Another year has passed and once again the people of Sequim and the surrounding area have amazed me.

The Sequim Food Bank experienced a 30-percent increase in families using us from 2009-2010. We were able to provide for those families because of the extremely generous citizens of our wonderful community.

There are so many people to thank ­­— the post office, police department, fire department, sheriff’s department, Sequim High School, Sequim Middle School, Greywolf Elementary School, Helen Haller Elementary, First Teacher, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Rainbow Girls, churches, banks, box stores, mom and pop stores, assisted-living facilities, grocery stores, newspapers, cemeteries, semipro football team, Sequim Wolf Pack football, Boys & Girls Club, realtors, lawyers, doctors, etc.

I hope you get my point — “Sequim is truly the Most Compassionate Community in America.” I don’t think there is one person regardless of age who didn’t impact the Sequim Food Bank in a positive way. Our mission statement is “That no man, woman and especially a child go to bed hungry.” We feel we are reaching that goal and we couldn’t have done it without the blessing and love of our community.

Words cannot express how much I love this town and its people; I only hope my actions do. I also would be remiss if I didn’t thank Nina and Bill Fatherson for the foundation they built. It is because of them the Sequim Food Bank is one of the best in Washington, if not America.

God bless Sequim and God bless America.

Stephen Rosales is the acting director/president, Sequim Food Bank.