Area folks put the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving

A year after COVID-19 restrictions limited large holiday meals and family gatherings, La Conner area residents last week were in the mood for Thanksgiving.

More specifically, they were in the mood for giving.

That was much in evidence across town, from La Conner schools to residential neighborhoods to First Street.

On campus, school officials at the district’s Thanksgiving Week public board of directors meeting were presented a $3,000 donation from the La Conner Rotary Club.

“I thought that was great,” board member Amanda Bourgeois told the Weekly News afterward. “It was a wonderful donation.”

Meanwhile, up the hill at La Conner Sunrise Food Bank, residents from Shelter Bay arrived in time for that Monday afternoon’s regular distribution with significant food and cash donations, said food bank director Nicole Barclay-Mosaner. She gave a public shout-out on social media in praise of Shelter Bay: “This amazing community put together a last-minute food drive and delivered a trunk full of food – and a generous check – to the food bank today,” she said. “We are so grateful.”

Food bank board chair Bob Powell and volunteer Jeni Platte accepted the delivery from Mo Olason.

The Shelter Bay donation couldn’t have been better timed, said Barclay-Mosaner.

“We had the highest numbers of clients today that we have seen in a while,” she noted.

Thanksgiving Day itself saw more examples of local generosity.

Staff and volunteers at the Waterfront Café continued their tradition of serving a free community Thanksgiving Dinner. Those who either dined at the downtown restaurant, enjoying the holiday fellowship and a turkey meal with all the fixings, or picked up take-out dinners, collectively donated over $1,800 to worthy causes.

“It went great,” said Waterfront Café co-owner Marla Vallee. “We fed about 140 people and donations totaled $1,858. The fund will be shared with NOAH (Northwest Organization for Animal Help) and the (La Conner Sunrise) food bank.”

The café’s Thanksgiving menu, as has been the case since 2009, was enhanced with pies baked and provided by Town Councilmember Bill Stokes, fondly dubbed the “pie saint.”

Its festive atmosphere fostered a three-hour Pied Piper effect at the Waterfront Café.

“They were very busy,” said Mayor Ramon Hayes, among the many who dropped by.

When he learned how much money was raised, Hayes was further impressed.

“Wow!” he said. “That’s awesome.”

“It was a huge success,” agreed La Conner resident and Town Councilmember-elect Rick Dole. “I don’t know how many customers they had but they raised over $1,800 for the food bank and NOAH.”

The hope is that goodwill can spill over across the next month or so, with Thanksgiving having kicked off the local holiday season through New Year’s Day..

To that end, the Town’s Public Works Department has picked up the 16-foot community Christmas tree that will be displayed at Gilkey Square. Decorating is set for Wednesday, Dec. 1 at noon.