Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Sharing the Joy of Costco Roasters!

News

It takes a certain kind of generous spirit to see within every act an opportunity to serve and help.  Such was the case for a local couple who recently helped North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank in a most unusual way.

While having a dinner of Costco rotisserie chicken, this couple so enjoyed the chicken and the prospect of another meal of leftovers that they wondered to themselves how they could share this joy with others not able to afford it. 


That’s when they contacted Fishline with a unique offer.  They would donate enough money to cover the costs needed to purchase 250 Costco chickens, 200 of which would go to Fishline clients and 50 to Bainbridge Island Helpline House.  The donors asked if we could include some instructions on how to prepare healthy recipes with the chicken and also how to stretch the chicken for several meals, which Helpline House’s nutritionist gladly agreed to develop.


When Costco was contacted with the idea, they too were happy to help.   But with an order this large, special provisions had to be made, from ordering extra birds to asking staff to start cooking them at 4 am so they were ready for us that day.  They made the extra effort with enthusiasm and even threw in a Costco gift card that would be won by the client who picked out the lucky chicken.

It all came together, and on one happy Wednesday, Fishline clients received 1-2 cooked chickens as a surprise treat.  They were thrilled, as many clients had never had the experience of enjoying these in the past.  A nearly festive environment resulted, and it took just 1 day to distribute all 200 chickens when clients visited the food bank.


What started as a little idea, a belief that joys should be shared, turned into a memorable experience for Fishline staff, volunteers and clients.  

Do you have a unique idea on how you can share with those in need living in our community? Contact us and we can help develop your idea and make it happen! 





This Week’s Most Needed Items: Volunteers!

News

This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week, a few days set aside to celebrate the gift of time and energy given by so many in our country and community.  Fishline could not accomplish its mission without the hundreds of hands and hearts of its volunteers, and we never take this for granted.  Each day, you are all an inspiring example for our town, selflessly devoting your enthusiasm and commitment as you keep Fishline and Second Season able to provide for its struggling neighbors.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do, and for how elegantly you do it. ~ Mary Nader, Executive Director

Do you have time and talent to share? Join us! Our volunteer coordinator is looking to fill the following positions: 

Drivers:

5am driver to pick up produce from Central Market on Tuesday


8am driver to pick up from Albertson’s on Thursday

Front Market receptionist and checkout person:

Wednesday, 3pm to 7pm


Friday, 9:30am to 12:30pm, 12pm to 3pm


These people check the market customers in, and check them out, just like at a grocery store.


Please contact Jackie, our volunteer coordinator if you are able to volunteer for one of these open positions or fill out our online volunteer application here! Thank you!

We Need A Coffee Grinder!

Do you have a large coffee bean grinder that you are not using or would like to donate?  NK Fishline is in need of this very useful piece of equipment.  If you have one you are not using, please consider donating it to us.

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.

Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is an easy and delicious way to add protein to your diet.  For those who are homeless or children in need, it is also a very convenient meal option.


Message from the Director: Celebrating Our Volunteers

News

One of the great rewards of my job is to see the transformation that takes place at Fishline every weekday morning. While sharing stories of their lives, discussing current events or passing along tips on preparing asparagus, volunteers bring their best game, and a front market takes shape that will provide life-giving food for the line of clients building outside the door. When I give tours, it is one of the observations most often made – that so many people are working so well together with such purpose and determination.


The same kind of preparation is also happening across the street at Second Season, as volunteers sort through donations, build beautiful displays and set up the cash register with the hope for a busy, profitable day. Neighbors donate clothes and household items which we turn into a chance to help someone keep their home or keep it warm.


Aside from the regular positions like grocery pickup, sorting, stocking, receptionists and cashiers, there are many other ways volunteers help us. They assist with administrative projects, like data entry and accounting, offer skills like carpentry and information technology, they do web site design and keep our Facebook page current and contribute a myriad of other talents that help us grow and serve.


Fishline volunteers are members of our community who come from all walks of life. They are students, people between jobs, retired rocket scientists and architects, teachers and doctors, parents and grandparents, joined together by a common mission about which they are deeply passionate. They work hard, come up with new and inventive ways to better our work, and even when they aren’t at Fishline, they are thinking of ways to help even more.


To accept the generosity of these gifts can be humbling. It’s natural to wonder how we can repay such acts of kindness. Somehow, saying “thank you” just doesn’t seem like enough. But our volunteers remind us that, though it may seem like they are working for free, they often feel like a volunteer recently expressed, “You give me so much more than I give – working here brings me great joy”. Perhaps there is a satisfaction knowing that, though there are so many things out of our control, making our community a better place is one that is squarely within reach. As Margaret Mead, the noted anthropologist, once said, “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”


Every April, our country celebrates this volunteer spirit with National Volunteer Week, this year April 21-27. To the hundreds of volunteers who keep our mission moving forward, and to all the members of our community who contribute to Fishline throughout the year, we salute you. Fishline couldn’t exist a single day without you, but with your help, we can change our world.


This Week’s Most Needed Items: Pet Food!

News

Cat food (and dog food) are an important and sometimes overlooked donation that is much needed at NK Fishline.  Many people who have come upon hard times have pets that depend on them, and helping to provide for all our family members is important!  When picking up food items for donation, please be on the look out for good prices on both wet and dry cat and dog food, our furry friends appreciate it!

Peanut butter is an easy and delicious way to add protein to your diet.  For those who are homeless or children in need, it is also a very convenient meal option. 

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.

We are always in need of diapers, sizes 3, 4, 5 & 6.  Please drop these off at the food bank or other collection locations listed above. 

Do you have gently used camping gear that you are no longer using? Are you updating your old gear to buy new gear?  We are in need of tents, sleeping bags, and any other camping gear that you can provide! We have many homeless in our area that depend on these items to stay warm and sleep well.  Please contact Shannon, with Fishline’s Housing Solutions, if you have any of these items available!


Superstar Girl Collects 100 Bags of Food for Thought Items!

News

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!!