Editor, The Times:
Often it is hard to express the true appreciation we have, as individuals or as a group, for one another. Though hard, it is often the most valuable thing we can do.
The significance of Clearwater and District Food Bank moving into the former Fireweed Forestry Service space is likely lost on most people of the community, but all those on the food bank board or with close ties to the food bank know of the support and compassion Fireweed, the Downey family and staff have shown the food bank and its clients over the past four or five years.
They have done so by sponsoring families at Christmas, by repeatedly asking and then supplying a month’s worth of food items we needed but couldn’t afford, by bringing us the contents of their camps and kitchens at the end of the season when it would have been much easier to get rid of it than to sort it pack it and transport it back to Clearwater (and then often storing it for us until we could make space).
By watching and seeing the need happening just across the street, Fireweed stepped up and became the largest single supporter of the food bank Clearwater has ever had. Last year (2010) the Clearwater food bank supplied 729 regular monthly hampers, with an additional 107 hampers at Christmas. Fireweed’s generosity contributed to each one.
Contrary to common belief the majority of these donations are not eligible as tax write-offs. They came out of their pockets and from their hearts. And so whether this is retirement or a change in path, it is with sincere affection and respect that the food bank volunteers (past and present) wish Deb, Pat and their family every happiness and success in the future.
Clearwater and District Food Bank
