Message from the Director: Helping People in Need Find Their Greatness

When a local resident comes to Fishline for help, it is often after many months of worry. Like perhaps we might be if we faced hard times, the strong, self-reliant part of our nature insists that we can handle our troubles. It can be embarrassing to admit we can't handle them alone.

But some life situations are so persistent, so hard to resolve that we reach an impasse. That's when it takes all the courage one can muster to travel up Third Avenue and enter a world you never thought you would. But it is then that you realize that the hardest part is walking through the door - it becomes so much easier after that. Fishline professionals and volunteers are highly skilled in welcoming troubled visitors with caring and non-judgmental hearts.

We recognize the fragile nature of these first-time visitors, and we treat them with the respect and admiration they are due. We listen, we encourage and then we go about building a plan. Stabilization includes food, housing and other essentials, so we start there. This sometimes is enough until something changes in the difficult situation and things improve. A job comes through or a potential roommate is found. Or health gets better and work hours increase. When life gets back on course, these grateful neighbors often turn out to be the donors of the future.

This is the best-case outcome and the reason why Fishline is here. But there are some of our clients who, for various reasons, are not recovering from their crisis quickly. Perhaps the work they were doing is no longer available, requiring a career reorientation or retraining. Maybe they are working but have not learned to budget, and their money often doesn't make it to the end of the month. Perhaps depression and discouragement have taken hold, and confidence in working toward a better future is lost. These are scenarios that don't bode well for self-sufficiency unless they are addressed with a more systemic approach.

Because we have relationships with folks in a way not shared by many in our community, it affords us an opportunity to bring about real and lasting change in a direction of personal prosperity. So we are hoping to offer education and counseling needed to break the cycle of poverty. We want to provide seminars on topics such as budgeting, tips on downsizing, job location and nutrition. We'll work with our community partners to gather their expertise and wisdom and make it available for our clients. Fishline has relationships with mental health professionals and family counselors, and we wish to further cultivate these options for our clients.

By taking our services in this direction, we offer the "hand-up" approach that helps our clients find the tools they need to contribute to our community and gain the self respect that comes as a result. We all deserve a chance to find our greatness.

Reach us at info@nkfishline.org to learn more about this opportunity to teach or learn.

Fishline Celebrates March's Community Partner: Blue Heron Jewelry

  
For the second Christmas in a row, Blue Heron Jewelry has organized a fundraiser for Fishline that has been an extraordinary success. By offering their customers a coupon for a significant percentage off their purchase price, Blue Heron donates that reduction to Fishline. In this way, customers receive a great deal and donate to a great cause at the same time. It is an elegant, innovative holiday tradition for which Fishline is very grateful. A total of almost $6,000 has been raised between the two campaigns, an amazing gift that comes at the perfect time to help many families during the winter months. 

Throughout the year, Blue Heron and its owner, Leo Fried, also assists us by analyzing jewelry that is donated to our thrift shop, Second Season, to determine its value and assure we sell the pieces for what they are worth. This is a service that helps us raise money all year, something we could not do without their expertise.

Blue Heron is a friend to Fishline and its clients, expressing its support in many ways over the years. It is with our gratitude that we select this fine merchant as our Community Partner of the Month for March.

Blue Heron Jewelry Located on Front Street in the heart of Historic Downtown Poulsbo, between Sluy's Bakery and Jensen Way NE.  Please visit and "like" their Facebook page!

Shiny NEW Parking at Second Season Thrift Store!

 

If you have tried to shop in Downtown Poulsbo in the last few weeks, you were likely greeted with big signs and arrows redirecting you somewhere else! There was some serious work being done to the parking lot! The changes have been tedious, but well worth the wait! Jan Henson, from Second Season Thrift Store took the pictures above of the different stages of construction. 

  

We are so happy that the parking lot is done -- but we are especially thrilled about the improvements made to the area directly in front of Second Season Thrift Store:  a designated LOADING & UNLOADING area for deliveries and donations!! This area is much needed and will helps to improve things for our customers, volunteers, and those who graciously donate their items for resale!  This Saturday, March 9th we will have a special 50% off everything* sale to celebrate the new parking lot!

Many thanks to the Mayor, the City Council, and the City Planners for making this change!

*Sale does not include jewelry or special furniture items.

This Week's Most Needed Items

Do you use a shopping list?  For many people, this is considered the best way to stay organized, save money, and most importantly:  not forget anything! 

For Fishline clients, the luxury of a shopping list is not always possible.  Some clients struggle to make their monthly, weekly, and even daily needs.  We are happy to be available to help with our Daily Market and Eboxes, just two of the food services that we offer. 

