Monday, December 14, 2015

Christmas Gifts at Fishline!


Last week Vicky & her husband bought 15 Christmas trees for us to give away in the Market! When Olmstead's Nursery learned that she was buying them for Fishline, they gave her a greatly reduced price...so that she could buy more than the 5 she thought she could afford! Thank you neighbors!


Vanessa Elliott shared this cuter than cute photo of her kids in front of one of the donated trees! 


Thursday, November 5, 2015

Fishline Hosts Free Health Clinic



POULSBO — A food bank doubled as a doctor’s office Wednesday as North Kitsap Fishline hosted the first of what will become a monthly free clinic.
Clients had their blood pressure taken by a nurse in a lobby outside the Fishline food market, while others talked with doctors in private consultation rooms. A Kitsap Public Health District nurse offered flu shots to anyone who walked through the door.
Fishline Executive Director Mary Nader said a free clinic fits naturally with the food bank’s expanding mission. Medical care represents a huge expense for families struggling to make ends meet.
“It’s a big part of the reason why our clients face economic instability,” Nader said.
Offering free primary care in a familiar setting can help address the need, she said.
“This is how we’re going to create long-term change,” Nader said. “Getting at the root of the problem.”
Fishline is working with the nonprofit West Sound Free Clinic to provide no-cost care at its campus off Viking Avenue on the first Wednesday of each month. Fishline is the fourth location for the free clinic, and the first outside Bremerton. The mobile clinic served 307 patients in the past year.
West Sound Free Clinic co-director and nurse Carrie Bivens said she hasn’t seen the need for free care diminish in the county, even since the rollout of the Affordable Care Act extended health insurance to more residents. More than 20,000 people in Kitsap have obtained coverage through Washington’s health exchange, either by purchasing qualified health plans or signing up for the state’s expanded Medicaid program.
But there still is a portion of the county’s population that isn’t insured, including about 30 percent of Fishline clients. Bivens said some people who have coverage can’t afford the out-of-pocket fees required when they use their plans.
“They flat out can’t afford insurance even if they have it,” Bivens said.
For those residents, West Sound Free Clinic is one of the few options for receiving primary care locally. Bivens said many of the patients the program helps are homeless. A significant number are immigrants.
Founded in 2012, the clinic is staffed by a small team of volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners. The providers offer health screenings and treat a wide range of common maladies, like colds, infections, aches and pains. The clinic works with other organizations to provide free medications, lab tests, medical imaging and specialty care as needed.
Bivens said she finds the volunteer work particularly rewarding. Since the services are free, there’s no insurance paperwork to worry about. Providers take their time getting to know patients.
“You get to practice medicine in its purest form,” Bivens said. “This is really why we all got into this in the first place.”
Good as that might sound, recruiting providers remains the free clinic’s biggest challenge. Host organizations like Fishline have been eager to partner with the clinic, but Medical Director Dr. Patrick Casy said the group can’t expand into more areas of the county unless additional physicians and nurse practitioners volunteer.
“If we could find more providers, we could open more clinics,” he said.

FREE CLINICWest Sound Free Clinic provides no-cost care on four days each month:
  • 4-7 p.m. first Wednesday each month at North Kitsap Fishline, 787 NW Liberty Lane, Poulsbo.
  • 5-7 p.m. second Monday each month at St. Vincent de Paul, 1117 N. Callow Ave., Bremerton.
  • 1-4 p.m. fourth Tuesday each month at YWCA, 905 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.
  • 1-4 p.m. fourth Thursday each month at St. Vincent de Paul, 1117 N. Callow Ave., Bremerton.
For information, call 206-659-5631.

This article was originally posted in the Kitsap Sun, November 4, 2015.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Props with Purpose: Kitsap Weekly


 The midcentury ceramic lamp with floral design in relief had a story, had witnessed an actress’s home life in Beverly Hills, provided a comforting glow in an apartment overlooking a park in Signal Hill, and made a statement in my home for 17 years.
 
And it was time for this sentimentalist to let it go.

It wasn’t easy — it had long belonged to my dad and stepmom, gifted to them by the family friend who had inherited it — but taking it to Second Season Home Store somehow made letting go … painless.

At Second Season Home Store, all proceeds from sales support North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank & Emergency Services. And items sold at Second Season Home Store find themselves in a good home for a good price.

“You can give new life to some forgotten things,” said Felicia Kratzer, the home store’s new manager. “You can sell that item in a yard sale, but that’s not the answer. Fishline has a tried and true history of helping people, so you can feel good [about donating it to Second Season]. You’ll never know how you helped someone who needed a little bit of a hand up.”

