Food Drive Friday offers free fair admission, collects tons of donations

One of Whatcom County’s largest food drives includes free admission Aug. 14 to the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden

Sponsored by Brown & Brown Insurance of Lynden, Food Drive Friday offers free admission (normally $15 for adults, $13 for seniors 62+ and $10 for children 6-12) to the fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at Gates 1 and 5 in exchange for four items of food. Local food banks are requesting canned proteins, fruits and vegetables, dry pinto beans, pasta and rice.

Donations will be given to the Whatcom County Food Bank Network, which includes the Bellingham, Blaine, Everson/Nooksack Valley, Ferndale, Foothills, Lummi Tribal, Nooksack Tribal, Point Roberts, Salvation Army and Project Hope (Lynden) food banks.

“We’ve collected 16.7 tons – 33,422 pounds – of food for local people in need in the last three years thanks to compassionate residents of Whatcom County” said Alex Bogaard, president of the Seattle and Lynden offices of Brown & Brown Insurance Services. “Many kind families and individuals brought more than four items. Since hunger is more challenging in summer months when there are fewer food drives, we’re asking people to plan now and again be generous with their donations.”

Brown & Brown also is conducting food drives through Aug. 13 at its three Washington locations in Lynden and Seattle (downtown and Capitol Hill).

If not going to the fair on Aug. 14, food donations may be brought to Brown & Brown’s office at 501 Front St., Lynden, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, please call (360) 354-4488.