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.)

Village is Making a New Home Become a Reality

Photo Credit:  Nichole Connor

There is a popular adage, "It takes a village", that reminds us that there are some goals that cannot be reached alone. This has always been the case for Fishline, whose mission would be impossible to realize were it not for the legions of helping hands and hearts that everyday come together to lift the burdens of their neighbors. 

But that cooperative effort has risen to a new level as we prepare our new facility on Viking Avenue. From the start, the best and brightest in our community have come forward to offer assistance, services, materials and sweat equity. Nearly every day, individuals and organizations join the ranks of this rehabilitation army and, before our very eyes, an abandoned building is transforming. School kids join with local military groups, working side-by-side with families and church groups with one thing in common - a love for their community and a belief in the good work that Fishline represents.

Miles Yanick and Associates, Architect, has helped us put our dream onto paper and has gone ahead to pave the way with permits, regulations and feasibility. Sandy Wenberg donated her color expertise to help us create a color palate that is soothing for our clients and volunteers. Peninsula Paints has donated all the paint, no small donation when considering the tall walls that surround our market, and Chad Lyons Painting has donated the labor. Swift Plumbing will put in all our fixtures for free, which came to us at no cost because Ferguson Plumbing donated them.

And, in a nearly perfect confluence of events, a total remodel of Town and Country on Bainbridge Island will mean that Fishline can receive repurposed refrigeration and shelving and even possibly checkout equipment, making our grocery store design complete.
 
When we asked that technology be upgraded so we could use a progressive digital signage system to keep our clients informed while shopping, David Graves, our long-time IT volunteer, joined forces with a local Rotarian to fund the system and get it installed. And, when in the midst of all this activity, our precious van needed extensive repairs, Ken's Northwest Automotive did what they have done for years - they fixed it for free.

The Poulsbo Lions Club worked alongside Fishline volunteers to clear out years of scotch broom and other uninvited guests to renew the greenery. Hill Moving has donated pallet jacks and a forklift, standing ready to help us move when the time comes. And Tim Ryan Construction has overseen the project, donating materials and labor while working with our team to do the most work for the littlest cost. 

All of this coordination has been orchestrated by our MVP, Rick Lander (pictured above with a volunteer), who has masterfully and amiably mediated between Fishline and a sometimes baffling construction world to facilitate this huge project, keeping us on schedule and under budget.

In dozens of ways, our neighbors have come together to situate Fishline in a home that should meet its needs for decades to come. There is no way that we can adequately thank all those who have helped thus far and those who will help us in the months and years ahead. We just hope that, when we open Fishline on that happy day this Spring, our village can be proud that it made it possible.





Are you interested in being a part of this wonderful project? Click here to see project updates and how you can help!




how folks can get involved.)

Fishline Celebrates November's Community Partner: Liberty Bay Auto

When entering town from Finn Hill, it's hard to miss Liberty Bay Auto.  Sitting on the right side, it's cheery sign always shares great messages that make everyone smile.  This past few weeks they used their sign space to capture the attention of all those passing to invite others to join them in their Hunger Heroes Mission to "Fill the Truck!"  This carefully planned out food drive kicked off our holiday food collection efforts and we couldn't be more thankful for the result.

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!

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." 

For years the vendors at the farmer's market have donated fresh fruits and vegetables to Fishline.  This past summer alone, the food bank received 4,473 lbs of food.  These donations are distributed in our front market and our much appreciated by our clients.  In some cases, these are the healthiest foods that they have access to. 

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. 

 

This past weekend, on October 6th, Poulsbo Farmer's Market took their relationship with North Kitsap Fishline a step further, and included the food bank in their annual Harvest Dinner Fundraiser, committing half of the funds raised to our mission to serve those in need in North Kitsap. "We believe that working together with Fishline strengthens our community and helps those that our organizations serve.  By coming together, our organizations will provide an example to there that the community benefits from various parts working together," says Paul Strid, President of Poulsbo Farmers Market. 

 The three course dinner was hosted at Mor Mor Bistro and included dishes prepared with care by their chefs Stephen Moreton and John Michael Nesby, who is also the owner.  The dishes included an Agrodolce Harvest Salad, made with local field lettuce and goat cheese from The Hansville Creamery (who donated the cheese for the Harvest Dinner); an Earth and Ocean combo with local salmon and beef, and a delicious corn, pork, onion, potato and sweet pepper succotash; and finally an Apple Crumb Cake from Borrowed Kitchen Bakery with Viking Feast Salted Caramel Ice Cream. 

