GRATITUDE REPORT

The FISH NET Winter 2020-21

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 Supporters of FISH, we give thanks for YOU. Donors day. Hungry individuals without homes lined up at our of food, funds, volunteer hours, items of warmth, YOU door where they receive food, warm socks and hats, have made this possible. With your help, we are in these coats and sleeping bags as needed and available. Hard hard times for the long haul. Thank you for supporting times indeed. our work and our community members.

Feeling Gratitude in Spite of Hard Times Now a new, hopeful verse has been added to Stephen But we celebrate with gratitude the support we have Foster’s song: received from community members and businesses, foundations, churches and much more. At FISH we live While faith may be tested, our sorrows will not last and breathe extreme gratitude every day. The Covid-19 These are hard times and troubles we endure. pandemic has magnified both need AND thankfulness throughout this past, challenging year. And it’s good to be reminded That this too shall also pass We feel a world of appreciation. We have felt extreme Oh hard times come again no more gratitude from our households being served and from the Oh better times will come again once more. community for our work.

FISH OF VANCOUVER Welcome, New FISH Board Members Two Volunteers, Many Lives Changed We Are So Very Grateful – Notes from Our Staff BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Fitzgerald, Executive Director - As the year closes out, I am thankful for so many Katlin Smith, President Retired Principal, UrbanWords Group things. This has been an intense year, but I have seen our community come together to Beth Lee, MD, Secretary help those in need. We are stronger in many Retired Family Physician ways than we were. We have been able to Alice Davies, Treasurer keep up with demand because of community Retired and Community Volunteer support. Many of our regular volunteers are Bennett Brandenburg not able to come, but others from the community have stepped up Attorney at Law and are filling in gaps. Some major food drives have been canceled, but businesses are doing smaller food collections and bringing them Bob Durgan Edward (Eddie) Odoms (left) is a relationship by to help us continue to distribute a well-balanced food box. I look Retired Vice President, Development Services, Andersen Construction builder, community philanthropist, Desert Storm forward to brighter times and some sense of normalcy, but I am Veteran and mentor to children in the communities thankful I live in Clark County and that I work at such a place as John H. Greves, MD of Vancouver & Portland. Eddie also serves on the Sergii Golovnova, pictured with son Richard, 3, is a FISH of Vancouver because I get to see miracles every day. The Vancouver Clinic Board of Directors of Friends of the Children. Born true ambassador for FISH and our Russian/Ukrainian Rev. John Hubbard clients. “My goal is to help them be served better. - As the in NE Portland to a single mother, Eddie credits the Dori Miller, Volunteer Coordinator Retired Presbyterian Minister Better conversation makes service better,” she says. holidays approach in these unprecedented communities of Portland and Vancouver for helping

