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Remember, holiday giving doesn’t stop after Thanksgiving.  Here’s a list of different ways you can give during the holiday season:

Holiday Baskets: You put together a holiday dinner for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. We have a list of items and the quantities that can go in the baskets. Just let us know how many families you would like to sponsor. The baskets are brought to Fishline for distribution.

Holiday Food Collection: Perishables such as turkey, ham, celery, pies and rolls, as well as, stuffing, canned yams, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, chicken broth, and aluminum baking pans. We will be collecting items from now until Dec. 15th.

Toy shop: Fishline will again sponsor a toy shop for clients to come and shop for toys for their children. Donations of new toys, books, or games will be accepted. Also keep in mind older kids with donations of gift cards. Gift items may be brought to Fishline up to Dec. 11th.

Adopt a Family:  We also offer the option of adopting out a family for you to provide gifts. We will provide you with the necessary information to make gift buying fun and easy. Last day to adopt a family is Dec. 9th.

Basic Food Collection: This is needed anytime of year. Staples: peanut butter, jelly, cereal, crackers, pasta or rice, toilet paper. The Fishline website lists many more needs.

Monetary donations are always welcome. We will use it to buy food for the baskets and toys for the toy shop. We are also always looking for volunteers to help set up the Toy Shop and pack and distribute the food baskets.

Contact NK Fishline to help with the items above!

Want to volunteer during the holidays? 

Here are some tips to make volunteering during the holidays easier from HandsOnBlog:

• Start Early – Just like doing all of your holiday shopping before the rush of Black Friday makes your holiday gift giving a little bit easier, so will starting a relationship with the nonprofit you want to volunteer at during the holidays as early as possible.  Whether it’s to start volunteering, or to sign up for events during the holiday season, starting a relationship with a nonprofit before the holiday rush will make it easier to volunteer during the holidays.

• Be Realistic About the Time You Can Commit – Lets face it, no matter how well you plan things, something’s going to happen to make your well planned holiday time line fall apart.  When you sign up for that volunteer event, be sure to stick to the amount of time you think you’ll have available.  Don’t try to squeeze in an all day event if you only have a few hours.

• Be Flexible – Your ideal type volunteer opportunity might not be available when you can volunteer.  Use the opportunity to try something that you’ve never done before!  It just might be your new favorite thing.

• Donate – If you can’t find an opportunity to volunteer that fits your schedule and what you want to do, consider taking the time you were going to volunteer and turn it into a donation.  Ask the us what we really need and try to fill that need.  We may have specific projects or items that we are short of, and that may be the best way to contribute.  You’re still supporting the Fishline and its clients, but you’re able to do it at a time and in a way that’s convenient for you.

• Be the Gift That Keeps On Giving – The holidays aren’t the only time that we need volunteers!  Use your holiday volunteering as a springboard for a relationship with the Fishline.

• Include Your Family – Start a tradition of volunteerism at the holidays with your entire family, and carry it through the year.

• Have Fun – This might be the most important part of your holiday volunteering.  Have fun doing it!

Special thanks to Bank of America, who last week awarded North Kitsap Fishline with a $2500 grant for our Food for Thought Program.

A little bit about Food for Thought:

Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them. At North Kitsap Fishline, we believe that when you feed a child, you nourish their mind.

A healthy child is the goal of families, but it isn’t always easy. Economic pressures and work that takes parents away from the home are just a few factors that might prevent meal planning or access to  healthy food options for children.

Statistics tell us that 1 in 4 area children suffer from hunger on a regular basis. On many days, the free/reduced lunch program at school are the only meals they can depend on. A hungry child has difficulty concentrating, learning and socializing with teachers, friends and peers. This results in a lost opportunity— and a loss for our community.

Fishline recognized this, and in 2009 established its Food for Thought program. By feeding their bodies, we nourish their minds and send a clear message that we believe in our community’s children and their ability to reach their full potential. By assembling easy-to-prepare, child friendly packs for each weekend day, we are able to provide 3 meals a day plus snacks. Hundreds of area children look forward to Friday afternoons when they receive their meal packs, a reminder that we believe in them.

This heartwarming service has been a great success for our community. Schools have come to rely upon it to offer relief to the sad condition of childhood hunger.