Submitted by San Juan Island Grange

During its October monthly meeting, San Juan Island Grange members voted unanimously to dedicate $40,000 from the organization’s capital improvement savings account to a community kitchen upgrade, provided its extended community could raise an additional $40,000.

Two Grange members have already contributed $10,000 each (in addition to the grange’s $40,000 pledge) as a challenge due to the efforts of Larry Soll, grange member and fundraising chair.

A licensed commercial kitchen benefits our grange and the general community by:

• Improving community service – increases the usability of the Grange Hall for events, such as community dinners and provides a venue for classes on food preparation and preservation; products can also legally be donated to the Food Bank.

• Increasing emergency preparedness – provides the ability to cook more food, more quickly and safely; a propane system, reliable in emergency situations, is included in the plan and budget.

• Boosting local economy – commercial certification allows community members to prepare value-added products for retail and provides a location for local farmers, chefs and organizations to host Farm-to-Table dinners and other pop-up restaurants.

San Juan Island Grange No. 966 is partnering with the San Juan Island Community Foundation to provide a pass-through grant, which provides tax deductibility for donors. To contribute online, visit https://bit.ly/2SaQCMB, or send a check to the SJI Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1352, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Be sure to put Grange Kitchen Project in the notes line on the donation page or on your check. You will receive a thank you letter with tax deduction information with either donation method.

For more information, email Grange Family Living Chair Liz Smith, who is the project coordinator, at lizsmithmfa@gmail.com.