Care and Share assists those in need

DAVENPORT — The Lincoln County Care and Share Thrift Store and Food Bank remains a thriving force for the community at its 203 Morgan Street location, which was purchased in Jan. 2022.

President and full-time volunteer Cindy Warner said both retail traffic and food distribution remain brisk in the new location. Merchandise offered includes clothing for all ages, home furnishings and decor, vintage collectibles, shoes, books, tools and kitchenware.

All proceeds are used to purchase food for anyone who wants to come and get it.

Food box distribution days are Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food offered includes staples such as flour, sugar, pasta, beans, canned fruit and vegetables. When available, frozen meat is also given along with fresh fruit and vegetables when in season.

Each family comes away with a large box filled with choices they make as well as commodities such as cereal, peanut butter and occasionally, goodies such as cookies or frozen pies. A limited variety of shelf stable foods are available for free whenever the store is open.

Store hours are Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Warner and her husband Jerry have been volunteering for the Care and Share for around 11 years. Three-day-a-week volunteer worker Connie Mahoney has been volunteering for four years.

Additional volunteers are always welcome and needed. Work available includes sorting the resale merchandise, housekeeping, and food handling.

In addition to offering affordable resale merchandise and free food, the Care and Share has emergency supplies for those in need due to domestic violence, dislocation or homelessness. Folks can stop by and pick up blankets, clothing and other personal needs, no charge and no questions asked.

The Care and Share is staffed completely by volunteers.

The Davenport Safeway donates hundreds of pounds of food every week through the Grocery Rescue program. Folks from around the area frequently bring produce from their family gardens to donate, including tree fruit, squash and cucumbers and farm fresh eggs.

Recently, on a Saturday morning, a donor arrived with a huge bin of fresh sweet corn and cantaloupe on his truck. As the volunteers looked on and wondered how they were going to unload it all, a forklift driver rolled up from Les Schwab across the street and quickly unloaded the bin.

The Lincoln County Care and Share receives no government support of any kind and relies solely on donations and resale merchandise revenue. It is recognized by the IRS as a Nonprofit Charitable Organization. Donations are fully tax deductible and can be mailed to PO BOX 217, Davenport, WA 99122.