The FISH NET GRATITUDE REPORT - FISH of Vancouver
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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.
We Are So Very Grateful – Notes from Our Staff FISH OF VANCOUVER Welcome, New FISH Board Members Two Volunteers, Many Lives Changed
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James Fitzgerald, Executive Director - As
the year closes out, I am thankful for so many Katlin Smith, President
things. This has been an intense year, but I Retired Principal, UrbanWords Group
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
Retired Vice President, Development Edward (Eddie) Odoms (left) is a relationship
by to help us continue to distribute a well-balanced food box. I look
Services, Andersen Construction builder, community philanthropist, Desert Storm
forward to brighter times and some sense of normalcy, but I am
John H. Greves, MD Veteran and mentor to children in the communities
thankful I live in Clark County and that I work at such a place as Sergii Golovnova, pictured with son Richard, 3, is a
The Vancouver Clinic of Vancouver & Portland. Eddie also serves on the
FISH of Vancouver because I get to see miracles every day. true ambassador for FISH and our Russian/Ukrainian
Board of Directors of Friends of the Children. Born
Rev. John Hubbard in NE Portland to a single mother, Eddie credits the clients. “My goal is to help them be served better.
Dori Miller, Volunteer Coordinator - As the Retired Presbyterian Minister
communities of Portland and Vancouver for helping Better conversation makes service better,” she says.
holidays approach in these unprecedented
times, I find myself reflecting on how George Laing his mom raise him and his sister. FISH played a huge
Retired Human Resources Manager, role starting in 1970 by helping to feed his family. “When I say: ‘Доброе утро!’ (good morning), our
fortunate I am to be in a position to see
Clark Public Utilities clients are so happy to hear Russian, they become
firsthand, the boundless generosity of the
Susan Lanford Now his growing company Odoms Home Mold more relaxed. When a new family arrives to the US, I
human spirit. The sheer number of people
Director, Mission Services, Remediation has become the go-to mold solution for try to give them comprehensive info about local food
who have stepped up to volunteer throughout
PeaceHealth Columbia Network hundreds of Realtors in the Vancouver and Portland services,” she says. “I answer their questions, help
the pandemic has been awe-inspiring. From
area. He credits the success of his small business once them to make better decisions about food, translate
church organizations, missionaries, nursing Thomas Lingo
again to the community that has always taken care of flyers for them, spread the word about any updates
students and high school students, to Rotary Clubs and civic Retired Account Manager, Alcoa
him. Welcome to the FISH Board, Eddie! and so on. The best rewards for me are smiling faces
organizations; people from all walks of life and all over the country 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
Bennett Brandenburg (right) grew up in Ridgefield FISH team.” And we are very thankful for Sergii.
to do whatever was needed to help the struggling families in our
Betty Sue Morris and graduated from George Fox University with a
community. Our volunteer teams are what make FISH uniquely
Retired County Commissioner and degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish. After Joe Jackson has evolved
FISH and I look forward to the day when our entire team can come Community Volunteer
law school, Bennett joined his father’s law practice, into the backbone of our
together when times are more certain again.
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,
that everyone deserves to eat good, healthy food, injury. Bennett also serves as the criminal defense who came to FISH after
Larry Smith
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 Alternative (DOSA) program, which offers treatment impacting his language
George Kaufer, Emeritus skills. A year of physical
chains, rewritten our distribution model and Past President, FISH of Vancouver to criminal drug offenders over traditional
upended the volunteer schedule, FISH has incarceration. therapy helped him
Retired CPA and IRS Official
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 journey led him to FISH. Repetitive tasks helped him
Bennett married his high school sweetheart, Crystal,
But the opportunity to make life easier for our clients while also and they live in downtown Vancouver. Bennett and recover brain function. He then assisted the hauler
Anina Estrem, Operations Manager
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 opportunities. Welcome to the FISH Board, Bennett! volunteering because I can do it all,” he says. “I’m
Plus our dedicated team of volunteers getting better. Now people who meet me for the first
FISH’s client-focused commitment to ending hunger and the who donate thousands of hours each
knowledge that this pantry has the capacity and the heart to make a real time don’t know I had a stroke.” What a terrific team
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
Southwest Washington Bryant Conger Craig Ruby Joy Carlson Roxanne Sutton Beverly Olson
Christina Waterhouse Vigor Industrial LLC Mary Jo & Terrance McCann
Firstenburg Foundation W Bruce & Mary Louise Cook Danielle Toma in Honor of George Kaufer S Brainard Bob & Mary Lou Williams
Clark County Association Matthew McPherson
Steve & Jo Marie Hansen Foundation Dave & Lisa Kurtz Jubitz Corporation Sandra Mathis Bob & Mary Sisson
Hansen Family Fund of Realtors Foundation Meg McNicholas
Wayne & Linda Case Dave West Judy K Dresser Sandy Bailey Bonnia Lawrentz
Clark County Food Bank Case Family Trust Michael & Terry K Bowyer
Consolidated Electrical David & Jeanne Bennett Kahai Tran Shannon McWeeney Brian Lancaster
$10,000-$24,999 William B & Janet P Lide Network for Good
Distributors, Inc Diana Shaw Karen Reese Sheri Feinstein Bruce Mattison
Bedrossian Foundation Yung-Chi & Lih-Lih Chang Randall Grove
Dan & Christine Wamsley Don Gribling Karin Ford Sherri Bowman C. Lynn & Bruce C. Miller
Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund Robert & Beatrice Howell
Darell Coulson Donna Dunn Kathie & Ed Small Sherri Weber Cambia/Benevity Causes
Enterprise Holdings $500-$999 Robert & Deborah Adams
DJ & Corinne Schmidt Edward C & Pamela S Otton Kathryn Kysar Sheryl Danna Carol E & Kenneth E Krom
Foundation Anonymous (3) Robert & Phyllis Burger
Goodwin Family Charitable Dolores Taylor Elena Last Kim Freedman Shirley & Jim Mozena Carol Flakus
Aaron Clark Joslin Robert Jozwiak Kiwanis Club of
Fund Eric & Barbara Daniel Ellen Maculsay Shirley Barnes Carole Erkkila
Amy Scott Sarah Plett Fort Vancouver
Joyce Miller Owens Charitable Garon Roofing and Sheet
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 Vicki Ashton Garry & Pamela Stasiuk Lynette Kaufer Susanne Reed Darryl J Williams
Jeff & Michelle Webb Bob & Karen Bernhardt
The Honorable Frank L. and William & Nancy Baird Gary & Barbara Jacobson Marion Noe Tammy Hodge Dave Ricks
John & Judith Hubbard Conrad Fornia/
Arlene G. Price Foundation George & Kay Laing Mary Legry Ted & Marylou Grimsted David & Donna Benedicktus
C&J Fornia Charitable Fund
Tod & Maxine McClaskey John & Mari Greves George Skrivanek Mary Lou Potter The Abundant Life Center Davidson & Associates
D.R. & Delores E Nielson $100-$499
Karen Wilson David A. & Patricia Page Megan & Ryan Westbrook Insurance Agency, Inc.
