Summer/Fall 2016 Good Cheer Newsletter

GOOD CHEER GAZETTE Summer/Fall 2016

Vol. 13, No. 2

Giving thanks to our volunteers At Good Cheer, we love and appreciate each and every one of our volunteers (over 400!) who have given hours of their time and achieved an incredible amount of work over many years and decades. We are so grateful to have such dedicated volunteers who consistently and selflessly lend a hand to help those in South Whidbey struggling with hunger. With so many varied tasks, between the Thrift Stores, Food Bank, Donation Center, and multiple growing spaces, every volunteer does invaluable work and fills niches that need to be filled. And while we’ll never fully be able to express our gratitude, on the evening of July 21, we celebrated the hard work of friends, neighbors, and community members at our Volunteer Appreciation BBQ— a night of food, prizes, speeches, and awards.

Good grub, good cheer, and good company The evening kicked off at 5:30, with friends gathered under the Good Cheer Food Bank portico, where a fine feast had been prepared and arranged by the Food Bank kitchen. While some guests filled their plates with quinoa salad, chicken, vegetables, hot dogs, beans, cornbread, and salad, others feasted their eyes on the bountiful Good Cheer Garden, which beamed in the late-afternoon sunshine.

The skies were blue and the weather was balmy—perfect for mingling amongst the tall sunflowers, creeping summer squash vines, and colorful flower beds.

Some took home Good Cheer volunteer t-shirts, while others won raffled-off Good Cheer coffee—small tokens of our appreciation for their important work and continued commitment to Good Cheer.

Continued on page 2

Your time and talents are valuable donations.

Become a volunteer today and help us create a hunger-free community.

For more information, e-mail Shawn Nowlin: volunteer@goodcheer.org

IN THIS ISSUE 

GIVING THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS



BUILDING BOWLS FOR EMPTY BOWL SOUP NIGHT



KELLYANN’S STORY



PICKLE VEGGIES TO ENJOY THEM YEARROUND!

A potimarron squash from the Good Cheer Garden in 2015.

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

1

Penny Clayton, Gail Lischeid, and Estelle Kramer of Good Cheer’s linen team.

Rick and Tracy Hedrick, of Good Cheer’s couponing team, accepting the 2016 Louise Prewitt Award on Ula Lewis’ behalf on July 21, 2016.

Giving thanks to our volunteers

continued from front page

Honoring Good Cheer’s own In 2015, Good Cheer staff established two legacy awards in memory of stalwart volunteers and supporters, Louise Prewitt and Reva Albright.

Louise Prewitt was a longtime volunteer, board member, and tireless supporter of Good Cheer. A very active board member, Louise often organized the Good Cheer Board’s fundraisers and used her leadership skills to help whenever and however she was needed, continually sharing the Good Cheer message and advocating for Good Cheer.

Come Garden.

Help Good Cheer.

Garden Work Parties Wednesdays | 9 AM – 4 PM Good Cheer Garden: 2812 Grimm Road, Langley Now until the end of October, come see what’s growing at Good Cheer and have fun while honing your gardening skills at our Wednesday garden work parties.

We have a variety of tasks for all ages and agility levels. Plus, there’s a picnic lunch of soup, bread, and garden salad at noon!

2

Known as Good Cheer’s “Shoe Lady”, Reva Albright created successful shoe and purse departments. “Reva was a treasure and we so appreciated her knowledge, passion, and opinions. Anyone who really knew Reva knows the strength in her convictions,” reminisced Kathy McCabe, Good Cheer Executive Director.

The Louise Prewitt Award honors volunteers who have created a long-lasting impact on Good Cheer. The Reva Albright Volunteer Award recognizes volunteers who have focused on the day-to-day success of Good Cheer. In 2015, past Board President and current Food Bank volunteer, Jay Ryan was the first recipient of the Louise Prewitt Award, while Betty Kendall, Good Cheer’s “Book Lady” took home the first Reva Albright Volunteer Award.

Ula Lewis, Good Cheer’s “Coupon Queen” This year, the Louise Prewitt Award recipient was Good Cheer’s “Coupon Queen”, Ula Lewis. Ula has volunteered over 14,000 hours and racked up over 100,000 miles on her own car, and because of her dedication and commitment to Good Cheer, the Boeing Employee Community Fund and the Norcliffe Foundation awarded Good Cheer funds to purchase a brand new van in 2015. Now logoed, the “Coupon Team Van” makes trips on and off the island to score deals and stock the Food Bank with greater variety and quality.

