Share Your Love at Fishline!

 

Share your love this week at Fishline! Surprise your Valentine with a gift given in your name:

- make a donation this week at www.northkitsapfishline.org,
- include a note that includes your Valentine's name and email address
- we will send them an e-card letting them know that a donation was made thinking of them!

Fishline's Community Cookbook: 50 Years of Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Fishline is now accepting recipes for consideration in our upcoming cookbook: 50 Years of Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Fishline’s Community Cookbook. 

We hope to collect 300+ recipes from our amazing staff, tireless volunteers, loyal community partners and generous supporters.  So please send your family favorite, best-ever, easiest to make, most delicious recipe by May 24, 2016. And, reach out to your friends, family and neighbors and ask that they submit a recipe, too. 

You can submit a recipe one of three ways: 

1. by email to recipe@FishlineCookbook.org;
2. by dropping off a printed copy at one of our three locations noted below; or
3. by completing a form available at one of our three locations. 

Please include the following information with your submission:

• Full name
• Phone
• Email
• Fishline Connection (volunteer, client, community, supporter, other)
• May we use your name in our cookbook? (yes or no)
• Recipe title
• How many it serves
• Ingredients and directions
• Brief description of why this recipe is special to you (e.g., grandmother made it, child’s favorite, easy to make, etc.)
• Any special notes on preparation (e.g., freezes well, can be prepared in advance, etc.)

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.

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.

Working Together Towards the Day When No One is Hungry or Homeless

The efforts to increase the minimum wages in Sea-Tac and Seattle shed light on a problem that most communities have been experiencing in recent years. For many on the low end of the income scale, wages are not keeping up with costs, forcing hard-working families to work longer hours and more jobs, yet still finding themselves falling behind. 

An increasing number of families are having to face the painful reality that, even though they are working those long hours and making many sacrifices, their budget numbers are just not adding up. Increasing costs of living are not being compensated for in their paychecks. Each month, there is less discretionary income and less room for unexpected bills. 

This problem of diminishing buying power becomes stark and real when you take a moment to do the math. Even a dollar or two above minimum wage will bring in just enough to pay prevailing rental costs for the least expensive of our housing options. By the time you add the cost of utilities, gasoline and health care insurance, the only course of action is to find another job. Winter utility bills, the cost of day care and the increasing cost of food can't be covered without extra income. 

We hear these stories of survival from our clients every day. After all the necessary bills are paid, there is just not enough money to buy food. Eligibility for SNAP food stamp benefits excludes most working families because their meager incomes are above the maximum requirement to qualify. So having access to nutritious food at Fishline is, for some, life saving. Their shelves would be empty without it. But also concerning is the relentless pressure that so many families feel - as one client recently put it, "I just want to have a life when not every week is a financial struggle." 

At Fishline, we work hard to keep families safe and secure during a life crisis while also offering regular access to nutrition for those living in persistent poverty. We can help stretch a family's budget, at least temporarily, easing the daily tensions. But is there more we can do? 

Addressing a grave concern that 42% of children raised in poverty will live adult lives in poverty, more organizations like Fishline are shifting their focus from crisis intervention to crisis avoidance and long-term potential by offering those who are in need options before the crisis occurs, increasing avenues for opportunity and education and supporting those who wish to further their own security by going to school or learning a new trade. 

Access to living-wage jobs is the most important key to breaking the cycle of poverty, but the reality is that there are not enough of these jobs for everyone. The number of applicants for any decent job is poignant proof of that. Perhaps the more revolutionary approach would be to make all jobs living-wage jobs, certainly one of the motivating factors behind the push to increase the minimum wage in Seattle. 

Until that day comes, we must find other ways to offer opportunity and financial stability for all citizens. This age-old problem is not unsolvable, but like most perplexing problems, it is best approached gradually. To buck macroeconomics, and take control locally to create a different and more just economic dynamic, won't be easy. That shouldn't stop us from trying. 

