Washington Island residents will not have to hop on a ferry to get much-needed assistance in its fight against the pandemic. For the first time, the Door County Food Pantry Coalition is bringing the USDA’s Farmers to Families food box program to the island on March 12th. Residents will be able to pick up boxes at the Washington Island Fire Department between 4 and 4:30 p.m. In addition, the Door County Public Health Department announced earlier this month it would be bringing a vaccine clinic to the island on March 25th at the Washington Island Airport as well. The waiting list is open to anyone over the age of 16, but priority will still be based on the criteria from the State Department of Health and Human Services.  Washington Island Community Health Program Executive Director Christine Andersen says bringing these services directly to them is important.

Andersen says the pandemic has taxed their resources at WICHP, especially during a four-week period around Christmas when Washington Island experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases and its first deaths of the pandemic.