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

Continued on page 3

Harvest Party at The Big ACRE Saturday, October 1 2:00 – 3:30 PM 5611 S. Bayview Road, Langley (behind the old Bayview School)

Good Cheer volunteers enjoying the weather, flowers, and food in the Garden on a beautiful summer evening.

Giving thanks to our volunteers

Come see what’s growing at The Big ACRE! continued from page 2

As it turns out, Ula was off-island on a coupon run and didn’t catch the ferry in time to make it to the BBQ to receive her award! Luckily, two of her most dedicated teammates, Rick and Tracy Hedrick, were present to accept the award on her behalf. Fittingly, McCabe shared, “The first thing Ula will say to me is, ‘It is not about me—it’s about the team. It takes a team to collect, sort, clip, and shop.’ ” Ula and her team’s couponing is crucial in stretching Good Cheer’s food budget.

This last June, the bottom of a single receipt read “You saved $1,989.” Over the course of an entire year, these savings add up in a big, big way. What is more, couponing provides food bank clients with greater choice by bringing in items that would otherwise be too expensive, such as canned fruit packed in light syrup and cereals where the first ingredient is not sugar.

Gail Lischeid, Good Cheer’s “Linen Lady”

It’s a fall potluck! Please join us as we celebrate the end of the season and appreciate our volunteers, donors, and apprentices.

There will be lawn games (weather permitting), face painting, and garden nibbles. Plus, The Big ACRE will keep growing food through the winter, so if you haven’t had a chance to come by lately, this is the perfect chance to see how our new farm has grown this year.

Bring friends and a dish to share!

Questions? E-mail Camille Green: goodcheergarden@gmail.com

This year, Good Cheer honored “Linen Lady”, Gail Lischeid, who has volunteered over 4,000 hours, with the second annual Reva Albright Volunteer Award. Before Gail took charge of the linens, they would pile up in the Donation Center, as few people liked to fold them. With Gail’s long arms, she had no problem folding and for years, Gail folded, placed in bags, and priced any linen that went out to the Thrift Stores by herself. When the linens became too overwhelming for just one person, she began recruiting people and, like Ula, built a team consisting of herself, Estelle Kramer, and Penny Clayton. Together, the three ladies called themselves the “Linen Sisters”—that is until longtime garden and Food Bank kitchen volunteer, John Chaffey, joined them this year.

As a result of Gail’s leadership and a team dedicated to Good Cheer’s success, the linen department has become the 7th most revenue-producing department in the Thrift Stores. Talk about a lot of sheets, blankets, towels, pillows, pillowcases, shams, tablecloths, and napkins; not to mention all the folding that goes with them!

Gail Lischeid, 2016 recipient of Reva Albright Volunter Award.

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

3

Kellyann’s story We are often defined by snapshots of our lives. How do we tell our story without being labeled by who we were instead of who we are now? Redemption stories need a back story, but those details only are meant to give context to how and why we are who we are now. This is the challenge of highlighting a personal story.

Kathy McCabe and Kellyann are all smiles at Good Cheer.

How do we tell our story without being labeled by

The Kellyann you meet at the door of our Donation Center in Bayview is a perfect example of this challenge. Kellyann exudes gratitude to each person as they bring donations of food and items to Good Cheer. She does not like weekends. They get in the way of her being able to go to the place that fills her with joy, her job at Good Cheer. who we

were instead of who we are now?

Why does Kellyann feel so full of gratitude to Good Cheer and the people who support Good Cheer? Kellyann feels a debt to the people who believed in her when she did not know how to believe in herself. Treating her with dignity allowed her to see her own worth over time.

Kellyann’s first introduction to Good Cheer was as a client when she was suffering from emotional and addiction issues and had become homeless. As Kellyann battled her way through her own issues, the staff and volunteers at Good Cheer always treated her with the dignity she did not feel she deserved at the time. As she worked out her own challenges, Good Cheer was by her side the whole way.

Kellyann began to volunteer as a way to pay back for the services she was receiving at Good Cheer. She prides herself on always being a hard worker no matter what else was going on. She earned a place as a part time staff person by showing a commitment to contributing wherever she could for the betterment of Good Cheer.