Voltaire once said, "No problem can stand the assault of sustained thinking." Keeping the thinking going, and drawing out the good ideas of our neighbors then gathering support to move them forward, is the inspiration behind our free community viewing of "A Place at the Table". It is a compelling documentary that highlights the struggles of three families, while "showing how the issue could be solved forever, once the American public decides—as they have in the past—that ending hunger is in the best interests of us all." Join us on June 29 from 3 to 5 o'clock at North Point Church, watch the movie, and join us for the community discussion that will follow. 

It might just be that the economy of the future will change from the grassroots, organically driven by inventive, inspired local communities creating the world they want for their children. That kind of power is available to all of us and can move mountains. Creating a future where no one is hungry or homeless is surely worth the effort.

FLASH FOOD DRIVE: Help us reach our goal of 5,000 lbs of food by June 15th!

On the Saturday before Mother’s Day each year, area food banks anticipate the Stamp Out Hunger food drive as its primary way to fill the shelves for the long summer of need.

This year, the Stamp Out Hunger bags that typically go with the cards into your mailbox, and serve as a great reminder to give, were not delivered as planned. Our Post Office did not receive the bags for distribution and couldn’t resolve the problem in time for the food drive.
The result was a staggering drop in donations from previous years. Though the numbers are not in yet, we expect that we will have received only about 30 percent of last year’s drive totals.

Entering into this time of year without the food support that we anticipated is worrisome and can mean that Fishline will run out of food in June instead of August or September.

We hope that we can rally the support of our community and find a way to replace the donations that were missed during this important drive. If you normally donate during Stamp Out Hunger and did not have the opportunity this past weekend, please fill a bag to help feed a family now.  You can drop off your bags at our new location at 787 Liberty Lane NW (off Viking Avenue) or at any of our dropboxes throughout town, including the ones at Central Market, Albertsons and Red Apple. 

Help us reach our goal of 5,000 pounds of food donations by June 15.

 
Our community has always made sure that we have enough to serve the neighbors who most need our help, and we know that this year will be no exception. Thank you to all those who donated during Stamp Out Hunger and to all those who will help us out this summer.

Mary Nader 
Executive Director, North Kitsap Fishline

Fishline Opens at New Location

Fishline customer Allen Alexander, of Poulsbo, shops for produce Tuesday. Photo by:  Larry Steagall

POULSBO — North Kitsap Fishline nearly doubled in size Tuesday morning when it opened the doors to its new Poulsbo location. The nonprofit, which provides food, housing assistance and other resources to community members in need, is now in the 5,500-square-foot building on Liberty Lane that once housed Poulsbo RV. The old location, along a one-way section of Third Avenue, was 3,100 square feet, according to Executive Director Mary Nader. The shopping market area for clients is three times bigger, going from 400 square feet to 1,200 square feet.

Before its 10 a.m. opening Tuesday, volunteers helped unload food trucks as the sun shined through windows from the bay doors brightening the market and nearby storage areas. While clients and volunteers rave about the building space and its cheery feel, clients are especially happy with the available parking. The old location had six parking spots, while the new site has at least 60 with room for loading trucks. “The parking is a big thing and the bathrooms for the little kids,” said Allen Alexander, a Fishline client. The Third Avenue location did not have a public restroom, but the new building has a restroom in the front lobby for clients as well as a second one for staff and volunteers.

Alexander, who volunteered at local food banks decades ago, now is retired and struggles to make his fixed Social Security income meet his basic needs, like many retirees, he said. He praised Fishline and its volunteers for making the smaller site, where it had been since 1999, work so well.


“We were really squeezed in before. We just worked around it together,” Alexander said.
Since 2008, Fishline has seen demand for services double, causing its former location to feel a little smaller each year. It serves about 130 families a day, distributing between 5,000 and 7,000 pounds of food.

“You were knocking into each other. It wasn’t (Fishline’s) fault. It was just so tiny,” said Nancy Satterlee, another Fishline client. “I think people are happier now.”

Nader acknowledged the physical limitations of the old site, which prompted the nonprofit’s move, she said.