During the evening, Mor Mor's owner, John, moderated an auction, also benefiting the two organizations.  The items for bid/purchase included the original print of this year's Poulsbo Farmers Market commemorative poster. 

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! 

The Poulsbo Farmers Market is open every Saturday until December 21st, from 9am to 1pm and is located at the Poulsbo Village Medical Center on the corner of 7th and Iverson.

Fishline Celebrates August's Community Partner: Ken's Northwest Automotive

 

 

An auto mechanic who tells you the truth about the work your car needs and then keeps those costs down is a treasure for any community.  Through the years, Ken's Northwest Automotive has earned that reputation honestly, by caring for the cars and trucks of local residents and keeping it real.  

Ken and his team have also been great friends to Fishline.  Over the years, they have repaired the vehicles we use at Fishline as a donation to our work.  As the number of vehicles has grown because we have grown, so has the commitment at Ken's Northwest Automotive.  Without working vehicles, Fishline's ability to gather food items for its clients would be impossible, so it is critical that our transportation is  operational and ready for service.  On several occasions, Ken's has come to our aid when a vehicle didn't start, knowing how important our trucks are for our work.  

Modest by nature, Ken doesn't talk about his charitable efforts.  But he has always believed treating people well is good for business, and his loyal following of customers would agree.  For all the ways Ken's Northwest Automotive has contributed to the mission of North Kitsap Fishline, we have chosen them as our Community Partner for August.

Ken's Northwest Automotive can be found at 19470 Viking Ave NW Poulsbo, WA 98370‎, (360) 697-5300.

Fishline Celebrates July's Community Partner: North Kitsap Herald

Every Friday morning, our community looks forward to reading the North Kitsap Herald to find out all the latest news on local events and people.  Thanks to the generosity of our local publishers, Fishline has been featured in this paper often throughout the past year.  They have permitted us a monthly column to share the progress and needs of our food bank with our community.  They take our pictures when checks are presented, giving local groups and businesses the recognition they deserve.  They attend fundraisers and food drives to raise awareness about the ways we help our neighbors and encourage others to get involved. 

Last year, when we knew our beloved Operations Manager, Garvin Tootle, was dying of cancer, the Herald did a beautiful tribute story about his life and work while he was still alive.  When we realized that we needed a new building sooner rather than later, the Herald published a front page story describing our needs.  And just recently, the Herald has worked closely with Fishline to create a recurring column featuring Fishline "Hunger Heroes in Action" as well as a monthly spot highlighting facts and statistics about the work Fishline does in the community.  And, together with the Herald and the Poulsbo Chamber, Fishline will be coordinating a Volunteer Fair in the fall, the first of its kind in our area.

We are truly grateful for the partnership Fishline has had over the years with Sound Publishing and the NK Herald - because of their efforts, more people are aware of the good work we do than ever before.  Their commitment to sharing our message means that people who need our help will know about it and people who want to help will be inspired to get involved.  We could not promote our message of Neighbors Helping Neighbors without the dedication of the North Kitsap Herald.

    

We thank Sound Publishing and the team at the Herald for all the ways they have contributed to our mission and have selected them as July's Community Partner of the Month.  

Fishline Celebrates June's Community Partner: The School Counselors and Volunteers of the Food for Thought Program

Food for Thought is a weekend backpack program for children who may not otherwise receive enough food when not in school.  The weekend packs are put together using monetary and food donations collected through NK Fishline and distributed through area schools that wish to participate in the program. They are assembled and delivered to the schools by our volunteers and then given out by each schools' guidance office. The weekly food packs are received at North Kitsap schools with happy hearts and gratitude. The children who participate in the Food for Thought program might not ever know the work that goes into bringing the program together, but they surely do feel the love.

Our community partners for the month of June are the many hands (and hearts!) that bring this program together every week.  As the school year comes to an end, we would like to recognize the counselors at the following schools for their dedication to the Food for Thought program:

Tahnee Bollert, Breidablik Elementary

Rick Goudzwaard, Pearson Elementary

Susan James, Poulsbo Elementary

Greg Parrott, Poulsbo Middle School

Karen Fick, North Kitsap High School

Ann Brandner, Suquamish Elementary

Carolyn Mosiman, Vinland Elementary

Shawn Adams, Chief Kitsap Academy

Their participation is not limited to the time it takes to distribute the packs on Fridays, but includes the skill and compassion it takes to identify and counsel the kids who are in need of these services all year round.

 

The program at Fishline is run and organized entirely by volunteers.  From purchasing the food, to creating the packs to delivering them every week, many kind and gracious helpers deserve our thanks, including:  Caroline Butler, Kathy Loveless, Stephanie Skansi, Riley Quayle and Shawn Quayle.

