IMPACT Camas-Washougal food drive to be held June 8

This weekend’s 11th annual Impact Camas-Washougal food drive hopes to raise $19,000 to help needy families in addition to packing boxes of food to be distributed in Camas and Washougal schools.

“People often associate food drives with the holiday season, but summer is also a time of great need,” said Beth Raetz, Impact committee member and St. Matthew Lutheran Church secretary. “Many families rely on school meal programs that pause during summer, leaving a critical gap. Our food boxes help bridge that gap until summer meal programs begin.”

The event, organized by volunteers from St. Matthew in Washougal, will include food box assembly and donation collection, along with a free barbecue lunch for volunteers and a live outdoor concert by the Camas-Washougal Community Orchestra.

A GoFundMe for the effort had raised $2,600 as of June 2.

Volunteers will pack food boxes. Any additional nonperishable food donations brought to the event will be given to the Inter-Faith Treasure House’s food pantry, which is in need of high-protein items including peanut butter, canned tuna and chili, according to a news release.

“We’re encouraging more local organizations to get involved,” Raetz said. “From Scout troops and church groups to businesses and families, it’s inspiring to see everyone come together for a common cause.”

After the food is boxed, it will be delivered to each Camas and Washougal school, which will distribute the boxes to students in need.

“Working parents will have shelf-stable supplies for their students when they go off to work — and even more meaningful is that all the families realize how much this community cares about them and their well-being,” Brenda Schallberger, coordinator for the Camas School District’s Family-Community Resource Center, told the Post-Record in 2024.

Nancy Nass-Boon, coordinator for Washougal School District’s family resource center, said that the event has assisted “many, many” Washougal district families over the years.

“Our neighbors are eager to help when they are aware of the need,” Nass-Boon told the Post-Record in 2024. “The need in our community continues to grow. More families than ever are relying on assistance to make ends meet. The distribution of Impact food boxes helps meet this need with compassion and empathy.”

The event begins at noon Sunday in Parker’s Landing Historic Park, 24 S. A St., Washougal.

Those who can’t attend can still donate to the drive. Donations can be made by check payable to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, mailed or dropped off at 716 Washougal River Road, Washougal, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or at the donation link on the Impact website, impactcamaswashougal.org. For more information, contact Raetz at 360-835-5533 or stmatthewlcms@comcast.net, or visit impactcamaswashougal.org.