It wasn’t just the market that was cramped. Office space was limited, and there was no place to meet privately with clients, Nader said. Food preparation areas were tight. Walkways were limited to one person at a time. Food had to be stored off-site at three locations and volunteers had to toss bags of potatoes and wheel boxes of onions out of the way before a staff meeting could take place.
Now, Fishline has administrative office space as well as meeting space for staff and clients.
The nonprofit also will be able to offer clients a resource center with computer and Internet access, Nader said.

This article was originally posted on Kitsap Sun. 

We Need Volunteers!! Can you help?!

There are several volunteer positions open at this time – please let us know if you or someone you know might be interested in helping us fill them.  You can fill out a volunteer application online by clicking here.

Drivers: Take on a single grocery store run or be a substitute.  All that’s needed is a clean driving record (less than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years).  Up early anyway?  Be a substitute for this early run!

Receptionists:  An ability to work well with clients and be comfortable with light computer work will make you the perfect receptionist.  We’ll train you so you’re able to fill in when there’s an opening.

Check-out: This is an opportunity to get to know our clients and see how happy they are to receive our help…we have a temporary opening on Monday mornings and a need for substitutes to fill in.

Food prep: We are light on Wednesday mornings and Mondays.  If you can help us either of those days, we’d be grateful.

Saturday at Second Season: It’s a busy day, so you’ll be able to enjoy being a part of this downtown boutique experience at its best. 

Thanks to you all for keeping us moving and serving.

2014 NK Fishline Client Re-Registration

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 8nd, NK Fishline will begin its annual client re-registration.  Each year, clients must verify their information such as address, contact info, family members and income.  This is to help ensure that the information we have for our clients is accurate. 

Clients, please note these re-registration requirements and allow a few extra minutes for the process.

Full-Service Clients:
Two forms of identification needed

Picture ID (Driver’s License, Military ID, Tribal Card)

Proof of local residency or employment
E.g., recent utility bill, DSHS paperwork, pay stub
Lease and mortgage paperwork are NOT valid proofs of residency

Note: If you are unable to provide proof of local residency or employment, you will be considered an “Out of Area” client until proof is provided to Fishline.

Out of Area Clients:
One form of identification needed

Picture ID (Driver’s License, Military ID, Tribal Card)

Thank you for your cooperation and patience! 

NK Fishline Welcomes Our New Floor Manager: Sean Wescott

 

Being raised with a family that was active in church and community events, I grew up in a culture of volunteering.  From my youngest days as a cub scout and in the youth group of my church I have been taking part in helping out anyway that I could.  My volunteer ‘career’ began as a teenager when my mother opened an office for Habitat for Humanity in our community.  I helped her prepare the space that was to be the office, and once we were functional I took part as a volunteer.  I was the coordinator making endless phone calls to solicit help for projects, and I also made the lunches for the work crews.  When my Pastor stepped down from the Board of Directors two years later, he tapped me as his replacement.  So from a young age I had the privilege of working closely with community leaders as a Board Member and the Volunteer Liaison for the University.  I have also worked for Make-a-Wish Foundation, the American Heart Association, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Progressive Animal Welfare Society, providing data entry and other office support such as setting up and maintaining electronic and hard copy filing systems.  It was all very rewarding work. 

At the Court of Honor for my Eagle Scout award they made it clear that upon receiving this honor I was a ‘marked man’, with a moral imperative help others at all times.  That directive has led me on all kinds of crazy adventures that if ever you want to talk story I am happy to share.  My family also has ministers on both sides of my bloodline, so it is no great surprise that a couple of years ago I began to get the calling from God myself.  In recent times I have been working on my own ministering to and providing help for those in need.  In fact, I was searching for a place to focus my time working to help the disenfranchised of our society, and so I am very happy to have joined the team here a Fishline, since that is exactly what I get to do.  Other pet projects of mine are Women’s rights and the Church of Sacred Motherhood, which is a new church based on the internet.  When I am not doing anything else, I like to work on music, cook, write, go for hikes in our gorgeous woods, and take road trips. 

