Food Drive Friday offers free fair Admission for donations Aug.

Fans of the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden are presented a win-win opportunity Aug. 8 when their donations of four or more food items will be rewarded with free admission.

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. 8 at Gates 1 and 5 in exchange for four items. 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 10.7 tons of food for local people in need in the last two years thanks to the generous residents of Whatcom County” said Alex Bogaard, president of the Seattle and Lynden offices of Brown & Brown Insurance Services. “We’re grateful for many compassionate people who brought more than four items. Since hunger is more challenging in summer months when there are fewer food drives, we’re asking people to again be generous with their donations.”

Brown & Brown also is conducting food drives through Aug. 7 at its three Washington locations in Lynden and Seattle (downtown and Capitol Hill).

If not going to the fair on Aug. 8, 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.