Whidbey Coffee gives pig to food bank

Good Cheer Food Bank received a squealin’ deal over the weekend. Dan Ollis, owner and operator of Whidbey Coffee, purchased a pig at the 4-H auction for $840 from Samantha Ollis, 11. Ollis then turned around and donated the pig to the Good Cheer Food Bank Saturday, Aug. 17. The donation was part of an idea for Whidbey Coffee to work with the different communities in which they operate.

Good Cheer Food Bank received a squealin’ deal over the weekend.

Dan Ollis, owner and operator of Whidbey Coffee, purchased a pig at the 4-H auction for $840 from Samantha Ollis, 11.

Ollis then turned around and donated the pig to the Good Cheer Food Bank Saturday, Aug. 17.

The donation was part of an idea for Whidbey Coffee to work with the different communities in which they operate.

Ollis said he was going for the biggest pig, and coincidentally purchased the 311-pound pig from his niece.

Whidbey Coffee has donated to Good Cheer in the past, he said, but this was the first time the business has donated a pig.

“We wanted to offer something other than a canned food drive. With this donation we had the opportunity to work with 4-H and Good Cheer. It’s a win-win scenario,” he said.

Kathy McLaughlin McCabe, of Good Cheer, said the donation made for an all-time highlight for her as the organization’s executive director.

In about two weeks the butchered pig choices will be on the shelves at Good Cheer, available for people in need, she said. McLaughlin McCabe said the donation is a win on so many levels because it supports the Island County Fair, 4-H and helps Good Cheer Food Bank clients.