times, I find myself reflecting on how George Laing his mom raise him and his sister. FISH played a huge “When I say: ‘Доброе утро!’ (good morning), our fortunate I am to be in a position to see Retired Human Resources Manager, role starting in 1970 by helping to feed his family. Clark Public Utilities clients are so happy to hear Russian, they become firsthand, the boundless generosity of the more relaxed. When a new family arrives to the US, I human spirit. The sheer number of people Susan Lanford Now his growing company Odoms Home Mold try to give them comprehensive info about local food who have stepped up to volunteer throughout Director, Mission Services, Remediation has become the go-to mold solution for services,” she says. “I answer their questions, help the pandemic has been awe-inspiring. From PeaceHealth Columbia Network hundreds of Realtors in the Vancouver and Portland them to make better decisions about food, translate church organizations, missionaries, nursing area. He credits the success of his small business once Thomas Lingo flyers for them, spread the word about any updates students and high school students, to Rotary Clubs and civic Retired Account Manager, Alcoa again to the community that has always taken care of and so on. The best rewards for me are smiling faces organizations; people from all walks of life and all over the country him. Welcome to the FISH Board, Eddie! Joe Molina and happy eyes. I’m so grateful to be a part of the came together with the same philanthropic goal. People were willing Retired Fire Chief, City of Vancouver FISH team.” And we are very thankful for Sergii. to do whatever was needed to help the struggling families in our Bennett Brandenburg (right) grew up in Ridgefield community. Our volunteer teams are what make FISH uniquely Betty Sue Morris and graduated from George Fox University with a Retired County Commissioner and Joe Jackson has evolved FISH and I look forward to the day when our entire team can come degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish. After Community Volunteer into the backbone of our together when times are more certain again. law school, Bennett joined his father’s law practice, Eddie Odoms Brandenburg Law Firm in downtown Vancouver, to warehouse team. What a Anina Estrem, Operations Manager - I believe President, Odoms Home Mold Remediation emphasize criminal defense and personal transformation for Joe, who came to FISH after that everyone deserves to eat good, healthy food, Larry Smith injury. Bennett also serves as the criminal defense and over the last months I have had the privilege Community Advocate and Past Vancouver attorney for participants in Clark County Superior suffering two strokes of helping FISH fulfill that goal. Even as the Council Member Court’s Residential Drug Offender Sentencing resulting in aphasia, Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted supply impacting his language George Kaufer, Emeritus Alternative (DOSA) program, which offers treatment chains, rewritten our distribution model and to criminal drug offenders over traditional skills. A year of physical Past President, FISH of Vancouver therapy helped him upended the volunteer schedule, FISH has Retired CPA and IRS Official incarceration. continued to serve our clients the food they need. regain physical abilities I know that our efforts are a drop in the bucket; STAFF Additionally, Bennett serves on the Board for Clark and a limited amount of food pantries alleviate immediate hunger needs while only public policy County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. speech. From there his changes make lasting impacts in fighting poverty and ending hunger. James Fitzgerald, Executive Director Bennett married his high school sweetheart, Crystal, journey led him to FISH. Repetitive tasks helped him recover brain function. He then assisted the hauler But the opportunity to make life easier for our clients while also Anina Estrem, Operations Manager and they live in downtown Vancouver. Bennett and ensuring they are treated with dignity is what gives me energy for this Crystal belong to Van City Church where they pursue team and learned all the warehouse procedures for work. As we move into the dark of winter, I know that the challenges Dori Miller, Volunteer Coordinator missional outreach and community service managing incoming food hauls and donations. “I like for our clients will only increase. Despite this, I am heartened by volunteering because I can do it all,” he says. “I’m Plus our dedicated team of volunteers opportunities. Welcome to the FISH Board, Bennett! FISH’s client-focused commitment to ending hunger and the getting better. Now people who meet me for the first who donate thousands of hours each time don’t know I had a stroke.” What a terrific team knowledge that this pantry has the capacity and the heart to make a real year. impact on our community. member! Thank you, Joe!

