About 1,200 free Holiday Meal Bags were distributed for Thanksgiving by the Sequim Food Bank in the last week, through deliveries and the large drive-through event in Carrie Blake Community Park on Nov. 22.

Executive director Andra Smith said they’ve experienced about a 30% jump in need from last year at the facility, and are now serving about 400 families a week through its three distribution days.

The Sequim Food Bank, 144 W. Alder St., offers a drive-through from 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays. The Saturday event has increased to about 100 families visiting each week.

Planning for Thanksgiving started in August at the food bank, Smith said, with conversations starting with vendors about orders and estimating what the need will be.

“We were preparing for more (boxes) because we’re seeing such an increase here,” Smith said.

“We were planning for four months to distribute food for about four hours.”

Asked about the increase, she said it’s because of “what we’re all experiencing in our homes.”

“If someone is just barely making it, those extra expenses for the holidays would be out of their budget because things are already so tight,” Smith said.

Thanksgiving bags/boxes included a 3-pound turkey breast with gravy packet, stuffing mix, canned cranberries, canned yams, canned green beans, canned corn, canned fruit cocktail, loaf of bread, 5-pound potato bag, 1-gallon milk, 1-pound of butter, a dozen eggs, and a pumpkin pie.

Turkey was offered instead of a gift card that was provided during the Covid-19 pandemic.

To ready the bags for delivery, about 30 volunteer Sequim Seventh-day Adventist members and friends packed 1,200 boxes on Nov. 21.

A group of dedicated volunteers meets weekly on Thursdays to pack about 300 weekend meal bags and snacks for Sequim School District children.

Bill Needham, who had his son Ty and grandson Cameron helping out on Nov. 21, said volunteers are very dedicated.

“I be honest, I haven’t called anyone. They just show up,” he said.

“We’re so blessed to have so many people willing to come.”

Fellow volunteer Jadie Henton shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s so nice to be able to help the community,” she said.

Another Holiday Meal Bag distribution day for Christmas will be offered from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20.

For more information, visit sequimfoodbank.org.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Karlette Winters and Jadie Henton with Sequim Seventh-day Adventist ready one of 1,200 boxes for Sequim Food Bank’s Holiday Meal Bag program this Thanksgiving. They’ve both been helping at the food bank for many years, with Henton saying, “it’s so nice to be able to help the community.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Bill Needham and John Gatchet with Sequim Seventh-day Adventist ready boxes to stack on Nov. 21 for Sequim Food Bank’s Family Holiday Meal Bag program.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Brad Allwine opens up packaging for yams to be packed for Sequim residents on Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving through the Sequim Food Bank.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ About 30 volunteers with the Sequim Seventh-day Adventist, or friends of church members, boxed up 1,200 Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 21.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ About 30 volunteers with the Sequim Seventh-day Adventist, or friends of church members, boxed up 1,200 Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 21.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ About 30 volunteers with the Sequim Seventh-day Adventist, or friends of church members, boxed up 1,200 Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 21.