Despite rain and cold, the residents of Newcastle just would not be stopped! One hour in, we already had more food than the Maple Valley collection. 3 hours in, we had more than the Ten Trails collection.

Many residents were impressed with the idea of campaigning by holding food drives. One said she “had goosebumps”! Some went to the Safeway across the street specifically to pick up donations.

In the end, it took us more than half an hour to pack everything in the car. The donations filled the back of the car floorboard-to-ceiling, with enough in the passenger seat that the airbag warning went off!

Thanks to a power outage, I couldn’t get the food to the Margie Williams Helping Hands Center until Monday. Their scale isn’t working, but we estimate between 300 and 400 pounds of food - our most successful food drive yet!

Thanks to the residents of Newcastle for coming out to support their neighbors. If elected, my first priority will be funding the organizations that fill our basic needs.

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Event planning text is preserved below:

Jude isn’t waiting to be elected to help his neighbors. He’s organized a food drive for donations to the Margie Williams Helping Hands Center food bank! Nearly 1500 door hangers have been mailed to residents living near the Newcastle Library, where Jude and his volunteers will collect donations on Saturday, October 25, from 11AM to 6PM. We’ll have water and snacks for anyone who needs them. They’re especially looking for potatoes and other vegetables, canned foods, and instant noodles.

Can’t make it to the drop-off? Just leave donations in boxes or bags and place the door hanger somewhere visible from the street - hang it on your doorknob, tape it to the donation box, whatever works. Volunteers will pick up the donations and bring them to the food bank for you.

Want to meet Jude? Fill out the back of the door hanger and leave it where it’s visible from the street. We’ll do our best to arrange a visit - availability is limited.

Want to help out? Heck yeah, many hands make light work! Sign up for a shift in the donation drop-off, driving for porch pick-ups, or canvassing voters nearby. We can use all the help we can get!

Newcastle Library drop-off after 1 hour

Newcastle Library drop-off after 3 hours

The car packed floorboard-to-ceiling with donations

Donations stacked up at the Margie Williams Helping Hands Center, with a delighted Jude standing nearby