Arrowhead Ranch was abuzz Saturday night, Aug. 9, as people gathered for one of the tastiest events of the year — the Bite of Stanwood-Camano.

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The sold-out event saw local restaurants bringing small plates for attendees to try out and vote on.

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Categories included best flavor and best presentation.

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SAAL Brewing Co., located in west Stanwood, took home the title of best presentation, while Blue Heron Kitchen and Bar, located on Camano, nabbed the best flavor award.

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This year’s event was sold out, with about 200 attendees enjoying bites from local spots.

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After guests filled their plates with everything from smash burgers to scones to cupcakes to brioche buns, everyone gathered outside to take part in a live auction.

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All proceeds from ticket sales and the auction were to benefit the Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano.

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Randi Armstrong, the CRC’s fundraising and engagement coordinator, said she began planning for the event in the fall of 2024. She started by reaching out to restaurants — many of which had participated in the Bite before.

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“Immediately following the (2024) event, I sent the restaurants a survey to say how it went, and I got a feedback form back from them,” Armstrong said. “And one of the questions on the feedback form was, ‘Would you be willing to return?’ And 100% of them who filled that out said yes, they would be willing to come back. So right then, I had a roster.”

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“I think everyone wants to come back because it’s so fun and it’s so rewarding.”

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Armstrong said she’s seen firsthand that restaurants gain customers from participating in the event.

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“I was at SAAL last year, and someone came in and they wanted tacos that they had at the Bite,” she said. “They went and got tacos for their entire event, because they’d had them at the Bite. I’ve seen it bringing business to the restaurants.”

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Along with being beneficial for restaurants, Armstrong said she sees the event as more of a “friend-raiser” rather than just a fundraiser.

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She said people have come to the Bite, learned about the CRC, and begun volunteering for its programs.

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“That adds so much value, beyond a monetary value,” she said.

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For Armstrong, those relationships are the most rewarding part of planning the event, she said. For Executive Director Mary Bredereck, they’re also at the heart of the CRC’s broader purpose.

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“At the CRC, our mission is to build a healthier and stronger community through positive relationships, education programs and support services,” Bredereck said.

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The center offers early learning programs, which Bredereck said activate children’s early brain development during their formative years.

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“We have programs that are play-based, that really just encourage that early learning,” she said.

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The CRC also offers teen programs for youth in middle school and high school.

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“Our programs help teens navigate the challenges of adolescence by providing mentorship, a safe space for self-expression, healthy decision making, improved mental health, reduced participation in risky behaviors and opportunities to engage in meaningful activities centered around art, music and basic engineering,” Bredereck said.

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Troy McVicker served as the auctioneer and emcee for Saturday’s event — helping energize the crowd and raise money for the CRC during the live auction.

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He said that at many events he hosts, it’s hard to grasp the impact of fundraising because the funds are going to a wide array of things.

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At the Bite of Stanwood-Camano, however, the money raised helps local people.

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“You guys are having impact right here in the community,” he said.

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According to preliminary numbers, the event raised about $76,000 — a jump from last year’s total of about $60,000.

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Bredereck said it was powerful to see how many people showed up in support of the event and the CRC.

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“Bringing our community together is just such an amazing thing,” she said, “and this community always comes out.”