In short: Garage space saved, an item gets new life in a new home, and another strand is woven into the local safety net.

Second Season Home Store is tucked away on 3rd Avenue near City Hall, in the former North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank, which moved to Viking Avenue in May 2014.


This post was originally published in the North Kitsap Herald on Oct 1, 2015.  

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Fishline's Got a New Ride!

It's finally ready! After many months of anticipation, our new van is ready and fully adorned for use! Many thanks to the community, Poulsbo Rotary, North Point Church, and the Birkenfeld Foundation whose generous donations helped to purchase this much appreciated (and needed!) vehicle. Also to John Wein at Johnny K Designs, pictured here. Johnny did the lettering on our other van and a super job on our new van for no charge! Honk & wave hello when you see us around town! 


 




Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Packing Backpacks!

Thank you to Girl Scout Troop 45095! These young ladies packed 90 backpacks this morning for our School Supplies program!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

There's a place for everyone at Fishline!

A Fishline friend brought his baby goats to help clear the weeds, proof that there's a place for everyone at Fishline! ‪#‎volunteersneeded‬ ‪#‎shareyourgifts‬ ‪#‎anyonecanbeavolunteer‬ ‪#‎joinourteam‬


Join our volunteer team today by emailing volunteer@nkfishline.org! 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Summer is No Vacation from Hunger & Homelessness

Summer is No Vacation from Hunger & Homelessness! At Fishline we work hard to provide for those in need from January to December. Donations during June, July and August slow down greatly as people take vacations, change to a summer schedule, and are generally busier with seasonal activities. We need your help! We appreciate your donations of canned goods, non-perishable boxed items, and pet food. We are especially low on cat food! Your donations can be dropped off at the food bank during business hours, and at our blue barrels at Red Apple, Central Market, and Liberty Bay Bank.

Friday, July 17, 2015

We Welcome Group Volunteers for Special Events and Work Parties!

Big thanks to the USS Nevada GOLD crew second class association for coming in and volunteering at Fishline today, we appreciate you!! ‪#‎usnavy‬ ‪#‎neighborshelpingneighbors‬ ‪#‎nkfishline‬


Girl Scout Troop 44498 decided to use a portion of their cookie money earned this year to put together health and hygiene packs for our homeless clients at Fishline. Earlier this week Brenna Abrahamsen and Tegan Stanford, two of the 15 girls in the brownie troop stopped by to deliver them! Thank you Girl Scouts and to their troop leader, Mary Krukar! ‪#‎nkfishline‬ ‪#‎girlscouts‬ ‪#‎neighborshelpingneighbors‬


We welcome groups of volunteers for work parties and special projects! Contact volunteer@nkfishline.org! 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Letter from the Director: Fishline State Grant to Further Our Mission and Growth


Last year, Fishline submitted a request to the State of Washington for Legislative Appropriation support during the State’s 2015/2016 budget cycle.  Early support from our local legislators and city leadership helped Fishline secure a place at the top of the preferred funding list, but we knew that this would be a unique session – proven by the three special sessions needed to formalize an agreement. 

After holding our breath for many months, we received word that the State has granted Fishline $625,000 for its capital projects.  This extraordinary funding will combine with our Birkenfeld Foundation grant to draw down our new mortgage and allow us to move forward with our plans to build an extension for storage and food processing. 

You cannot imagine the joy we feel knowing we can proceed with the work we are doing, affirmed by this generous support and the support of so many others.  To operate out of this special new facility, is a gift that will give today and for decades to come.


 Many people came together to make this possible, including a hearty team of board members who helped write the grant, but we are especially grateful to Rep. Drew Hansen, Rep. Sherry Appleton and Sen. Christine Rolfes for supporting us with such passion and determination.  They fought hard for us.  And it was Mayor Becky Erickson’s early efforts to inform us about this funding then shepherding it through both houses, even offering to drive to Olympia to lobby on our behalf, which were consistent throughout and have made all the difference.

Thanks to all of you for your dedication to the Fishline mission and for the awesome facility and services that you have made possible.  Now with the help of this capital campaign, we can assure Fishline’s security and ability to serve this community for as long as people need us.  Congratulations to you all for your good work and inspiring example.

Sincerely,
Mary Nader
Executive Director

Friday, June 12, 2015

Hailey's Harvest Drops Off Items for the Homeless!





