A new nonprofit organization is providing food, kids’ activities and holiday events for community members in need.
Tanya Hernandez-Garzon, founder and president of Queen-Bee Pantry, started the organization earlier this year, gaining 501(c)(3) status in the late spring. The former operations manager for Whidbey Island Angels, Hernandez-Garzon set out to fill a hole that was left behind by its closure in April.
“I don’t want the community to go without food,” she said. “If I can provide enough for them to get through to their paycheck, it makes us happy, knowing that we can help them.”
Hernandez-Garzon converted half of her garage in her Greenbank home into a pantry, which helps somewhere between 80 to 150 people every week. No questions besides names or initials, number of people in a family and zip code are asked of beneficiaries.
She has heard from people who have run out of points at the food bank and are extremely thankful that Queen-Bee Pantry is available. Some have encountered other barriers, such as not being able to verify their income, and are just as grateful for the food pantry.
“I have a lot of people who come in that are immigrants,” Hernandez-Garzon said. She and another board member are fluent Spanish speakers.
Queen-Bee Pantry is now turning its focus towards fundraising in anticipation of upcoming holiday events later this year. A car wash and food drive is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Bayview Appliance & Mattress Center, which is located at 2843 Howard Road.
Hernandez-Garzon said the organization is aiming to raise enough money to support 200 families with Thanksgiving baskets this year, which will contain everything needed to make a hearty holiday dinner.
“We cover all of Whidbey Island, from Clinton to Oak Harbor,” she said.
Queen-Bee Pantry has a five-year contract with the Freeland Hall to host Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter events, which will have plenty of activities for children, including a toy drive and egg-dyeing.
“We’re trying to bring the community together as one,” Hernandez-Garzon said. “It’s very diverse.”
The organization collaborates with others, such as Mobile Turkey Unit and Holiday House, to ensure everyone gets what they need.
Donations aren’t easy to come by, though. The nonprofit is in need of grants and support from small, local businesses. Queen-Bee Pantry is also seeking more volunteers.
Some may be surprised to learn that Queen-Bee Pantry provides more than food. In fact, Hernandez-Garzon said the organization has worked with contractors and construction companies to get things built, like in the case of a senior who needed a wheelchair ramp.
“Wherever we can help, we put the need out and see where people can help, or where we can help, and somehow we make it come together,” Hernandez-Garzon said.
For more information about Queen-Bee Pantry, call 360-320-9361, email pantryqueenbee@gmail.com or join the Facebook group of the same name.
To make a donation, Venmo and Cash App details are available on the website, queenbeepantry.wixsite.com/queen-beepantry-1.
