Volume VI, No. 2 | April ‍2024 ‍ ‍

‍THE WALK & KNOCKER

‍A quarterly newsletter for the Walk & Knock Family

Annual meeting and Social Hour 

Join us Monday, May 13, for our annual meeting and social hour. It’s an opportunity to meet fellow Walk & Knockers, enjoy special refreshments courtesy of our friends at the Food Bank, and celebrate our accomplishments.

Walking Tacos! 

Our Food Bank buds will give us a taste of their uber-popular Tacos & Taps at our social hour.  Their vendor will provide tacos, desserts, beer and other beverages.  One more reason to join us:  5:30 p.m., Monday, May 13, Clark County Food Bank, 6502 NE 47^th Ave.

Annual meeting – follows at 6:30 p.m.

Volunteer Award

We will present the Fourth annual Bud Pasmore Volunteer Achievement Award. Previous winners are: Joe Pauletto, Jeff Fish and Bill Lundin.

Forty Years! 

This marks our 40^th year of helping the less fortunate in Clark County.

Started in 1985 by a few Lions Club members, Walk & Knock grew into the nation’s largest local one-day food drive.  Over those 39 years, we’ve collected more than 9.5 million pounds of food valued at $17.3 million.  And just as importantly, engaged untold thousands in helping their neighbors. We hope that spirit of giving instilled in so many young people carries on to help build a strong community.

Doing business 

At the annual meeting, Walk & Knock “members” – our 16 dues-paying clubs and organizations – will vote on trustees for the upcoming year and on our annual budget. They also will be asked to approve a bylaws change regarding trustee qualifications.

Budget 

We are proposing an aggressive budget of $69,100 for the coming year. That’s up from the $53,000 we raised and spent last year.  The extra money will allow us to mail our W&K bags to all single and multi-family homes in metropolitan Clark County. Last year, we weren’t able to mail bags to postal routes with mostly multi-family dwellings – apartments, duplexes etc.  It’s a big reach, but we’re hopeful more sponsors will step up.  We credit bag mailing with the robust 271,095 pounds of food collected last December.

Your Nominated Board of Trustees for 2024-2025

President – Justin Wood

First VP – Brian Switzer

Second VP – Janet Elliott

Third VP – Becky Writt

Treasurer – Steve Staudinger

Secretary – Tammy Mackey

Past President – Tom Knappenberger

Trustee – Joe Pauletto

Trustee – Jeff Fish

Trustee – Bill Lundin

Trustee – Barbara Yasson

Trustee -- Kavita Ros

Nominations still can be made at the annual meeting.  

Refresher 

Last December, with 153,000 bags mailed out, more than 2,000 volunteers collected 271,095 pounds of food and toiletries along with $20,000 in cash donations. That’s back to pre-Covid levels, and we were thrilled.  Looking to do even better on our next drive – mark your calendars – Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

What it means – Using the Food Bank’s metrics, which they get from national sources, 1.2 pounds of food equal 1 meal. So, our 271,095 pounds of donated food provides 225,000 meals.  Our $20,000 in cash donations provides another 80,000 meals (one dollar equals four meals). Together, we collected enough food and money to provide 305,000 meals.

Which means? – 305,000 meals are enough to feed one family of four three meals a day for 69 years. 

Great, but -- The Food Bank doesn’t feed just one family.  Based on the sad fact that one in four in Clark County is “hunger insecure” – about 125,000 people – our collections provide about two and a half meals each.  Sobering, heh?

More numbers --       $1 buys 4.3 pounds of food

                                    1.2 pounds of food equals one meal

                                    Donated food is valued at $1.82 per pound

Web-mastering 

Last year we improved our website – walkandknock.org  Same address but a whole new look and feel thanks to our friends at Formations Design, Inc.  Most everything you’d want to know about Walk & Knock is there. Websites are always a work in progress, so let us know what you think.

Don’t forget 

Those of you Fred Meyer shoppers know their rewards program is money back in your pocket.  It can be money in W&K’s pocket, too.  Their Community Rewards Program allows you to designate your favorite non-profit – W&K we hope – to receive similar rebates without affecting your own rewards.  Its Fred’s way of giving to the community.  Please sign up and designate Walk & Knock as your recipient.  It’s free money just waiting for you to activate. 

Visit  https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/community/community-rewards

Donate to Walk & Knock

All money collected goes directly to the Clark County Food Bank to help those in need.

Mail checks to:
PO Box 353, Vancouver WA 98666, payable to Interservice Walk & Knock

Donate online:
Pay with credit card via Paypal, even if you don't have a Paypal account

Unsubscribe ‍