Offering Hope and Gratitude in the Hard Times of a Pandemic Hard times. The year was 1854 when Stephen Foster wrote the haunting parlor song “Oh Hard Times, Come Again No More.” His hometown of Pittsburgh was overtaken by an epidemic and deaths, hunger and high unemployment. His simple tune and lyrics expressed the hardships of the day, then and now: “Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears While we all sup sorrow with the poor There's a song that will linger forever in our ears Oh, hard times, come again no more 'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary Hard times, hard times, come again no more Many a day you have lingered around my cabin door Oh, hard times, come again no more.” We all know that hard times are here. We witness them at FISH every day. The lines continue of families in need of food. Cars at Saturday food distributions. Household members of all ages walking up during the day. Hungry individuals without homes lined up at our door where they receive food, warm socks and hats, coats and sleeping bags as needed and available. Hard times indeed. Feeling Gratitude in Spite of Hard Times But we celebrate with gratitude the support we have received from community members and businesses, foundations, churches and much more. At FISH we live and breathe extreme gratitude every day. The Covid-19 pandemic has magnified both need AND thankfulness throughout this past, challenging year. We feel a world of appreciation. We have felt extreme gratitude from our households being served and from the community for our work.

Supporters of FISH, we give thanks for YOU. Donors of food, funds, volunteer hours, items of warmth, YOU have made this possible. With your help, we are in these hard times for the long haul. Thank you for supporting our work and our community members. Now a new, hopeful verse has been added to Stephen Foster’s song: While faith may be tested, our sorrows will not last These are hard times and troubles we endure. And it’s good to be reminded That this too shall also pass Oh hard times come again no more Oh better times will come again once more.

The FISH NET

Winter 2020-21

GRATITUDE REPORT

We Are So Very Grateful – Notes from Our Staff James Fitzgerald, Executive Director - As the year closes out, I am thankful for so many things. This has been an intense year, but I have seen our community come together to help those in need. We are stronger in many ways than we were. We have been able to keep up with demand because of community support. Many of our regular volunteers are not able to come, but others from the community have stepped up and are filling in gaps. Some major food drives have been canceled, but businesses are doing smaller food collections and bringing them by to help us continue to distribute a well-balanced food box. I look forward to brighter times and some sense of normalcy, but I am thankful I live in Clark County and that I work at such a place as FISH of Vancouver because I get to see miracles every day.

Dori Miller, Volunteer Coordinator - As the holidays approach in these unprecedented times, I find myself reflecting on how fortunate I am to be in a position to see firsthand, the boundless generosity of the human spirit. The sheer number of people who have stepped up to volunteer throughout the pandemic has been awe-inspiring. From church organizations, missionaries, nursing

students and high school students, to Rotary Clubs and civic organizations; people from all walks of life and all over the country came together with the same philanthropic goal. People were willing to do whatever was needed to help the struggling families in our community. Our volunteer teams are what make FISH uniquely FISH and I look forward to the day when our entire team can come together when times are more certain again.

Anina Estrem, Operations Manager - I believe that everyone deserves to eat good, healthy food, and over the last months I have had the privilege of helping FISH fulfill that goal. Even as the Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted supply chains, rewritten our distribution model and upended the volunteer schedule, FISH has continued to serve our clients the food they need. I know that our efforts are a drop in the bucket; food pantries alleviate immediate hunger needs while only public policy changes make lasting impacts in fighting poverty and ending hunger. But the opportunity to make life easier for our clients while also ensuring they are treated with dignity is what gives me energy for this work. As we move into the dark of winter, I know that the challenges for our clients will only increase. Despite this, I am heartened by FISH’s client-focused commitment to ending hunger and the knowledge that this pantry has the capacity and the heart to make a real impact on our community.