Thank You, Donors for Making Our Community a Better Place! Carolyn & Larry Mastin Joe Chen Robert Heyman Anita Harris Carolyn Rose John Shirley Roger Gillis Ann Donnelly $25,000-$49,999 Andrew & Cheree Nygard Talents Construction, LLC Lloyd & Damiann Kegney Choose Fun Inc Jonah Zwemer Ron Matela Arlas K. & John S. Nemnich CE John Family AnswerForce Terrin & Barbara Pearson Mary & Walter Oswalt Clare Weber Joseph Chambers Ronald & Sandra Klump Ava Cozzetto Community Foundation for Brett & Patti Bryant The Vancouver Clinic Mary E Helmes Clark & Mary Siebert Joshua Gonzales Ronda Blair Beth Ford Bryant Conger Southwest Washington Vigor Industrial LLC Mary Jo & Terrance McCann Craig Ruby Joy Carlson Roxanne Sutton Beverly Olson Christina Waterhouse in Honor of George Kaufer Firstenburg Foundation W Bruce & Mary Louise Cook Matthew McPherson Danielle Toma S Brainard Bob & Mary Lou Williams Steve & Jo Marie Hansen Clark County Association Jubitz Corporation of Realtors Foundation Foundation Meg McNicholas Dave & Lisa Kurtz Sandra Mathis Bob & Mary Sisson Hansen Family Fund Wayne & Linda Case Judy K Dresser Clark County Food Bank Michael & Terry K Bowyer Dave West Sandy Bailey Bonnia Lawrentz Case Family Trust Kahai Tran Consolidated Electrical Network for Good David & Jeanne Bennett Shannon McWeeney Brian Lancaster $10,000-$24,999 William B & Janet P Lide Karen Reese Distributors, Inc Randall Grove Diana Shaw Sheri Feinstein Bruce Mattison Bedrossian Foundation Yung-Chi & Lih-Lih Chang Karin Ford Dan & Christine Wamsley Robert & Beatrice Howell Don Gribling Sherri Bowman C. Lynn & Bruce C. Miller Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund Kathie & Ed Small Darell Coulson Robert & Deborah Adams Donna Dunn Sherri Weber Cambia/Benevity Causes Enterprise Holdings $500-$999 Kathryn Kysar Foundation DJ & Corinne Schmidt Robert & Phyllis Burger Edward C & Pamela S Otton Sheryl Danna Carol E & Kenneth E Krom Dolores Taylor Anonymous (3) Kim Freedman Goodwin Family Charitable Robert Jozwiak Elena Last Shirley & Jim Mozena Carol Flakus Fund Eric & Barbara Daniel Aaron Clark Joslin Kiwanis Club of Sarah Plett Ellen Maculsay Fort Vancouver Shirley Barnes Carole Erkkila Joyce Miller Owens Charitable Garon Roofing and Sheet Amy Scott Scott & Teresa Munn Elma Hord Kris & Jim Potter Sholeh Bagheri Carole Reule Foundation Metal Armsted Industries Sean Gregory Ember Kegney Lance & Becca Cady Steve Valenta Casey Liles Leslie Durst George & Joe Ann Kaufer Ben and Kyra John St Andrew Lutheran Church Erica Collins Lewis & Carol Record Steven Reames Casey Wyckoff Richard & Darlyne Anderson Gerry & Marilyn Cameron Benjamin & Patricia Roussel Stephen & Diane Orr Esther Liu Lloyd & Mary North Susan Buchanan Christie Mistrot Rick Takach, Vesta Hospitality Hi-School Pharmacy, Inc Benjamin Samuelson Susan Brown Frances Hinton in Memory of Heather North Susan Henry Cindy Fitzgerald Swigert Foundation Hurley Development LLC Beth Lee & Art Simons The Albertsons Companies Thomas & Gayla Lingo Garland & Bonnie Long Lynda Jacobs Susan Schmidt Clarencia Gaines Janet Bowman Betty Sue Morris Foundation Garry & Pamela Stasiuk Lynette Kaufer Susanne Reed Darryl J Williams Bob & Karen Bernhardt Vicki Ashton The Honorable Frank L. and Jeff & Michelle Webb Conrad Fornia/ William & Nancy Baird Gary & Barbara Jacobson Marion Noe Tammy Hodge Dave Ricks Arlene G. Price Foundation John & Judith Hubbard C&J Fornia Charitable Fund George & Kay Laing Mary Legry Ted & Marylou Grimsted David & Donna Benedicktus Tod & Maxine McClaskey John & Mari Greves D.R. & Delores E Nielson $100-$499 George Skrivanek Mary Lou Potter The Abundant Life Center Davidson & Associates Karen Wilson Insurance Agency, Inc. David A. & Patricia Page Anonymous (24) Georgena Hanning Megan & Ryan Westbrook Thomas & Arvilla Carney Katlin Smith & Gary Kokstis $5,000-$9,999 Family Fund A. Michael & Gilbert & Elna Cobb Melinda Kinsey Tiffany Carper Dola & C.G. Gaither 100 Men Who Care In Kruse Family Fund Donald & Barbara Roberts Kathleen A. Brown Girl Scouts of OR and SW Michael ONeal Todd B & Julie A Holocker Doreen Chapman Clark County Margaret Dunham Douglas & Debra Parker Aaron Brown Washington Inc Troop 1976 Michelle Craig -Cox Duane Sich Ann Kaufman Mark & Bryna Osborne Duane B & Sherry S Al Holland Greg & Barbara Baker MJ & JP Harris Tuan Giang Eileen E Marra Charis Fund Van Gorden Mary Little Alan & Patty Kuzma Greg Kaufman & Irene Finley MJ Davis Valerie Kelso Elizabeth Townsend Cowlitz Indian Tribe Eleanor Rose Charitable Fund NIKE/Benevity Fund Andrew & Barbara Chen in Memory of Heather Vicki & Jonathan Schwarz Elmi Mehry First Presbyterian Church Erin Wright Heather Williams Odoms Home Mold Ann M & Dale Shotwell Nancy Bisbee Wendy Kelley Emily Roesch