In 2000/2001 the Lacey Food Bank was on the verge of closing. Our shelves were nearly empty and so was our bank account. With not enough food or money to keep us going for much longer we thought for sure we would have to turn people away or close. It was right about then that 2 local business owners approached John Parker with the question “Where can we do the most good in Lacey?” Mr. Parker’s reply? “The Lacey Food Bank”! And so began our long-standing friendship with Joe DePasquale and Dan Coleman. That first year Joe and Dan, the owners of Caffrey’s Tavern Steak House contributed $1,500…..more than half of our total donations for the year! Eighteen years later Caffreys is still with us, as our friend and as our biggest Esteemed Sponsor. Most of us, along with their employees, have also had the opportunity of dropping a few dollars in the donation jar at Caffreys during their annual “March is Lacey Food Bank Month”. Dan, Joe and the employees at Caffreys are our very own special kind of Hometown Heroes. They helped us through a period that was tantamount to a food crisis then and they have continued to do so for the last 18 years.
Today the unimaginable happened. The fire that broke out early this morning has totally destroyed Caffreys. We are thankful for the bravery of the many fire, police and emergency services units that responded – from all over – and helped to bring this fast-moving blaze under control. And while we are all saddened by the loss of a town landmark we are thankful no one was hurt. All of us at the Lacey Food Bank, join with the rest of our Lacey community, in sending only the best of good wishes and healing energies to Joe and Dan and the entire staff at Caffreys.
We are hopefully confident that Caffreys will be back. And we will be there when they do.