By Kristina Stucki, Journal contributor

The holiday season is coming to Friday Harbor, bringing opportunities for service, donating, giving and helping. Many organizations around the island are dedicated year-round to serving the community and now is a time when islanders can join in to make sure everyone is taken care of.

“This community is wonderful at taking care of their people,” said Sheila Martin, a longtime member of the San Juan Lions Club and organizer of this year’s four-minute shopping spree. Tickets for the raffle are on sale Fridays and Saturdays (Nov. 15, 16, 22 and 23) at Kings. The winner will be drawn at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 23, and the shopping spree will be on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 1:30 p.m. (tickets say 1:15, but Martin explained that was a typo).

The raffle winner has four minutes to shop at King’s — with limits around meat, cheese, tobacco and alcohol — and ticket sales go 100% to the Lions’ local scholarship fund. The Lions ordered 4,000 tickets this year and are hoping to come close to, if not exceed, that number.

“A lot of people who win will donate almost everything to the Food Bank,” Martin explained. “The whole event, from the Lions to Kings to the community members who participate, is all about benefiting the community.”

The shopping spree isn’t the only way to help the Friday Harbor Food Bank this season. A private organization, the Food Bank relies heavily on donations and has more than 60 active volunteers. While islanders can always contribute through funds (ideal so items can be purchased in bulk), Costco runs add-ons, homegrown produce or eggs, etc. – the holiday season brings a lot of other easy ways to help the Food Bank.

“The Harbor Life Ring is our biggest fundraiser this season,” Rachelle Radonski, Food Bank Manager, said. “The Town of Friday Harbor has raised its matching offer to $7,500 which means we could potentially get $15,000 from this one program alone!”

The town is offering to match donations dollar for dollar through the Harbor Life Ring matching grant program, which runs through the end of this month. Islanders can donate on the Harbor Life Ring line item on their utility bills or by visiting the finance office at Town Hall. Banner Bank, Frontier Building Supply and the SJI Farmers Market are running food drives for the Food Bank, and Kings has pre-bagged bags of grocery donations (worth $30 for $20) as well as Food Bank Turkey Cards that shoppers can donate their card punches to at checkout.

“At King’s, we value this community and feel it is important to do our part to help it thrive and continue to be a wonderful, welcoming place to live and visit,” Ashley Draffkorn said. “Customers can help the community alongside us this holiday season.”

Along with the Food Bank grocery bags and Turkey Card punches, Kings is offering its receipt program as well as an event with Santa this year. Shoppers can bring their Kings receipts to local nonprofits, who can turn them in to receive a check for 1% of the total from Kings. On Nov. 30, Santa will be visiting Kings Marine from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., coming via fire truck. While the photos are free of charge, donations will be accepted and will go to the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center.

The Family Resource Center is another organization that locals can contribute to this season, whether through events like the Kings’ Santa visit, the Giving Tree at St. David’s or drives like the basic needs bins in the lobby of SaviBank and the drugstore. They also are continuing their annual holiday sponsorship program.

“Each year, the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center sponsors approximately 25 families who are experiencing extreme hardship and are unable to afford any holiday spending,” said Jennifer Armstrong, executive director of the FRC. “The FRC helps with items such as new pajamas, warm coats, stocking stuffers and small denomination gift cards for parents to shop for their children. The program also sponsors gift baskets that are delivered to seniors who live alone and may not have family close by.”

Those interested in sponsoring a family can contact Carmen Orozco, office manager of the FRC, at 360-378-5246.

Other organizations offering donation opportunities include the San Juan Island Food Co-Op, where a turkey or ham can be donated to a family in need, and various locations around the island of Giving Trees, which can be found at St. David’s, Julie’s Nursery, the Farmers Market, Treasure Hounds and the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor. The Friends of the Library are hosting a gift sale on Nov. 30, and a silent auction Nov. 30 through Dec. 7, with all proceeds going to the library. And, the Whale Museum is throwing a Holiday Ball and Auction on Dec. 14 at Saltwater Farm, benefiting the museum.

Giving opportunities aren’t exclusive to those on the island with extra cash, however. The SJI Community Thanksgiving Dinner needs volunteers, as does Nana’s House, a local storefront pop-up that offers inexpensive donated items and free gift wrapping, specifically for children to be able to shop for their loved ones. Nana’s House is also one of a few places where islanders can donate items that are homemade or used — but with a lot of life left — that can be given as gifts.

The Island Kids Clothing and Toy Swap is one of these, located on the lower level of the Legion on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Fall and winter clothes, baby necessities, books, puzzles and toys can be dropped off on Nov. 30 from 1-5 p.m.

Islanders on Facebook who want to donate items rather than money may want to check out the Facebook group “Friday Harbor Giving Tree,” where items can be requested and offered as potential Christmas gifts or just to help out neighbors.

There are certain to be even more giving opportunities as the holidays get closer, and islanders are sure to show up and help however they can, just like they do every year.

Radonski mused about the uncertainty of the world right now and how giving and helping can empower community members. “I’ve been telling my volunteers lately, as they’ve been feeling the weight of the elections and discord around the nation, that this is the best way to make change and to live in a community that we pride ourselves on. We’re doing it right now by giving and putting out our good vibes into the community. We’ve got boots on the ground, that’s how change is made. And we are changing things for the better, here in Friday Harbor, through serving the community.”