I am so happy that I am here now working with all of you on this momentous project.  The work you do here is changing the world, pouring out healing to so many ravaged by the side effects of our tattered economy and a world full of fear.  There are so many volunteers at Fishline that it warms my heart to see you all, and to watch what a well-oiled machine you have in place.  With so many working so hard for one cause, it is hard to imagine any kind of limitations to what we can accomplish together.  Thank you all for making me feel at home with your pleasant demeanor and upbeat attitude.  I want you to know that you are each one an inspiration, and I look forward to working with you all as we take North Kitsap Fishline to the next level of growth – and beyond!

Sincerely, 

Sean Wescott

Floor Manager, NK Fishline

North Point Church Announces the First of Their Hunger Hero Events!

NK Fishline is happy to introduce North Point Church as one of our Hunger Heroes!  Fishline services are needed all year, so we want to encourage a steady influx of food drives and events to meet those needs. By identifying and organizing this activity through the Hunger Heroes campaign, we hope to fill our calendar so that those in need in our community are cared for all year long. 

North Point Church has stepped up to meet that need, and has planned monthly events throughout the year that focus on creating a constant conversation about the ways that people can help those in need in our community.  North Point has been a long time supporter of our food bank.  As the main sponsor of Big Band Dance near the holidays, the event draws in over $5,000 and is typically our biggest fundraiser aside from those arranged by Fishline.  We are pleased to highlight all of these planned events as part of our Hunger Heroes calendar.

In July, North Point will be a weekend drop-off location for one of our most needed items:  fresh garden vegetables.  A wagon will be available to collect items at the entry of the church and on Sundays, when our food bank is normally closed and cannot accept donations. Feel free to come in and have a donut and coffee when dropping off your fresh produce!!

In August, the church will begin to collect supplies for our School Supply Drive and food for our Food for Thought Program.  Stay tuned to hear more about all that North Point has planned!

2nd Annual Poulsbo Brew Crawl for NK Fishline

Poulsbo’s 3 breweries are all well known for supporting non-profits and this summer all three are hoping to raise the most money for Fishline.

How it works: 

Purchase 10 stamp Passport at Slippery Pig, Sound Brewery or Valholl Brewing for $5.00 (donation to Fishline). 

Every time you buy a beer at any of these Breweries you get a stamp (4 for a Growler).   The Brewery will donate .50 cents to Fishline for each stamp. 

The Brewery with the most stamps turned in on August 17th wins a BBQ at that Brewery.  Your filled in passport is both an invitation to the BBQ and a raffle ticket for a multitude of beer related prizes.

The BBQ will be held on August 25, 2013.  Invitations and directions will be sent via e-mail.

Contact: Facebook  “Poulsbo Brew Crawl”  or info@marinamarket.cominfo@marinamarket.com for more information! 

NK Fishline Now Accepting School Supply Donations! ~ Updated Post!

Each year, North Kitsap Fishline’s School Supply Program provides children in need with basic school supplies for the upcoming school year.  This program serves many families in the area and it's success depends on you!

The cost of sending students back to school adds to family budgets that are already stretched thin and some are unable to purchase items needed for their children. We greatly appreciate your efforts in helping us meet our goals this year to provide school supplies for those children.

Fishline’s School Supply Program is accepting donations for the 2013 school year until through Aug. 16. 

Donations can be dropped off at these local businesses:

North Kitsap Fishline 18916 NE Third Ave
Second Seasons Thrift Shop     18825 Anderson Parkway
Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce 19351 8th Avenue, Suite 108
Poulsbo Parks and Rec. 19540 Front Street NE
City of Poulsbo 200 NE Moe St. 3rd floor
Starbuck’s    21505 Market Place, NW #101
Edward Jones    19740 7th Ave. NE
Edward Jones    18887 St. Hwy 305 NE
Edward Jones   19032 Jensen Way
Edward Jones   20270 Front St.
Timberland Bank   20464 Viking Ave.
Front Street Clinic 20174 Front Street NE
Fujiyama Japanese Steak House & Bar 9989 Silverdale Way, Ste 109 (Silverdale)

Betty Skinner Allstate Insurance 4181 Wheaton Way, (Bremerton) 

Would your business like to be a collection location for school supplies?  Contact us today!  School supply drives or any large quantity donations should arrange a drop-off day and time with Kathy Smith, volunteer school supply coordinator. Call (360) 598-6282 to make arrangements.
 