FISH OF VANCOUVER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Katlin Smith, President Retired Principal, UrbanWords Group

Beth Lee, MD, Secretary Retired Family Physician

Alice Davies, Treasurer Retired and Community Volunteer

Bennett Brandenburg Attorney at Law

Bob Durgan Retired Vice President, Development Services, Andersen Construction

John H. Greves, MD The Vancouver Clinic

Rev. John Hubbard Retired Presbyterian Minister

George Laing Retired Human Resources Manager, Clark Public Utilities

Susan Lanford Director, Mission Services, PeaceHealth Columbia Network

Thomas Lingo Retired Account Manager, Alcoa

Joe Molina Retired Fire Chief, City of Vancouver

Betty Sue Morris Retired County Commissioner and Community Volunteer

Eddie Odoms President, Odoms Home Mold Remediation

Larry Smith Community Advocate and Past Vancouver Council Member

George Kaufer, Emeritus Past President, FISH of Vancouver Retired CPA and IRS Official STAFF James Fitzgerald, Executive Director Anina Estrem, Operations Manager Dori Miller, Volunteer Coordinator Plus our dedicated team of volunteers who donate thousands of hours each year.

Welcome, New FISH Board Members

Edward (Eddie) Odoms (left) is a relationship builder, community philanthropist, Desert Storm Veteran and mentor to children in the communities of Vancouver & Portland. Eddie also serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of the Children. Born in NE Portland to a single mother, Eddie credits the communities of Portland and Vancouver for helping his mom raise him and his sister. FISH played a huge role starting in 1970 by helping to feed his family. Now his growing company Odoms Home Mold Remediation has become the go-to mold solution for hundreds of Realtors in the Vancouver and Portland area. He credits the success of his small business once again to the community that has always taken care of him. Welcome to the FISH Board, Eddie! Bennett Brandenburg (right) grew up in Ridgefield and graduated from George Fox University with a degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish. After law school, Bennett joined his father’s law practice, Brandenburg Law Firm in downtown Vancouver, to emphasize criminal defense and personal injury. Bennett also serves as the criminal defense attorney for participants in Clark County Superior Court’s Residential Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) program, which offers treatment to criminal drug offenders over traditional incarceration. Additionally, Bennett serves on the Board for Clark County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. Bennett married his high school sweetheart, Crystal, and they live in downtown Vancouver. Bennett and Crystal belong to Van City Church where they pursue missional outreach and community service opportunities. Welcome to the FISH Board, Bennett!

Two Volunteers, Many Lives Changed

Sergii Golovnova, pictured with son Richard, 3, is a true ambassador for FISH and our Russian/Ukrainian clients. “My goal is to help them be served better. Better conversation makes service better,” she says. “When I say: ‘Доброе утро!’ (good morning), our clients are so happy to hear Russian, they become more relaxed. When a new family arrives to the US, I try to give them comprehensive info about local food services,” she says. “I answer their questions, help them to make better decisions about food, translate flyers for them, spread the word about any updates and so on. The best rewards for me are smiling faces and happy eyes. I’m so grateful to be a part of the FISH team.” And we are very thankful for Sergii. Joe Jackson has evolved into the backbone of our warehouse team. What a transformation for Joe, who came to FISH after suffering two strokes resulting in aphasia, impacting his language skills. A year of physical therapy helped him regain physical abilities and a limited amount of speech. From there his journey led him to FISH. Repetitive tasks helped him recover brain function. He then assisted the hauler team and learned all the warehouse procedures for managing incoming food hauls and donations. “I like volunteering because I can do it all,” he says. “I’m getting better. Now people who meet me for the first time don’t know I had a stroke.” What a terrific team member! Thank you, Joe!

Thank You, Donors for Making Our Community a Better Place!

$25,000-$49,999 CE John Family Community Foundation for Southwest Washington

Firstenburg Foundation Steve & Jo Marie Hansen Hansen Family Fund

$10,000-$24,999 Bedrossian Foundation Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund Enterprise Holdings Foundation Goodwin Family Charitable Fund Joyce Miller Owens Charitable Foundation Leslie Durst Richard & Darlyne Anderson Rick Takach, Vesta Hospitality Swigert Foundation The Albertsons Companies Foundation The Honorable Frank L. and Arlene G. Price Foundation

