First Federal launches inaugural tuna drive for Peninsula food banks

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, March 15, 2016

PORT ANGELES — First Federal is collecting cans of tuna for area food banks through March 28 in an inaugural drive.

Tuna will be collected at all First Federal locations in Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Forks, Silverdale and Bellingham. Donations will be dispersed to food banks in the respective communities.

The initiative was inspired by the annual Community Tuna Fish Drive that benefits the Port Angeles Food Bank.

The 22nd annual community tuna drive is also through March 28. Individuals, businesses, clubs, churches and organizations are invited to participate by donating cans of tuna fish.

A step further

First Federal, which participated in last year’s community drive in Port Angeles and Sequim, “carried it one step further” this year by collecting cans at all its branches, said community drive Chairman Tim Crowley of the Olympic Kiwanis Club.

First Federal, a 93-year-old community bank, regularly participates in various efforts to support local food banks, but this is the first year for a bank-wide tuna drive, said Jeanine Lee, vice president and marketing manager for First Federal, in a news release.

In addition to accepting cans of tuna from the public, all First Federal employees are encouraged to donate a minimum of three cans of tuna every Friday, she said.

Each week they are challenged to break the previous week’s totals at each location.

Large need

“Last year, one out of every five people used the food bank and one out of every four children. As a result, there was a very large need in Clallam County,” said Chris Donohue, First Federal chief credit officer, who serves on the Port Angeles Food Bank board.

“For those who are able, I feel it is incumbent upon us as good citizens to help wherever we can, especially for the children,” Donohue said.

“Last year, First Federal employees hit our highest number of tuna donations in Port Angeles with 3,094 cans, which was a wonderful surprise. I am looking forward to beating that record this year.”

So far, the community drive has collected at least 4,000 cans, Crowley said.

Among them were 2,400 cans from Haggen Food and Pharmacy in Port Angeles, he said.

Collection barrels are also at other locations, including the Lincoln Street Safeway, Mt. Pleasant IGS and the Port Angeles Food Bank.

The goal of the community drive is to collect 20,000 cans of tuna, which is approximately the number of cans the Port Angeles Food Bank distributes in 10 months, Crowley said.