Wednesday, December 25, 2013
A Christmas Letter to Our Volunteers
Monday, December 16, 2013
Fishline Celebrates December's Community Partner: Windermere Real Estate
Windermere Realty has three local offices -- one in Poulsbo, Kingston, and Silverdale. Each of these offices has made a commitment to serve their local community, a kind of unspoken corporate responsibility that makes them a perfect example of what being a community partner is all about.
For several years now Windermere Real Estate has helped organize the Forest Hills Rock neighborhood food drive. This annual food drive, which typically tops itself every year, kicks off the holiday food drive season. This year the Windermere offices decided to also have a little friendly competition between their Kingston, Poulsbo, and Silverdale offices -- with the local food banks benefiting. Over 4300 lbs of food has been collected since just a little bit before Thanksgiving, with 2500 lbs of that going to Fishline.
During the week of Thanksgiving, Windermere delivered 50 turkeys to Fishline (and another 100 to food banks in Kingston and Silverdale!). In lieu of a Christmas party this year, the employees of the Poulsbo office decided to donate the money that would have been spent on their festive annual get together to several important organizations, including Fishline. Employees of Windermere happily delivered a check for $1500 right after Thanksgiving.
Mike Pitts, one of the owners of Windermere, explains in the interview above, how everyone in the office jumps at the opportunity to be involved in the community. "People feel good about working with Fishline...they'll do what they say they're going to do.” And we feel good about businesses like Windermere!
In addition to their nonstop work during the holidays, the Windermere Foundation has helped keep families in their homes through grants and other funding awarded to Fishline. Thank you to all the Windermere offices for all that you do -- your owners, your realtors, and your staff are much appreciated by all in the North Kitsap community!
Windermere Poulsbo is located at 18570 Hwy 305 in Poulsbo. You can visit their website here and their Facebook page here.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Poulsbo Couple Experiments with Life on a Food Stamp Budget (Kitsap Sun)
Nothing on the table was a handout, but for the month of November Susan Herriott and her husband, Jon, lived as if everything they ate was.
The Herriotts volunteer at North Kitsap Fishline, getting up early to help gather donated groceries from the four big local grocery stores and helping clients.
Susan Herriott wondered what it would be like to rely on the groceries Fishline provides and food stamp income. So in November, she and Jon committed to do it for a month. She documented her experiences in a blog called “Loaves and the Fishline.”
“I did it because I didn’t understand the decisions people were making when they came to the food bank.” Herriott said. “I see them buy what I think is strange stuff.”
She also noticed that many of the organization’s clients were older, past retirement age — much like the Herriotts.
She didn’t get any of her groceries from the food bank itself, but she made regular visits to Fishline’s Third Avenue store and made a list of what she would get if she were a client. Then she went to a grocery store to buy it. What she wouldn’t have received from Fishline, she could buy with $49 a week she and her husband would have qualified for in food stamps, were they living only on their Social Security income.
It was a stretch to not open the Herriott kitchen pantry, which is evidence of an experienced long-term menu planner. But Herriott essentially closed the doors, planned what she could and experienced living with the mystery of what’s available at the food bank day to day.
To read more Susan Herriott blogged about her month-long experiment living on a food-stamp budget. The blog, called “Loaves and the Fishline” is located here.
In November she bought supplies that come in a monthly “emergency box,” or “Ebox,” distributed by the food bank to its clients once per month. Each box contains enough food for balanced meals for three days, according to Fishline’s website. Canned chili and tuna are examples of the contents.
She also bought the goods that come in the federal government’s mystery “commodities bag.” It’s a mystery because the supplies are based on whatever is overstocked, incorrectly packaged or otherwise unsellable. It’s all good food, but there’s no predicting from one month to the next what will be in it, said Mary Nader, North Kitsap Fishline, Executive Director. Commodities are provided for distribution from a federal government program and are not overstocked, incorrectly packaged or unsellable items.
The third part of the Fishline program is the organization’s store. Clients are allocated a certain number of “Fish bucks,” depending on family size, to purchase items from the store.
Thanks to local grocery donations from Poulsbo’s four major grocers, Fishline can provide fresh produce, frozen goods, yogurt and mostly free bread.
During the month of the experiment the Herriotts ate less meat and little fish. They experienced the panic of lost food when a dish of spaghetti slipped off the table, wasting some of their precious provisions.
They learned firsthand the luxury of coffee.
Susan managed to plan for a Thanksgiving feast for 11, complete with a turkey and all the sides, by doing without some favorites and hoarding items like cranberries early in the month.
One of the biggest realizations during the experiment was how much time it took to live so tuned into her food budget.
