Submitted by the Town of Friday Harbor.

The Town of Friday Harbor presented the Friday Harbor Food Bank with a check for $15,000 at the Dec. 4 Town Council meeting. This is the 12th year the Town has directed that November donations to its Harbor Life Ring utility assistance program go to the food bank to help ensure provisions are available for those in need over the holiday season. The Town offered up to $7,500 in matching funds, and the community met the match.

“Donations came not only from our generous utility customers but from residents outside of town as well,” said Town Administrator Denice Kulseth. “It was a joy to see how eager people were to contribute.” According to the food bank, it’s funded entirely through donations and spends almost $18,000 each month to serve over 1,425 households or an average of nearly 3,300 individuals on the island.

Kulseth expressed the Town’s appreciation for the community’s support for the Harbor Life Ring program throughout the year, as there is an ongoing need for utility payment assistance. The Harbor Life Ring program was established in 2013 to help families seeking financial relief on their Town utility bills. The program is funded through donations that Town customers add to their monthly bill payments.