Thanks to another pledge of help from our community, this time from our neighbors at NAS Whidbey, we have expanded our sack meal program to include Sunday service.
Please see the bottom of this page for a map and service hours.
Edit: since this post was published, our sack lunch service has moved.
Please join us for sack meals
at Hal Ramaley Memorial Park
256 Bayshore Drive in Oak Harbor
(across street from the ball parks)
Monday – Sunday at 12:15 PM-1:15 PM
SPiN now serves sack meals at Hal Ramaley Park in Oak Harbor, seven days a week. Just five months ago, our curbside, socially-distanced sack meal effort was a desperate, stopgap, three-day-a-week idea – a Point of Light, to coin a phrase from a former US President – in a cold winter as the pandemic hit town and our host churches were forced to close their doors. Now, at last, it’s a full-court, seven-day, ongoing effort to fight hunger in our town while we maintain the dignity of our guests.
SPiN Executive Director Tom Saunders says this final step began with an email from the Volunteer Coordinator for VAQ 209 at NAS Whidbey Island.
“She asked if there was anything they could do to assist SPiN Cafe as opposed to starting a food drive on their own,” says Saunders. “…within a week they verified that they would like to host Sunday meals for SPiN Cafe at the park! We are delighted to welcome them to our family of volunteers and are so grateful that our Sack Meal Program now serves people in need 7 days a week!”
Last month, Saunders says, operating 6 days a week, SPiN Cafe served over 750 meals.
“We couldn’t be more grateful for the outpouring of support for our program from our community, and we foresee this program continuing in the future.”
In related news, Saunders has been in discussions with SPiN’s church partners regarding dinner services commencing once again. Procedures are currently being drafted, he says, to meet guidelines set forth by the State and Church Diocese.
“There are several factors that need to be met in addition to the procedures which involve manpower planning. Due to the cleaning requirements, we anticipate a significant increase to our labor costs and to demands for volunteers. Our guests and all of those involved with SPiN Cafe are anxious to resume dinner services, but not before every precaution is taken to safeguard the health of our guests, staff and all volunteers.”
Thank you, Tom Saunders, for your efforts. And in these uncertain times, a huge thank you to the dedicated men and women from VAQ-209, the Star Warriors, for your service to our nation and to our local neighbors in need.
SPiN’s sack meal service now operates daily:
at Hal Ramaley Memorial Park
256 Bayshore Drive in Oak Harbor
(across street from the ball parks)
Monday – Sunday at 12:15 PM-1:15 PM
There is no charge, but we are always grateful for donations.
