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Plenty of cooks in the kitchen at Food Bank fundraiser

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 1, 2025

By Sequim Gazette staff

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Sequim Gazette photo by Jacques Star Joan Plumb, second from left, instructs fellow volunteer Lori Grouper, left, on how to sign in at Sequim Food Bank’s inaugural “Everyone at the Table” dinner/fundraiser, held Saturday at the food bank, located at 144 W. Alder St. Twenty volunteers pitched in to man outdoor tables, where attendees could sample food, obtain recipes and learn about the food bank’s services. Sequim Food Bank has seen a dramatic increase this year in those needing food assistance.
Sequim Gazette photo by Jacques Star/ Mike Hanson with Sequim Sunrise Rotary prepares “crabless cakes” for Sequim Food Bank’s “Everyone at the Table” fundraiser.
Sequim Gazette photo by Jacques Star/ John Flower stops by a booth at Sequim Food Bank’s “Everyone at the Table” fundraiser where Nicole Hartman of Sequim Sunrise Rotary prepares Romesco sauce to serve with “crabless cakes.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Jacques Star/ The band Bread and Gravy performed at the Sequim Food Bank’s fundraising event. Jess Doenges is on keyboard, left, while Stephanie Doenges sings and plays the guitar.
Sequim Gazette photo by Jacques Star/ Master Chef Chris Clemens, who has nearly 40 years of experience cooking and is a former culinary arts teacher at Olympic College, was among the volunteers who helped make the inaugural “Everyone at the Table” fundraiser at the Sequim Food Bank a success.

About 240 people attended the Sequim Food Bank’s inaugural “Everyone at the Table” fundraising event Saturday, where 20 volunteers manned food stations and provided information about the food bank’s programs.

Food insecurity has been growing in Sequim and across the Peninsula. According to Executive Director Andra Smith, the Sequim Food Bank has seen its client base increase by 34% in the first eight months of this year. The food bank supports local farms by purchasing fresh produce for its clients.

At Friday’s Celebrate United kickoff for United Way of Clallam County’s 2025-2026 fundraising campaign focusing on food security, Smith participated in a panel discussion along with Emily Dexter, executive director of the Port Angeles Food Bank, and Pat Soderlind, executive director of Forks Community Food Bank. About 170 people attended the event, which was held at the Red Lion Hotel in Port Angeles.

For information on how to donate to Sequim Food Bank, visit sequimfoodbank.org. To donate to United Way of Clallam County’s campaign, go to unitedwayclallam.org .

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