We also wish to thank the 20 Backpack Friends who donate money to help us purchase the products through the year by sponsoring a child or several children. 

If you would like to learn more about this heartwarming program, or know of children in need of this service during the summer or the school year, please contact us. 

Fishline Celebrates April's Community Partner: Liberty Bay Chiropractic Massage & Laser Center

For many years, every Monday morning at 5 am Dr. Charlie DeWilde of Liberty Bay Chiropractic Massage & Laser Center starts his week off with a very practical expression of his commitment to North Kitsap Fishline. He picks up produce items from Central Market, destined to be life-giving provisions for the client families who come to Fishline. Quietly, consistently, Dr. DeWilde has been a member of our "unsung heroes" team, those drivers who do one of the most important jobs in the house with the least amount of recognition. He has even been highlighted as one of our featured volunteers.

But when Dr. DeWilde moved his chiropractic practice to Hwy 305 last month, he came up with a creative way to help Fishline even further. Every patient who came to receive treatment or celebrate grand opening day was invited to donate to Fishline and received a discount as a result. Liberty Bay Chiropractic Massage and Laser Center welcomed over 100 visitors and patients. After a very busy day, over $2,000 was raised that could not have come at a better time for our work.

“Fishline is a great cause, and we’re happy to help,” says Dr. DeWilde. “At Liberty Bay, we’re passionate about health and wellness for all, and we’re proud to be part of this caring community. Fishline touches so many lives, and we are honored to chosen as a community partner.” Dr. Thomas Harlan, who has been in practice in Poulsbo 1979, echoed this sentiment. “Wellness is for everyone, and we are committed to caring not just for our patients, but for the community at large.”

As a member of New Life Church in Kitsap, Dr. DeWilde offered his assistance during a several-week food/fundraising drive that the Church wanted to do over the Easter holiday. That drive has brought in over 2,000 pounds of food and opportunities to partner in new and important ways to help the hungry and homeless in our community.

In addition to donating time every week to NK Fishline and annually at Gateway's Day of Hope, Dr. DeWilde has been a long time member of the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce and is the founding chair of the Americana Music Festival. He also performs chiropractic services for children as well as adults. Dr. Thomas Harlan has been a multi-year supporter of Fishline with an annual Patient Appreciation Day, collecting thousands of pounds of food, and he donates services to local school fundraisers.

At Liberty Bay Chiropractic Massage & Laser Center they offer joint, muscle, and arthritis advanced laser light therapy, as well as posture assessments and foot orthotics. Massage therapists Sherry Stanley and Margaret Wilder provide therapeutic and relaxing treatments, and a variety of nutritional supplements and consultative services are also available at Liberty Bay. Roxy Thompson and Amber Hayghe manage reception, and Michelle Michealis coordinates billing. “Beyond providing pain relief, our entire staff strives to provide the best possible customer experience, and we look at total healing for our patients, in ways that can enhance their lifestyles while improving overall well-being,” says Dr. DeWilde.

This total healing approach is reflected in the continued good deeds that the business has shared with our community. In a time when we might wonder if how a person can make a difference, we can follow the examples of Dr. Charlie DeWilde and Dr. Thomas Harlan, who teach us through example. It is with great gratitude that we select Liberty Bay Chiropractic Massage & Laser Center as April's Community Partner.

Liberty Bay Chiropractic Massage & Laser Center is located at 18657, Highway 305 in Poulsbo. You can reach them by phone at 360-779-7800, visit their webpage at www.libertybaychiro.com and "Like" their Facebook page!

Posted with Blogsy

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!

Fishline Celebrates February's Community Partner: North Point Church

 

In what has become a holiday tradition in our community, folks dance the night away to the big band music of Buz Whiteley, bid on lovely and whimsical baskets in a silent auction and visit with neighbors under twinkling holiday lights. All proceeds from this magical night go to North Kitsap Fishline, thanks to the many years of effort and dedication of the North Point Church community.  The baskets are donated, Buz Whiteley donates the performance to Fishline and the event is organized by volunteers. Because of this generosity, the amount raised for Fishline just keeps growing every year. In 2012, over $6,000 was raised - an extraordinary amount that will help many in our community.

North Point also partners with Fishline in its distribution of holiday baskets, with members of the congregation preparing holiday meal boxes for the clients who need them the most. It also hosts the Adopt-a-Family program, where donors receive a wish list from struggling families and then provide gifts to assure a good holiday is shared by all. The Church hosts the School Supply program in the fall and has recently started making blankets for the SafePark program for homeless single women. North Point has also encouraged its community to volunteer with us, and many do.

