MARYSVILLE – It was the first distribution day for Thanksgiving turkeys and food for the holidays at the Marysville Community Food Bank, and it’s busier than a Black Friday white linens sale.

“It’s got to be the liveliest place in Marysville,” food bank director Dell Deierling said.

Added longtime volunteer JoAnn Sewell, “It’s the happiest place on earth.”

Visiting the food bank during the holidays means a lot of things to a lot of people. The clients and the circumstances that brought them to need the services may be an unfortunate story, but at least they leave knowing they have enough food for their families on Thanksgiving Day and for weeks beyond.

This is the third year that the food bank has been graced with enough turkeys to make sure that each of the 700 clients will have one. That’s thanks to donations from the Tulalip Tribes, who have provided enough funds not only for the turkeys, but the side dishes as well, Deierling said.

“That’s a very big deal,” Deierling said, adding clients start inquiring about turkeys in September.

Candy Dawson of Marysville was just recently laid off from her job and her husband is unemployed. She appreciates the service that the food bank provides families like hers that hit a temporary bump in the road and are trying to make ends meet.

“What the food bank gives my family today gets us through the month, well beyond Thanksgiving” Dawson said. She added that her son volunteers at the food bank occasionally to give back, although food bank officials said that is never expected.

Another client, Robbie Kubat of Marysville, was at the food bank to pick up a turkey, the trimmings and other food that will last through the month.

“It’s awesome when there’s a need during difficult times, the food bank is always there for us,” Kubat said.

Kubat faces some tough times ahead. The bricklayer in his mid-40s already suffers the aches and pains of a life of back-breaking labor. In two days, he will be homeless after he was booted from his girlfriend’s house. He can’t believe his situation has led to homelessness. He is hopeful that he may get a helping hand from a family member for a temporary place to stay.

Matt Smith has been volunteering at the food bank since 2014 and has almost 600 hours of service. The Stanwood High School senior from Camano Island said he enjoys helping others, and the need is never deeper than during holidays.

“I like helping other people that are in need of food, and I’m grateful for the food I have in my own home,” he said.

When he’s not volunteering at the food bank, he also helps with the community lunch for the homeless served at the Evergreen Unitarian Church in Marysville.

Deierling said the spirit of the community helping one another was on full display and will be for the next two distribution days prior to Thanksgiving.

“It’s neat to see the spirit of the community help,” Deierling said. “The food bank is filled with positive energy, with the volunteers and the clients in need coming together to help each other out.” Deierling said, adding Windermere Real Estate in Marysville brought in a huge amount of food.

Marysville Kiwanis Club provided coffee and hot chocolate outside the food bank while people waited in line to enter the building. Marysville Rotary Club members helped distribute food items to clients inside, and members young and old from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints joined the food bank’s dedicated core of longtime volunteers to help people move through the aisles with shopping carts to load up on food items donated by local grocers.

After Thanksgiving, the pace will pick up again for the food basket distribution for Christmas, including gathering gifts for the Toy Store. Christmas food basket distribution dates are Dec. 19 from 9 a.m.-noon, Dec. 20 from 2-6:30 p.m. and Dec. 23 from 9 a.m.-noon. The Toy Store will be open Dec. 14 for families with last names A-H, and Dec. 15 for last names I-Z. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Families in need of toy store services are asked to sign up by visiting the food bank in person before Dec. 2. No online or phone registration is available.

The food bank is located at 4150 88th St. NE behind St. Mary’s Catholic Church at State and 88th. People can donate food there or look for the red holiday barrels available throughout Marysville. For details visit the food bank at www.marysvillefoodbank.org.

For Arlington residents, the Arlington Community Food Bank at 19118 63rd Ave. NE also provides food for the holidays for people in need. Clients are reminded that the distribution date for Christmas is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 21.

For details, contact that food bank at 360-435-1631, email arlingtonfoodbank@gmail.com or visit www.arlingtonwafoodbank.org.