In order to help members of the community during this COVID-19 crisis, the Port of Bremerton is donating $2,500 to Full Circle Meals to help feed people and keep local restaurants in business.
“The Port is here to support and build up the local community through its mission of generating economic development,” Port CEO Jim Rothlin said. “We are in very unusual times and our people need our help to keep businesses afloat and put people back to work. We are just one part of an entire community doing what we can to contribute. We’d like to encourage everyone else to help their neighbors in any way possible.”
Full Circle Meals provides meals to emergency personnel and the underserved, while supporting the Kitsap restaurant community and working to restore the local economy. Meals are prepared and packaged by local Kitsap restaurants working to retain and rehire their employees to keep their restaurants open.
At a recent Port meeting, the idea for donation was introduced by Commissioner Anderson, who felt the program allows local restaurants to keep moving forward without folding completely so that when we emerge from this, they won’t be starting all over. Commissioner Strakeljahn supported the idea and suggested the Port contribute to this cause as it enhances economic development and benefits the community. Commissioner Bozeman made the decision unanimous to move forward on the contribution.
The Arc of the Peninsulas—a local nonprofit established in 1938 and serving people in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, and Mason counties—is managing the collection and distribution of payments to restaurants for Full Circle Meals.
For more information, or if you’re interested in helping support Full Circle Meals, please email fullcirclemealsproject@gmail.com. You can also mail donations to The Arc of the Peninsula, 3242 N. Perry Ave. Bremerton, WA 98310 (please indicate your donation is for Full Circle Meals), go to www.penarc.org, or to https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/full-circle-meals-feeding-the-community-and-the-economy.
