Chris Cook – Forks Forum photo

Forks Outfitters owner Bruce Paul (left) and store director Dave Gedlund hold up the store’s Forks Food Bank drive sign on Thursday, Oct. 4.

The Forks Food Bank is greatly benefiting from the efforts this fall of Forks Outfitters.

Along with a large steel tub where shoppers are donating bags of non-perishable groceries, Forks Outfitters is collecting a sizable amount of cash through donations made by customers when checking out. Over 1100 pounds of food has come in during the store’s recent annual fall food drive, which began two weeks ago and wraps up in November.

Forks Outfitters Store Manager Dave Gedlund said 100 percent of proceed collected at the store go directly to the Forks Food Bank. In addition, Forks Outfitters supplies discontinued grocery items to the Forks Food Bank on a year-round basis.

Working with Forks Food Bank President Pat Soderlind, each week Glenn King from the Forks Elks Lodge transports the donated groceries to the Forks Food Bank building located behind the Windfall Thrift Store on Bogachiel Way.

“They do a heck of a lot for the food bank,” King commented. King told the Forks Forum that Forks Outfitters is the major contributor on the West End to the effort to provide food to the needy and hungry folks of Forks. He said the Clallam County United Way based in Port Angeles also provides a big boost to local efforts. Each year the Forks Lions Club exchanges fire wood with the Quincy Lions Club, which reciprocate with a large supply of farm produce such as carrots and potatoes. 

The Forks Food Bank distributes groceries and other items on Tuesday and Thursday, from 3 – 4:30 p.m. each day. About 100-125 individuals are signed up to pick up food each week, King said, with many more folks being fed with the distributed food once it is taken home. Those who enroll in the Forks Food Bank distribution list are screened to prove need.