“I usually shop one day a week and go to Costco once a month or once every two months,” she wrote on her blog on Nov. 9. “I find that I am going to the grocery store two or three times a week. I can’t get enough money together at one time to get ahead. Since the food bank limits the amount of some things, I have to go several times a week in order to get enough for the week. I understand why there are limits. The food bank never knows what or how much of a single item they will have at a time and they don’t know how many people will show up in a day. I think they do a good job but it does make it difficult.”
Some of the work included making granola instead of buying it, saving about $9 for three pounds. One day a neighbor brought jars of jam and banana bread as thanks for some compost the Herriotts had shared. Though the neighbor has been doing it for nine years, it took on added meaning during the experiment, Herriott said.
“Today the gift brought me to tears,” she wrote on her blog. “The banana bread is great but what really touched me was the jam. I am out, and my husband almost always has toast and jam as part of his breakfast. I wasn’t sure when I could afford more since I have spent all but $6.00 of my food stamp budget this week. I was surprised at my depth of feeling. We aren’t starving by any means. I have to think a little harder about what we eat and work a little harder to prepare it, but the worry about having enough is new to me.”
The time it takes to provide meals based on food bank donations was a “full-time job,” Herriott said.
“I don’t know how you do this and look for work,” she said.
Carole Herriott, daughter to the Poulsbo couple, was one of those on hand for Thursday’s Thanksgiving dinner. For some time a few years back, she relied on food banks and bargain shopping.
“The greatest invention ever was the Grocery Outlet,” she said.
Making it easier for her were healthy children. Carole Herriott said they ate a lot but didn’t have special diet problems.
“Only rich people have food allergies,” she said.
Susan Herriott said she knows she is lucky there were no huge surprises during the month and also that she didn’t do this experience in February, when food pantries typically run low on supplies.
Nader said donations from grocery stores and others slow down during the early part of the year. Food gets more expensive for grocery stores to order, so the daily donations get thinner, something Fishline is preparing for now by planning targeted food drives. Our targeted food drive campaign is called Hunger Heroes, which you can read more about here.
Before November ended, Herriott was planning a steak dinner for the first day back to regular menus. It’s a luxury she counts among many. The Herriotts planned well for retirement and have suffered few setbacks or health issues.
She has a lot of respect for those forced to rely on the food banks.
“I don’t know how you do it,” she said.
Friday, November 29, 2013
NK Fishline Welcomes Our New Floor Manager: Sean Wescott
Sincerely,
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Fishline is in Need of Contractors! Can You Help?
We are mere days away from ownership of our new facility – while we are handling the paperwork, there is concurrent effort underway to design and schedule work needed to make the building usable for our food bank. We have a general contractor, but every bit of donated time, expertise or materials we can invite will help our costs go down. But we also expect to pay for some of the work, so if you know of professionals who can offer their services for reduced cost, please let us know of them as well.
So, here’s what we need:
Plumbing Contractor – the highest priority. We need to submit plumbing plans to the City as soon as we are able. If you know of a contractor, please pass this information to us by Monday.
Electrical Contractor – also important but not an urgent timeline. We would like your recommendations as soon as possible, but will accept them as late as next Friday.
Construction Materials – Sinks, faucets, wood, drywall, anything like this would help keep our costs down.
Sweat Equity – Do you want to help remove market carpet and finish the floors? Does it sound like fun to demolish the side building we don’t need anymore? Want to help us move? Would you like to help organize the move? Let us know and we can include you on our project teams.
Email us with questions or if you need clarification. Thank you for your recommendations and for your help. This is a historic moment for Fishline, and I’m so glad we are all a part of it.
Mary Nader,
Executive Director
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Christmas Child Program
The Christmas Child program allows parents to create a personal wish list of gifts that would bring the most joy to their children during the holiday season. The gift tag process allows parents (or children) to list three wants and three needs specific to that child's interests, hobbies, and abilitites. An individual or group may sponsor this child by purchasing at least three items from the child's list. The wish lists are then distributed via "Tag Trees" at area businesses. Sponsors choose a tag, purchase the items, place them in one big bag, ATTACH THE TAG, and return the marked bag to the business.
The following businesses have agreed to host "Tag Trees" in 2013:
Liberty Bay Books
North Kitsap Herald
Modern Dentistry
Dahlquist Fine Jewelry
Sugar and Spice Tea Shop
Curves
Bank of America
First Security Bank
Poulsbo Athletic Club
Sport Haus
Hostmark Apts
Peninsula Paint
Crimson Cove Smoked Specialties
North Point Church
Marina Market Poulsbo
First Lutheran Church
American Rose Bridal
Animal Emergency and Trauma Center
Jak’s Café
Poulsbo Yacht Club
Key Bank
La Bella Vita Salon
Peninsula Credit Union
Toy Drives are currently being held at the following locations:
Vinland Elementary School
St Olaf’s Church
Poulsbo City Hall
Poulsbo Lions Club
Enjoy the following discounts with your toy donation:
Mike’s Car Wash is giving $2 off a gold wash with a toy donation and a free wash (any level) with a $50 or more cash or check donation.