School supplies needed include: 

Glue sticks
Colored Pencils
Looseleaf paper-college & wide rule
Composition books
Pencil pouches
Plastic supply boxes
Washable Color Markers
Pens (blue & black)
Pens (red)
#2 Pencils
Erasers (pink pearl)
Spiral paper –college & wide rule
Pocket folders
3 Ring binders
Metal edge rulers
Backpacks

If you would like to sign up to receive school supplies, we will be accepting requests at the food bank from July 30 to August 16.  Children must be attending a North Kitsap School and you must be registered as a Fishline client. 

Grace Outreach Awards Grant to Support Food for Thought and Homeless Support at NK Fishline

Special thanks to Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island for their recent grant to NK Fishline.  Grace Outreach has awarded a $2000 grant that will be divided equally between the Food for Thought Program and our Homeless Support Services.  

Grace Church supports many wonderful programs through their Outreach program, both local and international.  We are so pleased to be considered among this outstanding group of organizations. 

Thank you!

A Sad Day for the North Kitsap and Fishline Community

It is with a sad, heavy heart that we tell you about the passing of our beloved Camille Meyers.  Since we informed you last week of her turn for the worse, her aggressive form of cancer spread faster than anyone predicted.  She was admitted into Martha and Mary on Thursday, her family began to gather on the weekend and she passed away on Sunday. 

This is a blow for all of us.  Camille has been our Senior Volunteer, our cheerleader, our matriarch for over 30 years.  She has helped in nearly every aspect of the food bank and thrift store.  In the early days, she wore many hats because everyone did.  But her kind spirit and her love of the work drew people to her, so she coordinated volunteer activities, designed programs and took care of all of us.  Her curious nature, her desire to never stop learning and her zest for life and this mission kept her involved and relevant all the years she was with us. 

She was, of course, the manager of the thrift shop for many years.  She ran the Toy Shop for years as well, a huge project that requires coordination of many volunteers and the gathering of hundreds of toy donations.  Throughout her time with us, she worked several days a week, often during the shifts most hard to cover.  On whatever day she worked, she inspired a gentle and loyal cooperation, a sign of true leadership.  Even while she was going through cancer treatments, a typically-exhausting scenario, she found a way to come to work and stay as long as she was able.  Several days after she had part of her tongue removed, and could not speak, she showed up at work with a white board in hand so she could keep in touch with her Fishline family.

We will remember Camille forever.  Her contributions are woven into the fabric of our agency, indelible and impossible to duplicate.   

We will let you know when the celebration of her life is arranged – in the meantime, if you wish to prepare a meal for Dick and his family, please let us know and we’ll coordinate our efforts.  Condolences can be sent to: Dick Meyers, 25945 Hwy 3 NW, Poulsbo, 98370.

~Mary

Bank of America Awards Grant to North Kitsap Fishline

Continuing in its tradition of assisting North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank and its programs, Bank of America recently awarded a grant for 2013 delivered on its behalf by Shelli Guzman of Merrill Lynch on Bainbridge Island.  

In the past, Bank of America has supported the Food for Thought Children’s meal program and other Fishline services.  This year, the grant will be used for direct client support as well as funding support for the new Fishline newsletter.  The Fishline Focus highlights the activities and services of Fishline, including an inspirational and behind the scenes look at volunteer activities, client stories and details about available services. 

Mary Nader, Executive Director, expressed deep thanks on behalf of Fishline.  “We are very grateful for the way Bank of America has contributed to community efforts increasing the quality of life for so many.  Thanks to BOA, many children have received crucial nutrition through the weekend through Fishline’s Food for Thought program and now many more will learn of the work we’re doing by reading about it in the Fishline Focus.”

Ms. Guzman toured the facility during her visit and was inspired by the ways this community assists its struggling residents.  Thanks to partners like Bank of America, Fishline will be able to continue these efforts for many years to come.