Tod & Maxine McClaskey

$5,000-$9,999 100 Men Who Care In Clark County Ann Kaufman Charis Fund Cowlitz Indian Tribe First Presbyterian Church Jeanne M & James B Ehlinger Mark Matthias Mary Ann & James Egging Patrick Ginn Real Estate - Ginn Gives

Rotary Club of Three Creeks Roxane Burnett Steve & Jan Oliva

$1000-$4,999 Anonymous (2) Alice Davies Ameriflight LLC Amy Klennert

Andrew & Cheree Nygard AnswerForceBrett & Patti Bryant Bryant Conger Christina Waterhouse Clark County Association

of Realtors Foundation Clark County Food Bank Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc Dan & Christine Wamsley Darell Coulson DJ & Corinne Schmidt Dolores Taylor Eric & Barbara Daniel Garon Roofing and Sheet Metal

George & Joe Ann Kaufer Gerry & Marilyn Cameron Hi-School Pharmacy, Inc Hurley Development LLC Janet Bowman Jeff & Michelle Webb John & Judith Hubbard John & Mari Greves Karen Wilson Katlin Smith & Gary Kokstis Kruse Family Fund Margaret Dunham Mark & Bryna Osborne Mary Little NIKE/Benevity Fund Odoms Home Mold Remediation

Paddle For Life Paul Chappell Phil & Colleen Baron Phyllis & Lyall Crary Rachel Martorano Raphael & Kristina Beresh Robert & Debra Durgan Roy Johnson Seymour Kaufman Susan Jacobs Sustainable Wealth Management Inc.

Talents Construction, LLC Terrin & Barbara Pearson The Vancouver Clinic Vigor Industrial LLC W Bruce & Mary Louise Cook Foundation Wayne & Linda Case Case Family Trust

William B & Janet P Lide Yung-Chi & Lih-Lih Chang

$500-$999 Anonymous (3) Aaron Clark Joslin Amy Scott Armsted Industries Ben and Kyra John Benjamin & Patricia Roussel Benjamin Samuelson Beth Lee & Art Simons Betty Sue Morris Bob & Karen Bernhardt Conrad Fornia/ C&J Fornia Charitable Fund

D.R. & Delores E NielsonDavid A. & Patricia Page Family Fund Donald & Barbara Roberts Douglas & Debra Parker Duane B & Sherry S Van Gorden Eleanor Rose Erin Wright Fidelity Charitable Florence Jean Webb George and Sally Dawson Jack & Donna Glode Jean Kunkle Joseph A Carrasco Karen Patton Karey Schoenfeld Kathryn R Hobbie & Rheinhard Bohme

Key Property Services, Inc Larry J. Smith Lee & Connie Kearney Lewis Watson

Lloyd & Damiann Kegney Mary & Walter Oswalt Mary E Helmes Mary Jo & Terrance McCann Matthew McPherson Meg McNicholas Michael & Terry K Bowyer Network for Good Randall Grove Robert & Beatrice Howell Robert & Deborah Adams Robert & Phyllis Burger Robert Jozwiak Sarah Plett Scott & Teresa Munn Sean Gregory St Andrew Lutheran Church Stephen & Diane Orr Susan Brown Thomas & Gayla Lingo Vicki Ashton William & Nancy Baird

$100-$499 Anonymous (24) A. Michael &

Kathleen A. BrownAaron Brown Al Holland Alan & Patty Kuzma Andrew & Barbara Chen Ann M & Dale Shotwell Ann McCarten-Gibbs Ann Price Anne Cozens Anthony Gomez Antonio Bilello Arlen Hinch Ben & Shannon Hoskins Ben Cripps Bethany Lewis Bohemian Companies LLC Carol & Charles Mackey Carol Apple Carol Uhte Carolyn & Jack Nettleingham