If you believe in someone, they will find the path

The challenges facing Kellyann included some legal encounters that she needed to work through to success. so she could get on with her life. At her graduation from the obligations of drug court, Kellyann’s friends and fellow staff from Good Cheer were there to help celebrate a true redemption story.

We were all brought to tears multiple times by the various ways Kellyann had affected the staff in the system. The hope Kellyann brought to those who work in social services highlighted the many ways we are all healed when helping others.

At Good Cheer, we go by a set of practices called the Family Support Principles. The spirit of these principles is quite simple.

We are all equally responsible to create opportunities for success whether we are a client, volunteer, or staff. To achieve this goal, we must treat each other the way we want to be treated.

The Golden Rule is an amazing testament to self-fulfilling prophecies. If you believe in someone, they will find the path to success.

Kellyann is the perfect example of someone coming home to your true self by following the light of those who believe in you.

Now, she shines the light on that path for those who need the same compassion shown to them that she experienced.

4

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

Whidbey Art Escape will donate bowls made by the community to Good Cheer again this year for Empty Bowl Soup Night!

Building bowls for Empty Bowl Soup Night Thanks to the efforts of Whidbey Art Escape, a group of volunteers is producing a unique set of bowls to be sold at Good Cheer’s Empty Bowl Soup Night on October 9th. When Tina Beard wanted to donate bowls for Empty Bowl Soup Night again this year, Jordan Jones, Kimberly Shelton, and Clovy Tsuchiya, who teach classes in various clay techniques at Whidbey Art Escape, volunteered to oversee the entire process.

Whidbey Art Escape is happy to be hosting Empty Bowl evenings the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, where you can learn how to make and glaze a bowl.

Whidbey Art Escape is generously donating materials and guidance, so if you would like to throw a bowl for a good cause, drop them a line at (361) 331-3166 to let them know so they can hold a space and materials. The last chance to make a bowl for this year’s Empty Bowl Soup Night will be Tuesday, September 27! And if you wish to buy your bowl right after you’ve finished making it, make sure to bring it to Langley United Methodist Church on October 9, where you can enjoy freshly made soups and community time with others.

Eat Good Soup.

Help Good Cheer.

Good Cheer’s 4th Annual Empty Bowl Soup Night Sunday, Oct 9 | 4 PM – 6 PM Langley Methodist Church: 301 Anthes Ave, Langley

Last chance to make a bowl at Whidbey Art Escape for this year’s Empty Bowl Soup Night will be Tuesday, September 27!

This is just one example of how small businesses can make a big impact in the community. We love when local businesses and churches want to contribute in unique ways to Good Cheer. Local churches encourage the donation of particular goods at each Sunday service. Clinton Foodmart donates 5% of qualified purchases to Good Cheer when customers bring their receipts to Good Cheer. And Payless donates 5 cents to Good Cheer every time a shopper brings their own shopping bag.

We are always open to the many ways businesses can contribute to Good Cheer through fundraising, events, or products. If you have an idea and would like to collaborate to build your business while benefitting Good Cheer, please let us know.

Contact Shawn Nowlin at community@goodcheer.org.

Please join us for a night of soup, art, and community, featuring soups made fresh by local chefs and Good Cheer Food Bank cooks. $20 bowl or $5 mug with endless soup, bread, and beverages. $20 admission includes a custom bowl crafted by community members and donated by Whidbey Art Escape. Tickets will be available at all Good Cheer locations and at the door.

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

5

KITCHEN HAPPENINGS Preserving, processing, and putting by food.

When fresh produce donations are in excess, often during the summer, the Good Cheer Food Bank kitchen team preserves, pickles, and dehydrates bulk quantities of plums, pears, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini, and kale into dried fruit, frozen fruit, soups, sauces, chutneys, pickles, pumpkin puree, blanched greens, and frozen vegetables, which are extremely sought after and appreciated by Food Bank clients.

Furthermore, combining creativity with a frugal and waste-not mindset, the kitchen team combs through boxes of “grocery rescue” produce from Safeway and Haggens and processes them into value-added products, such as salsa, guacamole, and bags of mixed fruit. In 2015, the Good Cheer Food Bank produced more than 1,800 pounds of processed food that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Pickle veggies to enjoy them year-round!

Refreshing and crisp—who doesn’t love a good pickle?

