Let’s build a participating economy on Vashon

Published 10:30 am Tuesday, November 18, 2025

The large conference room at the Library was packed with Vashonites concerned about looming food shortages as funding cuts land.

Representatives from a number of island service organizations learned about each other. It was heart-warming to see how many people attended on short notice, and very impressive to hear how many locals are already involved in providing food to our families, elders and children.

Several speakers gave examples of how generous islanders are; we have some good experience sharing our abundance! We’re blessed with a robust volunteer network. Here are a few numbers:In 2024, more than 150 members of our community served as volunteers at the Food Bank serving 1900 unique individuals; 2025 is on track for the same or better

130 volunteers supported our Senior Center programs in 2024 and 2025.

In 2025 our Food Access Partnership will distribute $55,000. in Farm Bucks, enabling neighbors to purchase at farm stands and farmers’ market, and ensuring that farmers are paid

Half a dozen people rotate through Zen Center’s garden, growing solely for the Food Bank, and many more Islanders bring their garden bounty to share.

119 volunteers worked for our Land Trust in 2024 – growing food, maintaining our trails and restoring wildlife habitat – and looks about the same for this year.

No doubt new layoffs and funding cuts will greatly increase our neighbors’ struggles. I’m writing to ask that we remember some of the practices that enabled our ancestors to survive, barn-raising certainly among them. Our forebears lived in small interdependent communities; they well knew they were in it together and much obliged to each other. They survived by each doing what they could; most of their exchanges were neither transactional or reciprocal.

We can put that powerful legacy to work. Softened though we may be by modern conveniences, this moment calls for all of us to step up our neighboring. I invite you engage more: not in a gift economy, to a participating economy – where everyone gives and receives – no scorecards needed.

Vashon is a strong community. We’re challenged now to become stronger – together – and not to lose ourselves in anger or despair. Certainly we all need food; we can grow more and find more joyful ways to share. Equally important, we all need to know that we are doing something meaningful in these dark times: something that matters. Neuroscientists and Community Organizers have shown that we can uplift our neighbors faster by asking for help than by offering. Want a proven protocol Choose 9 islanders not in your family, put your shoulder next to theirs and ask them to do the same. Put up a neighborhood

wish list and see what happens.

Marsha Shenk is an island grower and semi-retired business anthropologist.