Carolyn & Larry Mastin Carolyn Rose Choose Fun Inc Clare Weber Clark & Mary Siebert Craig Ruby Danielle Toma Dave & Lisa Kurtz Dave West David & Jeanne Bennett Diana Shaw Don Gribling Donna Dunn Edward C & Pamela S Otton Elena Last Ellen Maculsay Elma Hord Ember Kegney Erica Collins Esther Liu Frances Hinton Garland & Bonnie Long Garry & Pamela Stasiuk Gary & Barbara Jacobson George & Kay Laing George Skrivanek Georgena Hanning Gilbert & Elna Cobb Girl Scouts of OR and SW Washington Inc Troop 1976

Greg & Barbara Baker Greg Kaufman & Irene Finley Charitable Fund Heather Williams Heidi & Dustin Nelson Holly & Ken Williams Howard & Valerie Lortz HP1 Benevity Causes Jacqueline Youngblood James & Alberta Resleff James & Judith Scovil James Fitzgerald Janet Bloom Janice Webley Jeri Lowry Jessica LeBlanc Jim Mammarella Joan Turley

Joe Chen John Shirley Jonah Zwemer Joseph Chambers Joshua Gonzales Joy Carlson in Honor of George Kaufer Jubitz Corporation Judy K Dresser Kahai Tran Karen Reese Karin Ford Kathie & Ed Small Kathryn Kysar Kim Freedman Kiwanis Club of Fort Vancouver Kris & Jim Potter Lance & Becca Cady Lewis & Carol Record Lloyd & Mary North in Memory of Heather North Lynda Jacobs Lynette Kaufer Marion Noe Mary Legry Mary Lou Potter Megan & Ryan Westbrook Melinda Kinsey Michael ONeal Michelle Craig MJ & JP Harris MJ Davis in Memory of Heather Nancy Bisbee Nancy Tessman Natalie Richards Nifty and Thrifty Charity Resale

Nish/NISH Living Trust Norm Willinger Patricia Bell Patricia Floyd Paula Nobori PayPal Giving Fund Rex & Jean Tolstrup Richard & Pamela Erb Richard Cooley Robert Hall

Robert Heyman Roger Gillis Ron Matela Ronald & Sandra Klump Ronda Blair Roxanne Sutton S Brainard Sandra Mathis Sandy Bailey Shannon McWeeney Sheri Feinstein Sherri Bowman Sherri Weber Sheryl Danna Shirley & Jim Mozena Shirley Barnes Sholeh Bagheri Steve Valenta Steven Reames Susan Buchanan Susan Henry Susan Schmidt Susanne Reed Tammy Hodge Ted & Marylou Grimsted The Abundant Life Center Thomas & Arvilla Carney Tiffany Carper Todd B & Julie A Holocker

-CoxTuan Giang Valerie Kelso Vicki & Jonathan Schwarz Wendy Kelley William Gatzke William Bradford Dow Jr & Lisa Dow William Duris Winston R & Jan K Asai

$99 and under Anonymous (16) Amanda Bray AmazonSmile Foundation Amelia Shelley Ameriprise Amy & Mark Johnson Andrew & Eileen Baardson

Anita Harris Ann Donnelly Arlas K. & John S. Nemnich Ava Cozzetto Beth Ford Beverly Olson Bob & Mary Lou Williams Bob & Mary Sisson Bonnia Lawrentz Brian Lancaster Bruce Mattison C. Lynn & Bruce C. MillerCambia/Benevity CausesCarol E & Kenneth E KromCarol FlakusCarole ErkkilaCarole ReuleCasey LilesCasey WyckoffChristie MistrotCindy FitzgeraldClarencia GainesDarryl J WilliamsDave RicksDavid & Donna Benedicktus Davidson & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. Dola & C.G. Gaither Doreen Chapman Duane Sich Eileen E Marra Elizabeth Townsend Elmi Mehry Emily Roesch Erin Gardner Fae Moeller Fawzia Mathir Floyd & Grace Siepmann Fred Brock Gail Baker Greg & Debbie Nelson Heidi Steigmann Holly Chamberlain & Charlie Mitchell