Anonymous (24) Georgena Hanning Thomas & Arvilla Carney
$5,000-$9,999 Katlin Smith & Gary Kokstis Family Fund Melinda Kinsey Dola & C.G. Gaither
A. Michael & Gilbert & Elna Cobb Tiffany Carper
100 Men Who Care In Kruse Family Fund Donald & Barbara Roberts Kathleen A. Brown Girl Scouts of OR and SW Todd B & Julie A Holocker Doreen Chapman
Michael ONeal
Clark County Margaret Dunham Washington Inc Troop 1976 -Cox Duane Sich
Douglas & Debra Parker Aaron Brown Michelle Craig
Ann Kaufman Mark & Bryna Osborne Duane B & Sherry S Greg & Barbara Baker Tuan Giang Eileen E Marra
Al Holland MJ & JP Harris
Charis Fund Mary Little Van Gorden Greg Kaufman & Irene Finley Valerie Kelso Elizabeth Townsend
Alan & Patty Kuzma MJ Davis
Cowlitz Indian Tribe NIKE/Benevity Fund Eleanor Rose Charitable Fund in Memory of Heather Vicki & Jonathan Schwarz Elmi Mehry
Andrew & Barbara Chen
First Presbyterian Church Odoms Home Mold Erin Wright Heather Williams Nancy Bisbee Wendy Kelley Emily Roesch
Ann M & Dale Shotwell
Jeanne M & James B Ehlinger Remediation Fidelity Charitable Heidi & Dustin Nelson Nancy Tessman William Gatzke Erin Gardner
Ann McCarten-Gibbs
Mark Matthias Paddle For Life Florence Jean Webb Holly & Ken Williams Natalie Richards William Bradford Dow Jr & Fae Moeller
Ann Price
Mary Ann & James Egging Paul Chappell George and Sally Dawson Howard & Valerie Lortz Nifty and Thrifty Charity Lisa Dow Fawzia Mathir
Anne Cozens
Patrick Ginn Real Estate - Phil & Colleen Baron Jack & Donna Glode HP1 Benevity Causes Resale William Duris
Anthony Gomez Floyd & Grace Siepmann
Ginn Gives Phyllis & Lyall Crary Jean Kunkle Jacqueline Youngblood Nish/NISH Living Trust Winston R & Jan K Asai
Antonio Bilello Fred Brock
Rotary Club of Three Creeks Rachel Martorano Joseph A Carrasco James & Alberta Resleff Norm Willinger
Arlen Hinch Gail Baker
Roxane Burnett Raphael & Kristina Beresh Karen Patton James & Judith Scovil Patricia Bell $99 and under Greg & Debbie Nelson
Ben & Shannon Hoskins
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 Holly Chamberlain &
Rheinhard Bohme Bethany Lewis
$1000-$4,999 Seymour Kaufman Janice Webley PayPal Giving Fund AmazonSmile Foundation Charlie Mitchell
Key Property Services, Inc Bohemian Companies LLC
Anonymous (2) Susan Jacobs Jeri Lowry Rex & Jean Tolstrup Amelia Shelley Isabella Berlin
Larry J. Smith Carol & Charles Mackey
Alice Davies Sustainable Wealth Jessica LeBlanc Richard & Pamela Erb Ameriprise J Stewart
Lee & Connie Kearney Carol Apple
Ameriflight LLC Management Inc. Jim Mammarella Richard Cooley Amy & Mark Johnson Jane Van Dyke
Lewis Watson Carol Uhte
Amy Klennert 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
Khrisa Ann Warner Michael & Connie Stewart Sergey & Svetlana Kioroglo
This donor list reflects
Kimberly Ford Michael S & Jeanne T Farber Shara Wokal Contribute financially. Make an individual cash or stock
contributions made from
Kling/Meyer Family Fund Michel Maupoux Sharifa Alkhatib October 1, 2019 – donation, become a Sustaining Member by giving monthly or
Mike Hughes Sharon Stevens join the Business Friends of FISH (BFF) Program. Contact Join the FISH Team! Sign up to volunteer. Call
Kristina McElroy 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
Nancy Brown Sierra Wolf names and donation
Kroger Co. Foundation
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
Lillian Nordberg Pati Sluys Stephen Matchett
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!
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