Brokers from Windemere Real Estate joined Saint John Vianney parish members and donated over 500 pounds of food to the Vashon Food Bank after a successful collection drive last month to help families in need.

For many years, the Windermere Basket Brigade has organized during the holidays to alleviate the stress many face putting food on the table by providing all the ingredients families may need to cook their own fresh, healthy holiday dinner. Ten island families were identified this year through the Vashon chapter of St. Vincent de Paul, whose volunteers delivered the assorted goods in decorative baskets to each household. But the donations collected greatly exceeded the initial need, resulting in an additional 500 pounds of food donated to the food bank.

Last year, over 1,365 children, youth and adults in 676 households on Vashon were served by food bank distribution volunteers — or one out of every nine islanders and one out of every seven households. For more information about giving to the food bank or its services, visit vashonfoodbank.org.