Isabella Berlin J Stewart Jane Van Dyke Janice Maaske

Jennifer Barnes Jennifer Valleck Jesse & Taisha Trigg John & Gina Marquardt John & Linda Troth John Belanger John Liles John Young Johnny Shults Julianna Marler Karen Kusmirek Kathleen Griffith Kathy Hampton Kay Deroos Khrisa Ann Warner Kimberly Ford Kling/Meyer Family Fund Kristina McElroy Kristy & Kevin Weaver Kroger Co. Foundation Lewis & Margaret Marler Lewis J & Mary A Riker Lillian Nordberg Linda Landi Linda Wallers

Lisa Spiegel Liz Robertson Lora King Lorraine Bell Louis Berchier Marcia McAllister Marilyn Aldrich Marissa Bartolucci Mark & Gail Kappler Mark S & Adriana B Almquist Mark W & Susan K Desomer Marlowe Conde Melissa J & David Kraemer-Leonhardt Michael & Connie Stewart Michael S & Jeanne T Farber Michel Maupoux Mike Hughes Nanci Stenshoel Nancy Brown Pamela Blaufus Pamela Lund Pati Sluys Patricia Oshie Patricia Raedy

Paul Baker Prince of Peace Lutheran Church R J Shannon Randy Bauder Rebecca Peerenboom Rise & James D. Cleland Robert & Katherine Beardsley Robert Millick Ron Collins Ron Wagner Sandra Baker Sandra Hayslip Sasha Hawthorn Sergey & Svetlana Kioroglo Shara Wokal Sharifa Alkhatib Sharon Stevens Shirley Reynolds Sierra Wolf Stephanie Ashmore Stephanie Sarver Stephen Matchett Tam Pham Teresa Tweed

Thomas Racioppo Thomas Ross & Carolyn Nichols Tom & Nancy Martin Tom Iberle Traci Doyle Tracy De Koeyer Vernon & Koni Jo Jeremica Wendy & Jay Lepisto William & Lavonne Maltby William & Sarah Smith

Thank You to Major Food Donors

7-Eleven Big Town Hero

Chuck’s Produce

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Clark County Food Bank

Clark Neighbors Food Project Dave’s Killer Bread

New Seasons Market

Panera Bread Safeway

Seize the Bagel Starbucks

Walk & Knock Local Food Drive Whole Foods

Plus food and items of warmth drives by dozens of local organizations, churches, businesses and individuals. All financial contributions, food donations and volunteer time made our work possible. Thank you!

This donor list reflects contributions made from October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020. We strive to accurately list all names and donation levels and apologize for any discrepancies or omissions. Please contact us at 360-433-2244 to report any changes. Thank you!

The FISH COUNT – July 2019-June 2020

Total Pounds of Food Distributed 941,000+ lbs. Total Households Served 15,744*

Total Persons Served 43,938* Volunteer Hours 27,000+ (13 FTEs)

Children Served 28% Elderly Served 25%

*Includes duplicated households and individuals

How You Can Help … So Many Ways to Give

Contribute financially. Make an individual cash or stock donation, become a Sustaining Member by giving monthly or join the Business Friends of FISH (BFF) Program. Contact James Fitzgerald at 360-433-2244 for details.

Join the FISH Team! Sign up to volunteer. Call Dori Miller at the Volunteer Hotline at 360-566-3243.

Hold a food drive. Donate items of warmth for people without homes. The Church of Latter-day Saints did both.

Hold a fundraiser for FISH. Paddle for Life raised funds for FISH in 2020. Various businesses held in-house fundraisers. Consider the possibilities!

Our Volunteers are Heroes and We Are So Grateful for Them!

On a Friday in mid-March 2020, our volunteers valiantly jumped into action to transform the layout of the pantry into a safer place for all (left). Food distribution procedures were adapted to limit contact and the spread of Covid-19. Social distancing and masks were then added. Our volunteers continue to work in a safe manner to keep all healthy as possible during challenging times.

Many organizations volunteered as groups to ensure that our households were fed including the Rotary Club of Vancouver, Rotary Club of Three Creeks, Church of Latter-day Saints, nursing students from University of Portland and Clark College, veterans from Clark College, National Honor Society students and more. Others volunteered time and food donations to benefit FISH like the Clark Neighbors Food Project. Thank you, ALL!