Once again, Kirkland has shown its generosity, commitment, and care for our neighbors in need. Nourishing Network held its annual holiday food box event on Dec. 16 to help families with elementary school students who don’t have enough nutritious food to eat over the two-week school break. Hundreds of you made the simple pledge, ”I’ll bring a box.” To you all, we say a well-deserved “thank you.” The impact you have with that simple act is profound to those without sufficient food to eat.

The north and south food drop locations served more than 120 families from 12 Kirkland elementary schools, referred to us by school counselors and teachers. That’s more than 8,000 pounds of food. The standard menu provides not only shelf stable food for pantries, but also lots of fresh produce to help with good nutrition. The generosity didn’t stop with just the menu provided, though. Boxes sometimes arrived with additional items tucked in. Some highly-valued extras included diapers, wipes and formula, for the elementary school student is often one of several children in the home.

We talked to a number of families struggling with a variety of challenges: loss of a job, serious illness, last minute request to host more foster kids, or newly settling from foreign countries. To them, you have made a key difference. One mom came to pick up her box and said she was so thankful for the help. She and her son loved the bag of apples (from the Thanksgiving food box) and they spent an afternoon making apple recipes together which they hadn’t done in a long time. There was also a high school boy who walked three miles to come pick up the box for his little sister and family while mom was at work.

You have made real differences in our neighbors’ lives. We are in awe of Kirkland’s generosity. Our special thanks to Kirkland Kiwanis for their donation to supplement the food boxes for each family. Also to Ford of Kirkland, Jigsaw Junction, city of Kirkland and the many businesses and groups that put together boxes for this special event. Our personal kudos go to the volunteers who gave their time to help carry and load these 40-pound boxes all day.

We look forward to another successful food box day in February for mid-winter break. We’d love to shake your hand in deep appreciation if you, too, can say, “I’ll bring a box!

Lynette Apley, Kendra Petkau, Toby Nixon and Dave Asher are all members of Kirkland Nourishing Network.