Cliff Vining, 88, has been honored.

The board of directors of the Sequim Food Bank voted to name one of its buildings after him.
Vining has worked at the food bank for a few hours every day for more than 20 years.

“He’s probably handled a million cans of food since he started,” said Stephen Rosales, food bank board president.

Vining said he was raised here and came back after retiring from owning farms and a trucking business in Yakima.

“I retired too young,” he said.

“This keeps me busy.”

Board member Mary Budke said Vining is the backbone of the food bank.

He’s been busy preparing the holiday food baskets even though the weather is cold. 

“This is probably the biggest year for donations ever,” Vining said.

Rosales said he’s offered to help Vining, but he refuses.

“I have the time to do it myself,” Vining said.

“I plan to stay doing this as long as I can.”

Vining says the food bank has grown a lot since it was started.

“We don’t get federal help and that’s OK because the people here support it,” he said.

“They sure are good about it.”

In March, the board named the main food bank building after longtime volunteers and former director Nina and Bill Fatherson.