CenturyLink Will Be Holding Company Wide Food Drive June 3-7 and Matching Donations!

Next week, June 3 – 7, 2013, CenturyLink will be holding their company-wide 2013 Backpack Buddies Feed the Children Food Drive.

In an effort to support the rising issue of childhood hunger, CenturyLink will hold a company-wide food drive focused on supporting local food banks and backpack programs. Local CenturyLink employees have chosen North Kitsap Fishline Backpack Friends Program (Food for Thought) as their 2013 beneficiary for Kitsap County.

Each summer community food banks see a spike in requests due to the fact that kids are out of school and not receiving school lunches. Fishline is no exception!  
 
All donations contributed through this drive will be matched with a donation of up to $1 per pound (up to 1 million pounds total) by the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation.
 

How you can participate:

Take non-perishable food items to Fishline at 18916 NE 3rd Avenue, Poulsbo, (visit our website for hours) and be sure to tell them it is for the CenturyLink Food Drive, so your donation will be matched, or write a check to the North Kitsap FISHLINE Backpack Friends and send to CenturyLink, ATTN: Jan Kampbell, 8102 Skansie Avenue, Gig Harbor, WA 98332.
 
Items that would be great for this food drive are: crackers, granola bars, canned pasta and soups, Easy Mac, applesauce and other easy–to-prepare items. The goal is that a child can prepare the food without adult supervision, should that be necessary.

Superstar Girl Collects 100 Bags of Food for Thought Items!

When Christa Bethel asked her daughter Alexis what she wanted to do for her birthday party earlier this month, she had it all planned out: a sleepover with friends, pretty dresses, a "fancy" dinner, bubbly fruity soda drinks in fancy glasses. Pretty much every ten year old's perfect party. Except for one small twist.

Alexis, known by her closest friends and family as "A.J." had one more request: instead of gifts, could she have her guests bring items for Fishline instead?


 

Christa contacted Lucy Baker, the Operations Manager at Fishline and told them about A.J.'s request.   Lucy shared a "Food for Thought" items list and Christa and A.J. started to put their plan in motion.  The family shared this list with their birthday party guests. A.J. would host two parties --- the "fancy" one with her friends and another one with her family. She asked for items for collection at both parties.

 

At the party with her friends, classmates, and basketball teammates A.J. asked that in addition to enjoying their elegant snacks and drinks, the attendees help put together Food for Thought bags from the items she collected.

 
Christa and A.J. collected enough to deliver 100 bags to Fishline for Food for Thought this week!  A big happy birthday to Alexis (A.J.) Bethel for her creative thinking and generous heart!!

NK Fishline Receives 2013 Food Lifeline Award for Excellence

Pictured are many (but not all!) of the volunteers and staff who participated in the Fish Bucks
design and implementation.

 The North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank & Emergency Services has been recognized by Food Lifeline with the Excellence in Client Services Award. North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank & Emergency Services was one of four agencies in Western Washington selected for awards at Food Lifeline’s Agency Conference on March 28, 2013.

The 2013 Food Lifeline Award for Excellence in Client Services, was given to us for our innovation of the Fish Bucks front market distribution system implemented last year. This award selection was made from many entries throughout Western Washington and included a financial award of $1,000.


“Food Lifeline is happy to recognize North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank & Emergency Services,” said Linda Nageotte, President & CEO of Food Lifeline. “Their approaches to meeting client needs are exemplary. In addition we truly value how they’ve made services more accessible to hungry people in the Poulsbo area.”

Ours was a project months in the making, pulling in the help from volunteers, clients, staff and consultation from other food banks. The design helped create a fair distribution of food items while helping us calibrate so there is an even flow of food that avoids shortages or overages. It has also created a grocery-store like experience appreciated by our clients.

"We are honored to be selected to receive this award", said Mary Nader, Executive Director of North Kitsap Fishline. "Our new front market has been a positive change for our clients, staff and volunteers, and we're proud of how we all worked together to create it."

North Kitsap Fishline received this award in 2010 for its Food for Thought Weekend Meal Program, the first service of its type in Kitsap at that time.