Clark County, so often overshadowed by that big city to the south, has much of which to be proud. One of these is the annual Interservice Walk & Knock food drive. Now in its 38th year, Walk & Knock is a unique, all-volunteer effort born here and unequalled anywhere else — the nation’s largest local one-day food drive. Take that Portland!
When Clark County Food Bank President Alan Hamilton attends food bank conventions, other cities brag of their food drives that bring in 30,000 or 40,000 pounds of food. Alan will smile modestly and reply: “We have a drive that routinely brings in 250,000 to 300,000 pounds of food. Right here in little ol’ Clark County.”
While Alan depends on that huge food surge to fuel the food bank through the winter, what he really loves about Walk & Knock are the thousands of volunteers — mostly young people — who come together to help their neighbors on the first Saturday of December each year.
But after a three-year COVID-caused hiatus from our traditional porch pickups, that annual accomplishment is threatened. People leave, refocus, forget. Thousands move here unaware of this great tradition. In short: We need help!