Jeanne M & James B Ehlinger Fidelity Charitable Heidi & Dustin Nelson Remediation Ann McCarten-Gibbs Nancy Tessman William Gatzke Erin Gardner Mark Matthias Florence Jean Webb Holly & Ken Williams Paddle For Life Ann Price Natalie Richards William Bradford Dow Jr & Fae Moeller Mary Ann & James Egging George and Sally Dawson Howard & Valerie Lortz Nifty and Thrifty Charity Lisa Dow Paul Chappell Anne Cozens Fawzia Mathir Jack & Donna Glode HP1 Benevity Causes Resale William Duris Patrick Ginn Real Estate - Phil & Colleen Baron Anthony Gomez Floyd & Grace Siepmann Ginn Gives Jean Kunkle Jacqueline Youngblood Nish/NISH Living Trust Winston R & Jan K Asai Phyllis & Lyall Crary Antonio Bilello Fred Brock Rotary Club of Three Creeks Joseph A Carrasco James & Alberta Resleff Norm Willinger Rachel Martorano Arlen Hinch Gail Baker Roxane Burnett Raphael & Kristina Beresh Karen Patton James & Judith Scovil Patricia Bell $99 and under Ben & Shannon Hoskins Greg & Debbie Nelson Steve & Jan Oliva Robert & Debra Durgan Karey Schoenfeld James Fitzgerald Patricia Floyd Anonymous (16) Ben Cripps Heidi Steigmann Roy Johnson Kathryn R Hobbie & Janet Bloom Paula Nobori Amanda Bray Bethany Lewis Holly Chamberlain & $1000-$4,999 Seymour Kaufman Rheinhard Bohme Janice Webley PayPal Giving Fund AmazonSmile Foundation Charlie Mitchell Bohemian Companies LLC Anonymous (2) Susan Jacobs Key Property Services, Inc Jeri Lowry Rex & Jean Tolstrup Amelia Shelley Isabella Berlin Carol & Charles Mackey Alice Davies Sustainable Wealth Larry J. Smith Jessica LeBlanc Richard & Pamela Erb Ameriprise J Stewart Carol Apple Ameriflight LLC Management Inc. Lee & Connie Kearney Jim Mammarella Richard Cooley Amy & Mark Johnson Jane Van Dyke Carol Uhte Amy Klennert Lewis Watson Joan Turley Robert Hall Andrew & Eileen Baardson Janice Maaske Carolyn & Jack Nettleingham Jennifer Barnes Lisa Spiegel Paul Baker Thomas Racioppo How You Can Help … So Many Ways to Give Jennifer Valleck Liz Robertson Prince of Peace Lutheran Thomas Ross & Jesse & Taisha Trigg Lora King Church Carolyn Nichols John & Gina Marquardt Lorraine Bell R J Shannon Tom & Nancy Martin John & Linda Troth Louis Berchier Randy Bauder Tom Iberle John Belanger Marcia McAllister Rebecca Peerenboom Traci Doyle John Liles Marilyn Aldrich Rise & James D. Cleland Tracy De Koeyer John Young Marissa Bartolucci Robert & Katherine Beardsley Vernon & Koni Jo Jeremica Johnny Shults Mark & Gail Kappler Robert Millick Wendy & Jay Lepisto Julianna Marler Mark S & Adriana B Almquist Ron Collins William & Lavonne Maltby Karen Kusmirek Mark W & Susan K Desomer Ron Wagner William & Sarah Smith Kathleen Griffith Marlowe Conde Sandra Baker Kathy Hampton Melissa J & David Sandra Hayslip Kay Deroos Kraemer-Leonhardt Sasha Hawthorn Michael & Connie Stewart Sergey & Svetlana Kioroglo Khrisa Ann Warner This donor list reflects Michael S & Jeanne T Farber Shara Wokal Kimberly Ford contributions made from Contribute financially. Make an individual cash or stock Kling/Meyer Family Fund Michel Maupoux Sharifa Alkhatib October 1, 2019 – donation, become a Sustaining Member by giving monthly or join the Business Friends of FISH (BFF) Program. Contact Join the FISH Team! Sign up to volunteer. Call Kristina McElroy Mike Hughes Sharon Stevens September 30, 2020. We James Fitzgerald at 360-433-2244 for details. Dori Miller at the Volunteer Hotline at 360-566-3243. Kristy & Kevin Weaver Nanci Stenshoel Shirley Reynolds strive to accurately list all names and donation Kroger Co. Foundation Nancy Brown Sierra Wolf Pamela Blaufus Stephanie Ashmore levels and apologize for Lewis & Margaret Marler Pamela Lund Stephanie Sarver any discrepancies or Lewis J & Mary A Riker omissions. Please Pati Sluys Stephen Matchett Lillian Nordberg contact us at 360-433- Linda Landi Patricia Oshie Tam Pham 2244 to report any Linda Wallers Patricia Raedy Teresa Tweed changes. Thank you!

Thank You to Major Food Donors 7-Eleven Clark County Food Bank Panera Bread Walk & Knock Local Food

Big Town Hero Clark Neighbors Food Safeway Drive Chuck’s Produce Project Seize the Bagel Whole Foods The Church of Jesus Christ Dave’s Killer Bread Starbucks of Latter-day Saints New Seasons Market Plus food and items of warmth drives by dozens of local organizations, churches, businesses and individuals. All Hold a food drive. Donate items of warmth for people without homes. The Church of Latter-day Saints did both. financial contributions, food donations and volunteer time made our work possible. 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% Hold a fundraiser for FISH. Paddle Elderly Served 25% for Life raised funds for FISH in 2020. *Includes duplicated households and individuals 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!