Kirkland is such a great place to live and work. Not only are the people interesting and great to be around, they generously step up to meet the needs of neighbors. The Thanksgiving Kirkland Nourishing Network appeal was larger than any of the past Thanksgiving projects to help needy elementary school children and their families. Generous “Kirkland Angels” filled all 180 food box requests in six days. Wow!

The feedback from donors is heartwarming and demonstrates the depth of compassion for neighbors in need. That caring spirit has made it easy to decide to expand the reach of the Kirkland Nourishing Network December project to all elementary schools in Kirkland where we can determine there is need. That will probably double the number of food boxes required, but that would be only 360 families or groups that step up out of over 25,000 residences. We can do this, if we can get the word out to more people in Kirkland and expand the network.

Kirkland Nourishing Network is made up of those who respond to the identified need and volunteer to help. It’s easy to join, and it is more meaningful than you know. Not only are the children and families helped who receive the food, the donors are changed as well. Knowing that you have helped a neighbor who truly has not enough to meet basic needs is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. One student told a teacher after our first food box drive that she had never had a Thanksgiving before.

There are real people, elementary school children, in Kirkland who don’t have enough to eat. For so many of us, that is astonishing. For many of us, that is unacceptable. Kirkland Nourishing Network tackles identified gaps in the “system” where real needs are not met, and we work to see if we can get the system to close those gaps. Our project to help in elementary schools came from appeals from principals and counselors who see the need first hand.

There is daily assistance with free and reduced meals at school. There is weekend food assistance through Pantry Packs started by a resolute Redmond elementary school librarian. Nourishing Networks decided to tackle the four school break periods where neither Pantry Packs nor school meals were available.

We rely on school counselors and teachers to determine the numbers of the most needy. This Thanksgiving, we expanded to six more elementary schools – not sure if we could get the support to fill the identified requirement. We were amazed how quickly the expanded need was filled. Kirkland just keeps surprising us in great ways.

Our response has been to expand the December drive for food boxes and work to secure a second location for drop-off in the south part of the city. You can join the ranks of the Kirkland Angels by signing up for a food box or get a group to come together to sign up. For more information or to sign up visit the website at www.mysignup.com/decemberholidaybreak.

Dave Asher is part of the Kirkland Nourishing Network and a Kirkland City Councilman.