Program Guidelines:
Businesses or others agree to host a gift tag tree by mid November.
Gift tag trees need to be provided by businesses and be in place by the last week in November to allow people to shop on Black Friday.
Fishline will supply coded gift tags to each site prior to set up date and replenish as needed
Sponsors will choose a gift tag and go shopping.
Purchased items are returned to the business. Gifts should be UNWRAPPED in ONE BAG with the TAG ATTACHED to the bag
Gifts will be picked up from tag tree sites by Christmas Child Organizers if needed
If you are participating as a sponsor in the Christmas Child Program in 2013, all gifts are due back to the tag tree site no later than December 7th.
Please contact our Christmas Child organizers Jeannie Benton and Sue Paskell by email at jambb1@comcast.net (or call Raelenea Rodriguez at (360) 779-5190). We are happy to answer any questions you might have about the Christmas Child Program.
We are still accepting anonymous donations of new toys and are happy to supply you with a box. Toy drives are equally appreciated. These toys will be used for children who have not been sponsored. This program is not in any way related to "Operation" Christmas Child.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Building a Home Where Hunger Has No Place
Much conversation has been going on recently about the cut backs in SNAP benefits, commonly called food stamps. Effective the first of this month, 1184 households in Poulsbo were affected by these changes. Hearing concerns expressed on both sides of this issue and reading the many commentaries, one realizes that there continues to be some ambiguity about who is food insecure in our country and how they became so.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Fishline Celebrates November's Community Partner: Liberty Bay Auto
For two weeks Liberty Bay Auto not only committed their coveted and high profile sign space, they set up a great display in their showroom, held an after-hours event with Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, advertised for Fishline on their leaderboard on North Kitsap Herald's website, and as if that wasn't enough -- they matched all of the food donations that filled their truck, pound for pound! Total delivered to Fishline: 965 lbs!
Thank you Liberty Bay for all your phenomenal efforts as a Hunger Hero! By utilizing all the resources available to you to publicize and promote your food drive event, you've set the bar for our Hunger Hero campaign and we have chosen you as NK Fishline's Community Partner of the Month!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
This MONTH'S Most Needed Items: Holiday Foods!
We receive many requests all year round -- "what do you need the most at Fishline?" During this time period, the answer is: Holiday Food Items! Please use the following list when shopping for items to donate to those in need in our community! Turkeys and hams can be dropped off at Fishline; all other non-perishable items can be dropped off at a number of locations, including Albertson's and Central Market, or any of the ongoing food drives in our community. Click here to visit our calendar and to see where those are happening near you!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Fishline Celebrates October's Community Partner: Poulsbo Farmers Market
Everyone enjoys the hustle and bustle of a good farmer's market. The people, the vendors, the ready to eat food on site are just a few of the things that make the Poulsbo Farmers Market so special. The food is fresh, local, and sustainably grown and "the Poulsbo Farmers Market is without a doubt home to some of the best food in Kitsap County."
Monday mornings offer a wonderful array of fresh and vegetables during the summer thanks, in part, to the efforts made by two Fishline volunteers, Tricia and James Beene. They visit the Market twice on Saturdays, at the start to set up a Fishline donation table and at the end, to pick up the donated produce from each participating vendor. They return to the food bank to package and label all donations, readying them for the Monday morning client visits. They do this hard work each Saturday because of their personal belief that all should have access to farm-fresh, organic produce even if they can't always afford it.
Thank you to Poulsbo Farmer's Market for your commitment to the North Kitsap community and to Fishline. A special thanks to Brian Simmons, the Market Manager, Kat Cummings, the Market Assistant, Board President Paula Strid, and all the board members. We appreciate all that you do!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
You're Invited to the Poulsbo Farmer's Market Harvest Dinner!
On Sunday, October 6th at 5 pm, the Poulsbo Farmer’s Market will have its annual Harvest Dinner at MorMor in Poulsbo. This is a beautiful, fresh 3-course dinner made with local ingredients and prepared by Chef John Nesby of MorMor. There will also be a silent and live auction with some delightful offerings. We’re looking forward to this annual celebration!
This year, the Farmer’s Market has decided to split its proceeds with Fishline, an extraordinary gesture and a real help to us. If you are interested in attending, the tickets are $75 and can be purchased through Fishline. Please email me at director@nkfishline.org if you want us to reserve a spot for you or friends and family.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Fishline's School Supply Program: A Community Project From Start to Finish
The beginning of the school year is an exciting time for families. New classes, old friends, many kids are very eager to return to school. One of the important rituals during this time is school shopping. This would include shopping for clothes, shoes, and school supplies. For a family in need, this inspiring time of year can be very stressful.