In addition to their work with Fishline, North Point supports other organizations such as Younglife, Oasis India, and Second Table Ministries.  Their commitment to both their local and global community is a testament to their overall mission to help others. 

Being there for those in need is a mission shared by our community churches, and North Point has been an integral part of this web of caring. We are so grateful for the partnership shared over the years and look forward to an even greater cooperation in the years to come.

North Point Church is located in Poulsbo, at 1779 NE Hostmark Street.

Community Partner of the Year: Our Community!

Each this past year we highlighted a community partner -- a local business or organization that has gone above and beyond to support our efforts at NK Fishline.  As we begin a New Year and reflect on 2012, it's clear that one group has shown extraordinary efforts when it comes to helping NK Fishline:  our COMMUNITY!  That's why we have chosen our Community as Partner of the Year.

There are so many great examples of ways that our North Kitsap community has stepped up to help those in need -- here are a few highlights:

Fill the Bus Campaign

At North Kitsap High School, the student group Signing for Change, along with the school librarian, Mary Fox started a project called Fill the Bus.  Starting before Thanksgiving, students spent weeks filling the bus with donations of food, clothing, and other needed items for disadvantaged or homeless students and families.   The bus traveled to other area schools to collect supplies and the goal?  To actually FILL THE BUS. When the very long bus could not fit anymore, then it would be deliver time.  The program was a huge success.  The kids delivered 700 lbs of food to NK Fishline and approximately 70 huge bags of clothing for our thrift store.

Read more here about the origin of the Fill the Bus campaign, and the remarkable efforts by these students in our community.

Our Volunteers

Over 200 members of our community have committed to doing whatever they can to keep Fishline humming and serving its constituency.  They come from all walks of life, all ages and personalities.  Clients who want to pay back the help they receive even volunteer.  All come together with a shared purpose which bonds them to one another and to the clients they serve.  Volunteers are the key and the core to all that is accomplished at NK Fishline, helping in every conceivable way, giving time and talent, even treasure.  It is the thing most noticed by those who tour our facility - the beehive of activity as every helper participates in the orchestra of effort needed for a busy food bank like ours.

This summer, our volunteers kicked it up a notch, by leading an effort to redesign our front market to create a more just, respectful and efficient distribution model.  Because of their work, combined with feedback from clients and management, a new and innovative approach worked on its first iteration, a testimony to thoughtful design and great planning.  Read more in detail about the changes we made to the front market here.

Dozens of other volunteers work tirelessly and with great creativity to create a beautiful shopping experience at Second Season, our thrift store that devotes all profits to Fishline.  Throughout the year, they sort through thousands of donated items, lovingly seeing each item's potential and then displaying it so enticingly that sales keep breaking records.

Fishline could not exist a single day without its volunteers, and we owe them a great debt of thanks.


Super Hero Efforts

One night in July,  NK Fishline's walk-in freezer died.  Thousands of pounds of frozen meat, needed to help our clients, were in jeopardy of thawing and then being thrown away.  Central Market agreed to store all our frozen items until our freezer was repaired.  So volunteers came in during the middle of the night while Central was waiting to help us unload and store them in their freezer. The next day, we had the unit repaired (a costly endeavor -- but worth it!).  At the end of the day, with these super heroes ready and on hand, we were able to save all the meat and lost only a little ice cream.  It was a small, but awesome, miracle.

Donations of much needed equipment

As Fishline grows, so does our need for equipment.  Time and time again, volunteers, businesses, and many people have stepped forward to provide what we needed.  This past year, Rotary purchased for Fishline a sorely-needed three-door cooler, a huge contribution that will make it possible for us to provide nourishing fruits, vegetables and dairy to dozens more families each week.  This equipment was vital in the changes we made to our front market this year. The senior center donated a van for pickup and transport of food, clothing, and other good from area businesses to the food bank. Other donations included a handmade table for sorting food, a wireless router, shopping buggies donated by Central Market and Albertson's, and computer equipment. All things big and small -- our community manages to help find and donate the things we need, when we need them.

North Kitsap Ladies Volleyball Team Collects Food for Thought Essentials

Food for Thought 

This year we went to the community to promote a program that we have had for a while -- Food for Thought.  Food for Thought is a weekend meal program for at risk and needy children in the community.  Read more about the program here.  Our thoughts were to create an aspect of the program called "Backpack Friends," bringing the Food for Thought program to a higher level.  This sponsorship program would give members of the community the opportunity to sponsor an individual child for a month, semester, or school year-- or even an entire school. The response has been overwhelming and is still incoming. 

