Community Health & Wellness

FISH celebrates 50 years of neighbors helping neighbors

What started in 1976 with a group of 15 people working from their homes has grown to include more than 200 volunteers. Fifty years later, the nonprofit Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank operates not from private homes, but from a new, 11,600-square-foot building.

Health & Wellness Sponsor

Health and Wellness stories are made possible in part by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, a proud sponsor of Gig Harbor Now.

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH founder Jan Coen was born and raised in Gig Harbor, but her life as a military wife took her to places like Japan and San Diego. In San Diego, she worked with 15 churches to set up a food bank.

After she and husband Ron settled in Gig Harbor, Coen connected with other people interested in volunteering to help neighbors in need. GHP FISH was born.

Dan Lott, left, emceed the volunteer recognition event with GHP FISH founders Jan and Ron Coen. Photo courtesy Sheila Fisher.

Growing and expanding

The needs have changed and grown in the 50 years that FISH has helped Gig Harbor neighbors. In the beginning, many callers needed child care or medical services. Demand grew to the point that the organization expanded to an actual building.

FISH took over the Burton Park Building on 38th Street in the 1980s, but it needed to expand again by 2000. Rented space at the Eagles building on Burnham Drive housed the food bank until 2022, when the operation moved to a new structure at 4303 Burnham Drive.

The new building was specifically designed as a food bank, with office space, shelves, a warehouse, and everything needed to run the nonprofit.

Some clients might only need a bag of groceries, while others need help with rent. The program is designed to offer help without judgment and to provide love, kindness and encouragement. FISH has expanded to provide clothing, small household goods and financial aid, which helps those who need money for things like rent, utility payments, student aid and medicine.

FISH also has organized the annual Christmas Toy Drive since the 1980s. This year, more than 900 families benefited from it.

“We try to give the best help we can,” Coen said.

Celebrating 50 years

During an anniversary celebration held in donated space at the Best Western Wesley Inn on Jan. 13, Coen recounted some of those early calls from people in need.

“One little boy called to say he needed help,” Coen said. “He needed someone to go with him when he had to show his report card to his parents, because he was going to be in trouble.”

Neighbors helping neighbors has been the goal, and continues to this day. On Tuesday, FISH honored more than 100 volunteers in attendance for their many hours of work throughout the years. The organization estimates that their time is worth about $2 million a year.

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH volunteers hold up two fingers to symbolize the estimated $2 million in value their efforts provide to the organization. Photo courtesy Sheila Fisher

The nonprofit has only three paid employees. Volunteers, including many whose private-sector experience is helpful to FISH, do the rest of the work.

Coen shared stories and letters the nonprofit received over the years. Some included a check with a heartfelt note of thanks. She said most who receive help want to repay the kindness when they are in a position to do so.

“One family waited in line as people were getting food,” she said. “They waited patiently, and when they got to the front, the man handed me $200 and said he didn’t know what they would have done without our help. He wanted to donate the money to FISH.”

A letter sent from Florida said that FISH saved their family, without judgment. The letter writer reported that they are back on their feet now, and will never forget the kindness shown to them by the volunteers, and the help that FISH provided to them while they were living here.

For more information about GHP FISH, visit ghpfish.org.

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH volunteers gathered for a group photograph during an event marking the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Photo courtesy Sheila Fisher