In place for over 9 years, the North Kitsap Fishline School Supply Program has worked with families to ease this stress. Kathy Smith, the coordinator of the program, works diligently with local churches and businesses to ensure it's success.
Mid-summer, every year, Kathy recruits volunteers from the community, not just the seasoned volunteers from Fishline, but others as well. She reaches out to local businesses and churches -- while many step up on their own. This event is one that many organizations have on their calendar annually. These groups then have school supply drives at their business locations or coordinate events with their parishes to stock up their share of donations.
At the end of the school supply drive, the items are inventoried, sorted, and packed based on grade level and supply requirement lists from the schools. Children and teenage volunteers are asked to pack the backpacks for their peers, an experience that many of them learn a lot from. It's important that young people in the community understand that people in need are not only in need of food, but every day things that might be taken for granted.
In 2012, our program served 251 students in the North Kitsap School District, grades K through 12. This year, we served 274 students. Families in need register their children at the food bank during the same period of time that we are collecting supplies. Many of the older kids who need supplies come in and register themselves. Participants can expect to receive standard school supplies, such as binders, paper, pencils, and pens or everything on the pre-printed lists provided by the schools. These are all packed neatly in sturdy backpacks, purchased with monies generously donated by the community. This year, the program received approximately $5795 in in-kind donations.
Kathy Smith, NK Fishline School Supply Drive Coordinator |
Each family is assigned a time to come and pick up their backpacks. The time slots are spaced out to be discreet, and to give the students time to choose extra items from our bin of miscellaneous supplies that have been collected. It's not exactly school shopping, but the kids are excited to receive the items and parents are relieved and grateful. It's this exchange that makes the program well worth the 120+ hours of volunteer time!
After registered families collect their backpacks, the extra supplies and packed bags are distributed to the local schools, for financially challenged kids that may come in during the school year. If these run out at the schools, parents can also come to the food bank and request help. Items in storage help to meet these needs all year long. The schools are also aware that they can contact Kathy if they have families come in and need help with supplies.
A huge thanks to Kathy Smith for all her very hard work. As coordinator of this much needed program, she commits many hours of volunteer time towards this community supported project and we are so grateful for her efforts. Read her letter of thanks to the North Kitsap community here.
To learn more about our school supply program or to contribute to these and other programs, please visit our webpage at www.nkfishline.org.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Fishline Celebrates September's Community Partner: Marina Market
In it’s second year, the Poulsbo Brew Crawl, sponsored by Marina Market -- raised over $3200! This money will be dedicated to Food for Thought, our weekend meal program for children in need. This fun event brought together three Poulsbo breweries: Slippery Pig, Sound Brewery, and Valholl Brewing, and invited customers to fill their Brewery Passports with stamps that earned Fishline money with each purchase. The event culminated with a BBQ at Fishline on Sunday, August 25th -- where people were could eat, drink, and take tours of the food bank.
Andrea shares her motivation with us on her passion for Fishline, "I grew up in and around Washington D.C.. As a child Activist, I saw then what I still believe today- you cannot strive for Liberty or the Pursuit of Happiness without Life. In this case Life being as simple as a daily meal.
Most of the people in these United States came here looking for a new and better lives for their families. I don't believe anyone came here to be hungry or homeless, they came looking for dignity. Dignity is what Fishline gives to our neighbors, and that is why I love everything about it and its care giving people."
Many thanks to Andrea and to Marina Market, our Community Partner for the month of September. We love your creativity when putting the “FUN” into “fundraising” and are so grateful to have neighbors like you!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Letter from the Director: Hope & Optimism During Trying Times
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Hunger Heroes: Our Friends at Hot Shots Java!
If you have been to Hot Shots Java in Poulsbo, then you have no doubt noticed the basket of goldfish crackers on the countertop while waiting for your drink. This creative fundraising project, which started with their Fishbowl for Fishline, has evolved into a year long endeavor for the local business.
Leanne Musgrove, the owner of Hot Shots Java, encourages her entire team to get involved with the packing and selling of the goldfish crackers. At a $1 a bag, it's a great snack for all their customers, young and old alike. This week Leanne awarded Executive Director Mary Nader with a check for $500, an amount that had been collected for Fishline from the Fishbowl and goldfish cracker sales alone. This check will go towards Fishline's school supply drive and Food for Thought program, two very important programs for families in need during this time of year.
Special thanks to Hot Shots Java for this fun fundraiser they have created for Fishline. Be sure to join them starting this Friday and throughout the school year for their "Study Buddy" program: Buy One Drink, Receive the 2nd for 50% off when you come in with your books to do homework and study!