A representative from Pacific Northwest Title drops off food from their annual food drive.

Food Donations




Throughout the year, various businesses and organizations come forward to host food drives in the community. Not only do these food drives support NK Fishline, but they help to bring together the group as well.  We are so thankful to be the recipient of the collections -- and especially thankful that these events happen all year long and not only during the holiday season.  In 2012, the total food collected was 67, 205 lbs! Simply extraordinary!!

Fishline Celebrates December's Community Partner: Union Bank

Every Thursday, part of the Fishline team includes a member of the Union Bank staff. Wearing their signature red Union Bank shirt, 1 of 8 staff members takes turns coming to Fishline. They work hard and love it, and they have become a very valuable part of our Thursday morning team.

NK Fishline Executive Director Mary Nader & Union Bank Manager Kathy Denton

While they are volunteering, they are also on the payroll for Union Bank. In an innovative move, Manager Kathy Denton decided to offer her employees a chance to give back to the community without losing paid hours. So she came up with this idea, believing that employees are happier when they know they are contributing, and "happy employees lead to happy customers".

This is just one of the ways our local Union Bank branch is helping Fishline. Walk in the door, and right away you'll see a display inviting food donations, with a different spotlight each month, based on the Fishline need at this time. First, it was peanut butter. Then Spaghetti pasta and sauce. Now, it is "chilly chili" month. Each month, hundreds of pounds of the needed item flow into Fishline, thanks to the employees and customers who bring them in.

This is the kind of partnership for which Fishline is very grateful. So for December, we named Union
Bank as our Community Partner of the Month. Thank you, Kathy and the Union Bank Team!

Fishline Celebrates November's Community Partner: Albertsons in Poulsbo

This month's community partner is Albertsons grocery store.  Last year, Albertsons donated 102,780 pounds of produce, dairy, baked goods and meat for Fishline's front market and monthly E-boxes.  This year, they have already donated 104,523 pounds!

During the holidays, this longtime supporter is an integral part of the Fishline community, helping with various much needed items.  They also donated two buggies for our new and improved front market.  In the summers, Albertsons allow us to utilize the parking area to stage our "Donation Station" -- where we collect donations of food for Fishline, as well as clothing and household items for Second Season.  Throughout the year, and especially through the holidays, they show their support by permitting several civic groups to gather food donations outside their doors.  

The Albertsons staff is always friendly and helpful when we pick up grocery rescue items.  They are always accommodating when it comes to our needs.  We are so appreciative of their continued generosity!

Fishline Celebrates October's Community Partner: Cuppa Bella

It is an unusual concept - an espresso shop that donates its profits to area charities.  But unusual is OK with Cuppa Bella of Kingston, soon to be Poulsbo, fame.  Because the owner/founder Marcus Croman and his wife Tonya have always been concerned with the needs of struggling neighbors, and this is their way of sharing their success.  With humble beginnings, making scones in a small, used oven, Cuppa Bella has grown to hire dozens of employees and will open their new location in Poulsbo later this year.  The great thing is, the more successful they are, the more local charities will benefit.  

Their philosophy is intriguing.  Profits from the sale of coffee and baked items are placed into a Foundation.  Grant applications are reviewed twice per year and then voted upon by the employees.  The first grant was awarded to Fishline this year for its Food for Thought children's weekend meal program, an enthusiastic vote that was unanimous.  That grant will cover Food for Thought expenses for two weeks, a great head start into the new school year.

We applaud Cuppa Bella for its benevolence and its support of Fishline's programs for children.  Partnerships like this are the best kind of example of Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Fishline Celebrates September's Community Partner: Poulsbo Lions

When our community gathered recently to memorialize Garvin Tootle, Fishline's respected Operations Manager, a striking display of red and gold was everywhere. In an honoring gesture, the Poulsbo Lions had tshirts made up that celebrated Garvin and his relationship with Fishline, the Lions and our community. The Poulsbo Lions had also taken on the arrangement of the facilities for Garvin's memorial, and in fine Lions style, quietly and perfectly constructed a setting that will linger long in the minds of those who attended.

This is just one of many, many ways that the Poulsbo Lions group has helped Fishline. For years, some of our most demanding jobs, such as retrieving grocery items from Central at 5 am, have been taken on by members of the Lions community. They volunteer, they raise money and they rally when there is a need, as they have been doing so for many years.

Aside from assisting helping agencies like Fishline, the Lions also help with prescription glasses and hearing aids, a very needed service since many insurance policies do not include it. Because they are so quiet about their accomplishments, many do not realize all that they do to help our community. But Fishline is grateful for this partnership.