories of goodness and light. Perhaps we’ll have another opportunity to share them soon. But for now, all of us at POM wish you to know how Amazing, Incredible and Awesome you are. We literally could not do this work without you.
You are feeding the hungry.
You are keeping our neighbor’s children warm and in their homes.
You are caring for our senior citizens.
It is because you have wrapped your arms around each other that no one needs to feel alone. Right now, it is all about community. And because we are part of this small but MIGHTY community, we will get through this, TOGETHER!
With Sincere Gratitude,
Elaine Olson - Director of Community Engagement
P.S. THESE SIGNS!!! These signs lift our spirits and give us so much encouragement. We can’t begin to tell you how much they mean to us.