Today Hailey (Hailey's Harvest) and her family dropped by Fishline with the following items for our homeless clients: a check to cover the cost of 10 PO boxes for a year, I was able to give North Kitsap Fishline a check to cover the cost of 10 PO boxes for a year, 11 tents, 18 sleeping bags, 14 backpacks, 10 phones, 14 tarps, 4 portable showers, 30 ID pouches, 10 packages of batteries, 40 packages of antibiotic cream, 4 cases of Hot Hands, 24 first aid kits, 9 feminine hygiene products, 50 traveling sunscreen packets, 4 cases of Advil, and a package of diapers. She received all of these donations through the registry she set up on Amazon after meeting with us about the best way she could help the homeless. Thank you Hailey for your AMAZING work and to all who donated to her. These items are greatly appreciated and will be distributed through Fishline to help those who need them the most! You can visit the Amazon registry here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/share-reg/ref=… and her website here: www.haileysharvest.com to learn more about Hailey and her projects.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Fishline Current: June 10

Fishline Current: Upcoming Events, Classes and Reminders! 

 


Our SOS program (Stability, Opportunity, Success) goes beyond our basis services and works closely with other providers and agencies to offer our clients a  path beyond difficult times: by offering classes, providing job support, and giving our clients access to training and workshops.

Here are our confirmed SOS classes for the month of June and July, 2015:
The resource room will not be available during classes!  If you plan to attend a workshop or class, please call ahead to make sure that it has not been cancelled.


Rotary Readers at Fishline
THIS Friday, June 12 from 11am to 12pm

The Poulsbo Rotary Club and Fishline have launched an early literacy pilot project called Rotary Readers: Read to Me (0 to 5).  During the program a brand new book will be given to parents or primary caregivers of children aged newborn to 5. The book will be given in a blue bag along with learning skills developmental information and ideas for use of the book.  Parents will also be given a calendar for the month to note upon which date the child was read to.
Please note: parents will be asked to survey the program after participating so that we can improve the class if needed.  The books purchased from a grant by the Poulsbo Rotary Club match the age-level interests for the child.
You must sign up in the lobby for of Fishline for this class.
Meet & Greet
Peninsula Community Health Services
Monday, June 22, 10am to 2pm
Peninsula Community Health Services will be in the Fishline lobby on Monday, June 22 from 10am to 2pm to do a casual "Meet and Greet" with Fishline clients.
Representatives will be available from to answer questions about Apple Health, the Washington State Benefit Exchange and services provided by PCHS.

Rotary Readers at Fishline
Wednesday, June 24 from 5pm to 6pm

The Poulsbo Rotary Club and Fishline have launched an early literacy pilot project called Rotary Readers: Read to Me (0 to 5).  During the program a brand new book will be given to parents or primary caregivers of children aged newborn to 5. The book will be given in a blue bag along with learning skills developmental information and ideas for use of the book.  Parents will also be given a calendar for the month to note upon which date the child was read to.
Please note: parents will be asked to survey the program after participating so that we can improve the class if needed.  The books purchased from a grant by the Poulsbo Rotary Club match the age-level interests for the child.
You must sign up in the lobby for of Fishline for this class.
 
Grow A Row: Gardening Class
July 15, 3:30 to 6pm
Vegetable Gardening for Adults taught by WSU Kitsap County Extension Master Gardeners.  Learn the basics of organic vegetable gardening in a two and one half hour overview class.  Topics covered will be site selection and analysis, soil building, plant selection, pest and disease prevention/management, and garden maintenance.  Students will be able to do a simple soil test of their garden soil and will take home informational handouts.  This class will be held on July 15, 3:30 to 6pm.  You must sign up in the lobby of Fishline for this class.

Fishing for Answers: Understanding Your Credit Report
Wednesday, July 29, 5:30 to 7pm

Fishline Conference Room
Why is it important to have good credit?
What if I have questions about my credit report?
How can I build or repair my credit?
Meet with a banking professional and learn more about how to understand your credit report and what it means for your future. You won't want to miss this opportunity to ask questions about your credit report and get answers that make sense for you!
Please register for this class by calling Kitsap Community Resources at (360) 478-2301 or by signing up in the lobby at Fishline. Email questions to nkfishline@gmail.com.

Ongoing Classes:
 
"How to Find the Hidden Job Market in Kitsap County" Mondays, from 12pm to 3pm Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm And other techniques for finding a job, including one on one job search assistance and free resumes.  These workshops will be held on Mondays, from 12pm to 3pm, and on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm.