Pickling is one of the easiest ways to preserve the bounty of summer’s harvest. And while cucumbers are one of the most commonly known pickles, you can pickle pretty much anything: asparagus, beets, bell peppers, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, onions, parsnips, peppers, radishes, rhubarb, squash, turnips...the list goes on and on!

If you want to preserve your pickles for up to a year, you can boil the jars in a hot water. We like the canning instructions available at http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/ general.html and these guides from the USDA at http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/ publications_usda.html. However, if the canning process intimidates you, have no fear, you can still pickle! See the pickle recipes on the next page.

A few pickling guidelines:

DID YOU KNOW? Approximately one in five people in South Whidbey turn to Good Cheer Food Bank.

When you shop at our Thrift Stores, make a charitable contribution, volunteer, or donate gently used items and/or food, you are nourishing friends, neighbors, and families struggling to make ends meet in our community.

6



Use freshly-picked produce and white distilled or cider vinegar with 5% acidity



Scrub vegetables well and trim away the blossom end of cucumbers, which contains enzymes that can result in soft pickles



It’s not just about the dill! To create distinctive flavors, experiment with other herbs and spices, such as garlic, red pepper flakes, allspice, peppercorns, mustard seeds, bay leaves, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon



Wipe the rim of each jar after filling and before screwing on the lid to ensure a good seal and prevent bacteria growth



Label and date each finished jar before storing



Hands off! Pickles improve with flavor as they age, so wait a few weeks before digging into your refrigerator pickles Continued on page 7

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

Pickle veggies to enjoy them year-round! continued from page 6

FRESH FOOD ON YOUR TABLE

Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles 3 cups water 1 cup white vinegar 1 Tbsp canning salt (see note below) Fresh dill Sliced cucumbers Optional: grape leaves (see note below) Optional: seasonings, such as celery seed, whole black peppercorns, coriander seed, mustard seed

Pear Apple Sauce Combine the water, vinegar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve.

Cool. While cooling, pack a grape leaf, slice of garlic, and a sprig of dill into the bottom of each pickle jar. Sprinkle with celery seed or other seasonings if desired. Fill jar with tightly packed cucumbers and pour cooled brine over top, filling to within ¼ inch of top.

Ready to eat in 2–3 weeks. Will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

About salt: It’s best to make pickles with non-iodized salt. Sea salt will work if you don’t have canning salt. The iodine in table salt will make your pickle brine cloudy, which won’t hurt you; it will just have a less appetizing appearance.

10 apples 3 pears 1/4 cup water Sprinkle of lemon juice Cinnamon or ginger, to taste

About grape leaves: Adding a fresh grape leaf to every jar will keep your pickles crisp and crunchy! If you don’t have them, don’t worry, the recipe will still work.

Bread & Butter Refrigerator Pickles 6 large cucumbers, sliced 2 onions, sliced 1/4 cup canning salt (see note in above recipe) 2 cups cold water 2 cups white vinegar 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon celery seed 1 teaspoon mustard seed

Slice cucumbers and onions. Sprinkle with salt and toss to coat. Let stand for 1 hour.

Drain and rinse with 2 cups cold water. Combine vinegar, sugar, celery and mustard seeds and heat to boiling for 3 minutes. Pack onion and cucumber mixture into jars; add hot vinegar brine, leaving ¼ inch headspace at the top of each jar. Cool and store in refrigerator. Ready to eat in 2–3 weeks. Will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

Peel, core, and quarter the apples and pears into a large pot. Combine lemon juice and water and pour the liquid mixture over the fruit. Cook over mediumlow heat for 45–60 minutes. Stir occasionally and add water if needed.

When the apples are soft, mash or blend them into a chunky or smooth sauce.

Season with cinnamon and/or ginger to taste.

Pears add enough sweetness that sugar isn’t necessary!

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community

7

GOOD CHEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores PO Box 144 Langley, WA 98260 www.goodcheer.org

Marilee Seligson, President Bob Olson, Vice President Rob Anderson, Treasurer Bob Green, Secretary Jerry Bacon John Lawson Tom Nack Vincent Nattress Kay Stanley Kathryn Stevens Kelly Turner Bill Watts Laura Weeks

Executive Director Kathleen McCabe

Save big on school shopping

25% Off One clothing item or school (or office) supply Good at both Good Cheer Thrift Stores Coupon expires October 31, 2016

8

Good Cheer Food Bank & Thrift Stores | Creating a Hunger-Free Community