Lake Report (Aug 24, 2021)

Posted by James Monroe on Sep 06, 2021

My apologies at not getting the Lake Report out last week. I have been extremely busy at work. The recap of the last two meetings is included in this issue. As always, you can view the meetings at our YouTube channel.

This week's meeting includes an update on the Washington State Department of Transportation's project to revamp the interchange of State Highway 9 and State Highway 204. This project includes the ancillary roads of Vernon and North Davies as well as the egress to and from Frontier Village.

Keep selling the raffle tickets for our Corks, Kegs and Vikings fundraiser. Get more tickets from Angie Hein at meetings or contact her to make other arrangements.

We have been requested to wear masks if you are attending the meetings at the school district's Community Room. You can still attend by joining the meetings via Zoom.

The link to our YouTube Channel is now available on our website and our weekly bulletins. You can view recent online meetings. If you watch any of them, you can count it as a makeup. Just let our Secretary, Gary O'Rielly know.

PHOTO CONTEST: You are encouraged to participate in this. Be the first person to correctly identify from where the photo at the top of this bulletin and at the top of our website was taken from by 7:30 am Friday, September 10th. Send your guess to the Editor.

Lake Stevens Food Bank Building Campaign

Posted by Gary O'Rielly on Aug 31, 2021

Our Guest speaker on Friday, August 27th, was Doug Warren, President of the Lake Stevens Food Bank talking about the organization's Building Campaign. Many of us in the audience have been involved in the Building Committee and the Food Bank. Doug got involved in the Building Committee around 12-15 years ago. At the time, the Food Bank had just acquired property on the south side of the parking lot at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. A couple of issues surfaced including the lack of parking space and the cost to build on that site. The Food Bank could only serve once a week. After a long time, Doug set down with Mayor John Spencer and Patrick McCourt about four years ago. A theme was developed around collaboration with the community. Family Services had just pulled out of Lake Stevens. The Lake Stevens Food Bank serves the same community. What if we could build a building that would be in collaboration with organizations providing similar services to the Family Services Center? They started looking at parcels of land in Lake Stevens three to four years ago. The land that they looked at was overvalued. Some of those properties are still available for sale. The Food Bank eventually acquired land through generous land donation east of Trestle Station on 20th Street SE.

Around three years ago the Food Bank started getting bids for the project. Cost of building grew and grew. They were ready to move on the project. Groundbreaking ceremony was two years ago. The City decided to hold up the project. The City wanted improvements done on 20th Street. Otherwise the Food Bank would have to endure the cost of the work which amounted to around $300,000. Patrick McCourt talked to the city about running the water line before the city began their work. Now, we have a paved lot that cost around $1 million dollars and a retention pond. State helped to the tune of $500,000. To go vertical is over $2 million. The building would include the food storage and so much more.

The Lake Stevens Food Bank is currently serving out of four locations. Doug has served as President for over five years. Executive Order allowing the Board members to serve in their current capacity for another a year. When Doug started his involvement with the Food Bank, they were serving over 1,000. A couple of years ago that changed and increased to 1,200. It has grown over time. Originally, policy only allowed to serve nine meals per family. That didn't feel right Doug commented. Typical client last for about three months. Even with that by January 2020 grew to 1,500 and now serving upwards of 3,700 people. Opened the number of locations to serve food. Currently serve on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Goal of the Building Committee is to raise $2.2 million dollars through the State, County and private donations. The Vision is to not only provide food security to the Lake Stevens Community but will with planning from our community is to enable the Food Bank to collaborate with other entities that will enable them to provide the Community, including our veterans, and desperately needed social services. This building is not just about food it is about providing stability and an area for the community to sustain any event that hits Snohomish County. A commercial kitchen will be in the new building allowing them to instruct people about the art of cooking etc.

Another great program for our members.

Rotarians In Action -

We are starting a Lake Stevens Rotary group focused on service and making Lake Stevens a better place to be. If you have great service project ideas or just want to make a difference by getting involved, this group is for you!

Our first meeting:

TACO TUESDAY

September 7th
5:30-6:30
Brian Rewis’ Farmer's Insurance Office
2012 Grade Road, Suite 203

RSVP is helpful so we have enough tacos

but not required
Text

425.308.7297

All are welcome • Serve alongside your kids during service projects • Meet your neighbors • Make new friends!

Corks, Kegs & Coins Fundraiser

Tickets are now available from any Rotary Club of Lake Stevens member. This is our largest fundraiser of the year with funds going to local high school senior scholarships, local parks, street and road clean up and so much more. Join us and buy a ticket now.

Quote of the Week - Who Said It?

“Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.”