Breath of Life, Tai Chi - Qi Gong/Wellness, Awareness, and Meditation
Tuesdays, 12:30 to 1pm
*Nelson Park, 317 Northwest Lindvig Way
Practice the ancient ways of breathing and movement to strengthen and enhance your body and mind.  It is a dynamic technique for tranquility in motion.  Sessions benefit all levels of skill and all ages, with special variations for disabilities.  Join us for a free session each Tuesdays at Nelson Park, 317 Northwest Lindvig Way, Tuesdays from 12:30pm to 1pm.  Wear comfortable, easy to move in clothing. Presented by Jillian Rifkind of Nourishing Life Acupunture and Julia Forrester of Tai Chi - Qi Gong. 
*NEW LOCATION! 

REMINDERS!
  • On Thursdays, we typically have  less food in the coolers.
  • Please make sure to bring your ID's to each visit. 
  • Please try to arrive 15 minutes prior to closing, especially Fridays.
THANK YOU!

Monday, June 1, 2015

Building Community Connections at Fishline

Fishline has been in the business of helping people for over 48 years, however we are really just an extension of something much larger than ourselves, that power we loosely attribute as “heartfelt compassion”.  Recently received calls from community members drive the point home:

“This kid is on my team and his family needs help, so I called you.” - local coach

“He is here from out of state and is asking for a hotel for the night, what do you advise?” – local pastor

“I want to bring this young Mother in to see you, she won’t come in on her own...” – local pastor

“This family is in crisis, can you help us find them shelter or housing?” – local tribal counselor

If you live in North Kitsap, you live among Neighbors who truly care about you and your well being. This community never ceases to amaze us in their advocacy for those less fortunate, going through a rough time, or experiencing a family crisis.

The calls we receive are calls for help, not only for the individual or the family involved but the community as a whole.

We could certainly choose to look the other way, or keep ourselves in the dark about the brokenness around us, but we choose to stand up and to support a movement for stability, opportunity and success for all who reside here.

Clients come from all walks of life, the military wife going through a divorce and starting her life over feeling discouraged and devastated who went on to become a mentor to unwed mothers and landed her dream job working with Head Start families. The man who had been a homeless drifter for 40 years and who came to call this his home, and now works part time at a local church and visits his mother at a close by nursing home. The college intern who is pursuing her career in addiction recovery and wanted to pay back Fishline for all the help offered to her in her times of struggle.

While we are able to stabilize the storm for most of our clients we want to do more. We want to get ahead of that crisis whenever possible. We want to wrap around clients with multiple barriers, we want to see providers use a team approach to support clients and one another in the journey. We want to see growth in community building projects and support groups.

We want there to be an intentional focus on building natural community connections (e.g., landlords, employers, ministers, neighbors, teachers, community centers, and coaches), and in the case of North Kitsap it is obvious that we have already conquered this important step. We want our neighbors to get help here in our community and without the barrier of setting and keeping appointments in Bremerton or Tacoma or Seattle.

We simply need to take the next step and create a model where we are cohesive across services and where self-determination and client choice are essential to success, and where shared case management is possible.

Will you support us in this mission? Will you be a part of strengthening your local community in such a way? We are in the process of creating something powerful and unique and would welcome your input and support; and please keep the calls coming, we are here to help you build our community to its best potential!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Recipes from the Market: Overnight Oatmeal Quick Fruit Breakfast Sundaes


Our volunteer Charlene continues to share yummy cooking tips with items that can be found in our market! Pictured here is a healthy and easy Oatmeal Sundae, that can be made with minimum prep work -- no stovetop cooking! 

Recipe:

Overnight Oatmeal Quick Fruit Breakfast Sundaes


In a pint jar (2 cups) with a lid, the basic proportion is equal parts oatmeal and liquid, either dairy milk or milk alternative, rice, almond, coconut. Add desired fruit and flavorings. 
For example:
• 2/3 cup oatmeal
• 2/3 cup milk, dairy or alternative
• 1/2 cup fruit, fresh, frozen or canned work fine
• Sweetener, if desired, such as jam, brown sugar, honey, stevia, applesauce, etc
• Flavoring, if desired, such as vanilla, cinnamon, other spices
• Add ins, if desired, such as nuts, yogurt, chia seeds, protein powder, etc.
Measure all ingredients into a pint jar, cover with a tight lid and shake gently. Put the jar in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight. In the morning you have a quick nutritious breakfast for one or two. It can also be heated quickly in the microwave or a minute if you prefer a hot oatmeal sundae. Kids love to make their own.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Stamp Out Hunger was a HUGE SUCCESS!


Thank you to all our Poulsbo letter carriers who picked up food this past Saturday for Stamp Out Hunger! These hard working carriers are not required to participate in this annual event, yet ALL of the local routes opted in! Just another example of how awesome our community is -- thank you!





