To keep everyone informed how Food Bank Challenge donations are coming this year, I’ve gotten some status reports. Compared to information I have from previous years, this first week looks to be struggling for some food banks.

I know it’s early and everyone’s thoughts have been on getting the Thanksgiving holiday off to a good start, including here in our home. But with leftovers in the refrigerator now is the time to think about helping others in our community. Remember that this year the Loren H. Corder Foundation, like previous years, will be matching many of those dollars — how much is yet to be determined, but will be significant.

The key is having enough donations to make sure every dollar in the “pot” is available for that match. It would be sad to leave what I call “money not claimed,” because the donations were below the match.

This is the sixth year of the Food Bank Challenge and every year the donations have been impressive. The support that comes in during these challenges is not predicable and those donations vary from a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

I like to call the challenge a measure of our community’s health in helping others when it’s most needed. It’s a once-a-year effort, so let’s make it a banner year in 2024 — it’s all about helping those in need. Besides, it feels good to give this perfect present for the holiday.

Donations can be mailed to PO Box 907 in Ocean Park (zip code 98640) for the Ocean Park Food Bank, PO Box 494 in Ilwaco (98624) for the Ilwaco Food Bank, and PO Box 243 in Chinook (98614) for the Chinook Food Bank.

CHUCK MIKKOLA

Food Bank Money Wrangler