PORT TOWNSEND — The annual WAVE Food Drive, an ecumenical effort by community churches, begins Saturday.
The drive supports the four food banks of East Jefferson County.
WAVE, which stands for “What A Valuable Experience,” has gathered donations for the food banks serving Port Townsend, Tri-Area, Brinnon and Quilcene for the past 28 years.
Money and food
Donations of both money and nonperishable food will be accepted, said Skip Cadorette, pastor of First Baptist Church, who is the organizer of this year’s food drive.
Each donated dollar can buy 33 pounds of food through Food Lifeline, based in Shoreline, which serves about 300 agencies statewide, said Shirley Moss, director of the Port Townsend Food Bank.
Especially needed are canned proteins such as tuna fish, peanut and salmon, and pet food, Moss said.
Home-canned foods can’t be accepted. Canned foods that are past their expiration dates by fewer than three years still can be donated.
Donations of food for people can’t have been opened, but opened containers of pet food, as well as opened containers of shampoos, hand lotions and dish soaps, are welcome.
Donations are stored in an Olympic Community Actions Programs warehouse.
Where to donate
Community donations can be made all day Saturday at QFC stores in Port Townsend and Port Hadlock, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at participating churches.
The churches are in Port Townsend are Church of Christ, 230 A St.; Evangelical Bible (Methodist) Church, 2135 San Juan Ave.; First Baptist Church of Port Townsend, 1202 Lawrence St.; Grace Lutheran Church, 1120 Walker St.; Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.; St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1335 Blaine St.; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St.; and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 45 Redeemer Way in Chimacum.
Participating churches will collect food and money throughout this month.
Donations also can be mailed to the Port Townsend Food Bank at P.O. Box 1975, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
Checks can be made payable to the Jefferson County Food Bank.
They are distributed to the Port Townsend, Tri-Area, Brinnon and Quilcene food banks.
The Quilcene Food Bank also serves Coyle.
For more information, visit www.wavefooddrive.wordpress.com.