When you are making your shopping list this week -- we hope you will remember Fishline, and add a few of our most needed items to your list!

Canned fruit is a great option for our clients, all throughout the year.  Collection bins for NK Fishline at Albertsons, Central Market, Red Apple, and Starbucks.  Please consider picking up some cans of canned fruit and dropping it off at these locations.

Canned Chili can provide a round meal option for our clients.  This item can be donated at any food drives or collection bins at Albertson's, Central Market, Red Apple Grocery Store, or Starbucks in Poulsbo.   

Bottled water can be donated at any of the above locations.  Large multi-bottle packages can also be dropped off directly at the food bank.  We also recycle and collect empty water bottles.  These can also be dropped off at the food bank.  

Diapers (Sizes 3, 4, 5 & 6) There is always a need for baby/toddler sized diapers 3, 4, 5, and 6. These can be dropped off at the food bank, Albertson's, Red Apple, or Central Market!  

Home Share: An Affordable-Housing Option

When Ms. Smith moved into her two-bedroom bungalow, she could well afford the $750 monthly rent.

Five years later, she found herself very ill with diabetes, out of work and not eligible for medical insurance with the state. The light at the end of the tunnel was still 18 months away when she would turn 65 and be eligible for a Social Security pension and Medicare. In the meantime, she had unemployment of $165 per week on which to live.

To complicate matters,  she also had two beloved pets she simply could not bear to part with. She knew she could no longer afford the rent and would have to leave her rental, but with no family in the area, where could she afford to live on $660 per month? Where would she find the money to pay for the deposit, the first and last month’s rent, the electricity deposit, the moving van?

With the looming fear of living in her car or a shelter,  Ms. Smith visited Fishline for answers. She was introduced to the Home Share Program, which offered her what seemed to be a small miracle. Her landlord approved a second individual in the home and a roommate was located and screened. The roommate paid half the rent and utilities. Ms. Smith was able to stay in her rental, keep her pets, and the roommate was equally as happy to have found a secure and affordable housing option for herself and her cat.

In these trying financial times, it takes very little to upset the stability we have come to rely upon.  An illness, loss of job or a family crisis can quickly lead to homelessness for the most unlikely of people.  While we cannot solve all the housing issues of our economic times, we have created a “housing bridge” to link home providers and home seekers to a temporary solution for an immediate and urgent problem.

Each and every Home Share situation is unique and should be considered a viable option for anyone seeking affordable housing options. Home owners at risk of foreclosure can access the Home Share Program to place a renter in the home and supplement the house payment.  Individuals and couples with limited incomes can access the Home Share Program to find a room for rent,  making life a bit easier until their income improves or they are able to get into low income housing.

Anyone interested in applying for  the Home Share Program should contact North Kitsap Fishline at 779-5190.

— Rae Rodriguez is client services manager for North Kitsap Fishline.  Contact her at info@nkfishline.org.

This article was originally printed on Friday, February 22, 2013 in the North Kitsap Herald as part of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors series.

Happy Retirement Party for Gavin!

On Feb 1st, friends and volunteers of NK Fishline got together to wish Gavin a happy retirement! The group celebrated at Tisley's Europub to thank Gavin for his services and wish him well! 

It's time likes these that we are reminded that the NK Fishline team is very much a community of supportive friends and family.  Gavin announced his retirement in the first week of January.  We will miss him!

This Week's Most Needed Items: Second Season Donations

This week, on our most needed items -- Second Season comes to the top of the list.  For those of you that don't know, Second Season Thrift Store is located on the waterfront in downtown Poulsbo.  All the profit from the store goes directly to support NK Fishline.  

Think of Second Season when starting your spring cleaning this year.  Our donation bins are in need of restocking, and we would greatly appreciate your gently used items.  

We accept clothing, home decor, small kitchen items, linens, and books in  gently used and excellent condition for resell.  You can drop your donations off during business hours:  Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.  Our address is 18825 Anderson Parkway, directly across from the waterfront.  

Please note, we do not accept the following items:  electronics, baby furniture, mattresses, used toys, exercise equipment.


Other needed items this week:

Please continue to think of NK Fishline when grocery shopping.  

We are still in need of fresh produce.  While we focus on canned and non-perishable good for food drives and other collections around the community, we also accept fresh produce at the food bank.  We have a shortage of fresh items this time of year for lettuce, broccoli, and other greens.  Donations of these fresh items can be dropped of at the food bank between 8am and 3:30pm on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday and as late as 7pm on Wednesdays.  

Diapers
Diapers! We always need diapers! Please drop off your diapers at the food bank or at any of our collection bins located at Albertson's, Central Market, or Red Apple.