An Open Letter to the Greater Maple Valley Area and Covington,

Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services staff and Board of Directors would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the local businesses, community organizations, schools, churches and citizens who helped bring Holiday cheer to local families.

We are blessed with an extraordinarily generous community! Our Holiday Meals and Children’s Christmas Gift programs were huge successes as we continue to meet an increased demand. Recipients consistently received your gifts with smiles, hugs, even tears of gratitude.

Through the donations we received, 551 Thanksgiving and 619 Christmas holiday family feasts were provided for our clients to take and prepare in the comfort of their own homes. These delicious dinners came complete with traditional trimmings including whole turkeys, dressing, potatoes, cranberries, fresh eggs, produce, dairy, pies and the joyful goodwill of supportive volunteers who distributed them!

With the generous support of our community, we were also able to create, stock and staff a unique and festive gift center with thousands of new toys and gifts from which registered clients chose items for their children.

Over a two-day period, at least 4 gifts per child plus stocking stuffers were provided to brighten Christmas for 1009 of our young neighbors from birth to age 15.

In preparation for the events, a variety of our familiar collection bins, barrels, flyers, turkey bucks, gift tags, trees and wreaths could be found in businesses and churches all around the greater Maple Valley and Covington areas. Our business supporters include: Bank of America – Wilderness Village & Covington Esplanade branches, BECU – MV Safeway branch, Chevron – Wilderness Village, City Perk Coffee, Cutter’s Point Coffee – Covington Esplanade, Fire Departments of Maple Valley & Kent, Four Corners Veterinary Clinic, Johnson’s Home and Garden, Junior Junction Day School, Key Bank – Four Corners, Kindercare – Covington, Lake Meridian & Maple Valley locations, Kinderswimmer, King County Library branches of  Covington & MV, La Petite Academy, office of Tom Lee, DDS, MV City Hall, MV Community Center, MV Fitness, MultiCare – Covington, Outpatient Physical Therapy – Covington & MV locations, MV Remax, Surfrider Coffee Company, Thrive Community Fitness, UPS Stores – Covington Esplanade & Four Corners, and Village Coffee.

Our thanks to many local churches for their faithful support not only during the holidays, but year around. These include: Alliance Bible, Cornerstone United Methodist, Generational Hope Christian Center, MV Presbyterian, MV Church of the Nazarene, New Community Church, New Life Church, Peace Lutheran, Real Life Church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, St. Barbara, and St. George Episcopal.

Thanks to our schools in both the Tahoma and Kent Districts who, through their teachers’ organizations, PTAs, administrative offices, bus drivers, service or leadership clubs, bands, cheerleaders, dancers, thespians and various other activity groups, hosted food/gift drives on our behalf.

Our gratitude to all those involved with the following donations or drives: MV Tree Lighting, MV Holiday Fire Engine, Lake Wilderness Country Club Lights, Bluebills, Bluebirds, Backcountry Horsemen, Costco IT group, Covington Place Senior Apartments, Dance Arts, Data Works Consulting, Friends of Vine Maple Place, Gaylord Security, Kiwanis, Lake Wilderness Villa, Pacific Outdoor Products, Uppercrust Cleaning Co, Water Gardens, and Wilderness Village Apartments.

Over 1500 hours of volunteer time were recorded for our special holiday projects alone! Volunteers of all ages and abilities came together to collect, sort, haul, organize, clean, set up, decorate, distribute…and the list goes on.

We would like to extend a special THANK YOU to our core group of volunteers who come in each week throughout the year.  In December, you logged almost 1300 hours for daily operations.  The number of families receiving food bank services now hovers at around 90 each operating day.  Your dedication allows us all to serve our neighbors.

Finally, we extend our thanks to the Reporter for helping us to publicize our programming, needs and donors. Due to the incredible response to our needs this holiday season it is impossible to include a complete list of donor names.

Please know that your generous offerings are greatly appreciated. We continue to be encouraged and inspired by your demonstrations of care and commitment to our community.

Thank you and Happy New Year to You All!

Lila Henderson, Executive Director

Staff and Board Members of Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services