A big thank you to the 100+ volunteers that showed up to help on Saturday. Your efforts helped us collect & sort 10,000+ lbs of food! And thanks again to the North Kitsap community, you make this event such a success year after year with your generous food donations!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Recipes from the Market: Lentils


On the menu this week? LENTILS! Commonly misunderstood but nutritious, delicious and cheap! Charlene made a salad and a soup that filled the market with flavorful smells, attracting clients to try the delightful dishes and learn more about how to prepare them. Preprinted recipes were available to take, as were the ingredients needed to prepare these dishes. Just another way we are working to help improve client lives at Fishline! Thanks Charlene!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Volunteer Appreciation Week at NK Fishline

Since 1967, thousands of volunteers have served our community through NK Fishline by giving their time, talent and heart. Currently, we have over 250 volunteers who are actively making a difference in the lives of our neighbors. These past and present volunteers are the soul of our organization and we could not serve the community without them.



There are no words to describe the incredible people we have working at NK Fishline. I know this because I do my best to express my gratitude to and for them every day. The sensation that fills my heart each morning as I work is unexplainable, but I will do my best to elaborate.

Picture a dark, soggy, blustery Monday morning in the middle of December. It’s 7:30am and I am sitting at my desk with a view of a large vacant parking lot. Minutes silently pass and then I hear a vehicle pulling in, then more headlights and another car, followed by another, and yet another. Within minutes, my quiet workplace is a buzzing hive of activity. I hear laughter, salutations, and even exclamations of delight as volunteers reconnect after time spent apart. Boxes are being shuffled and sorted and carts roll across the concrete floor. The market has come alive and in this eventful commotion my heart smiles. This is no ordinary place of business; this is NK Fishline where neighbors come to serve their neighbors and make a difference in the lives of others. This is a place where volunteering means you are part of a family and service is done amongst friends.


Our market operates with over 145 regularly scheduled volunteers a week. These selfless individuals come to sort thousands of pounds of food each day and make our market a warm and friendly place for our clients.

Volunteers at Second Season sort through mountains of clothing donations, while volunteers at Second Season Home Store breathe new life into gently used furniture. These stores boast impressive sales with over 80 volunteers working together to provide quality clothing, decor and furniture to our local community, knowing the proceeds will be returning to our facilities and neighbors in need.

In addition to our market and stores, there are many volunteers you will never meet. These volunteers are behind the scenes entering data, making calls to follow up on clients, and working on our computers and software. They may be out of sight, however, they are never forgotten when it comes to our success.

Some might think it’s overwhelming to have so many volunteers running an organization, but the only thing overpowering is the feeling of gratitude I have for the volunteers. They come rain or shine, when many would find curling up with a good book or getting their own chores done better time spent.

It is truly a privilege to work alongside such incredible people. If I were to try and verbalize this feeling, it would be an amalgam of love, admiration, hope, and gratitude. Every day I watch a stream of volunteers bring our facilities to life. My faith in this world is renewed daily as I witness generosity, empathy, and compassion from my neighbors. Words are not enough; nonetheless, I will say this from my heart with adoration and respect: Thank you to those who give their lives to others, especially the volunteers of NK Fishline. You are a gift to our community that cannot be measured.

-Marie Hobson, Volunteer Manager

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Lead Volunteer Position Available



A leading volunteer position available at NK Fishline

If you like interior design, have a little management background and can spare 15-20 hours a week, we invite you to consider applying for our Second Season Home Store Manager position. Our new Fishline business is off to a great start and shows much promise to grow to become an even more successful downtown retail merchant. This volunteer position will give you an opportunity to make a difference in our community by managing a dedicated group of volunteers and leading our Second Season Home Store to the next level of success.


The position includes these responsibilities:

  • Site manager, overseeing volunteers, donations, sales and administrative functions.
  • Responsible for the basic budget of the store and coordinating pricing guidelines.
  • Serve as liaison to Second Season Thrift Store and the Fishline staff, attending bi-monthly staff meetings and providing monthly status reports to management.
  • Encourage consistent stream of inventory, including monitoring donation standards and calibrating pricing to assist in quick turnover of our items.

Other desired attributes of the Store Manager are an ability to work well with customers and volunteers, some on-call availability, light lifting of furniture items, and the ability to work as a team.

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, contact Mary Nader at director@nkfishline.org or call 779-4191 by March 13.
 

*This is a nonpaid volunteer position

We also have openings for volunteers at both Second Season stores and the food bank. Contact volunteer@nkfishline.org to apply for a volunteer position.