News

An example of what an E-box may contain.

In addition to the Front Market Services, NK Fishline provides an E-box for families in need.  Emergency food boxes, also known as an “E-boxes”, are available to clients once per month.

The size of these boxes depends on the size of your family, and includes food for balanced meals for four days. In order to qualify for the service, you would need to register with NK Fishline and live within the service area:  Poulsbo, Suquamish, and Keyport.

Asking for help can be intimidating — our aim is let you know how things work at NK Fishline so that you feel comfortable when coming to learn about our services.  Here’s what to expect when you are interested in an E-box:

• After registering with the front desk or through client services, you would be given a checklist of items to select from.  These items may or may not be available, but helps our staff of volunteers put together a box of items from our available stock that would be best used by your family.  The checklist also considers whether or not there are any allergies, vegetarian preferences, dietary health concerns, and what food preparation equipment is available to you.  

• You would then wait in a waiting area or use the E-box preparation time to shop in our Front Market.  When your name is called, you may be given a choice of our specialty items when they are available.  You can also expect some help to load your items into your car.  Courteous, friendly — and always very thoughtful of our client’s needs:  that’s the best way to describe this experience.  

To register for client services, use our online form or visit the food bank at 18916 NE Third Ave in Poulsbo.

#10: It’s good for you.

• Reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
• Makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.

#9: It saves resources.

#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.

#7: It brings people together.

#6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem.

#5: Volunteering strengthens your community.

Volunteering helps to support, strengthen, and improve your community. 

#4: You learn a lot.

• Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self worth.
• Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

#3: You get a chance to give back.

#2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.

#1: You make a difference.

This photo of Sluys Poulsbo Bakery is courtesy of TripAdvisor

On Wednesday, August 15,  Suquamish Church of Christ will host a community dinner between 5-7pm.  This is a weekly event. All are welcome.  

On Thursday, August 16, First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo will host a community dinner between 5-6pm.  This is a weekly event.  All are welcome.  

On Saturday, August 18, Gateway Fellowship Church in Poulsbo will also host a community lunch, from 11:30 to 1pm.  This is a weekly event and all are welcome.  

Donation Station:  Don’t forget — on Saturday, the Fishline van will be at Albertson’s in Poulsbo to collect food and clothing donations from 11am to 1pm.  This is a weekly event until October. 

School supply drive until August 17.  Here are the drop off locations!

Donations can be dropped off at these local businesses:

— Second Seasons Thrift Shop 18825 Anderson Parkway.

— Starbucks, 19673 7th Ave. NE, Suite D.

— Starbucks, 21505 Market Place, NW, No. 101.

— Poulsbo Library, 700 NE Lincoln Road.

— Edward Jones, 19740 7th Ave. NE.

— Edward Jones, 18887 Highway 305 NE.

— Bank of America, 19255 Jensen Way NE.

— Poulsbo City Hall, 200 NE Moe St.

— Curves of Poulsbo, 19351 8th Ave. NE, Suite 101. 

— Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse, 9989 Silverdale Way, Suite 109, Silverdale. (Receive 10% off your bill with a donation of 3+ school supply items, excluding alcohol and gratuity, not valid with any other discounts.)

Marina Market is sponsoring the Poulsbo BrewCrawl until September 3.  Click here to read more! 

Are you hosting an event that will benefit the needy members of our community?  Contact NK Fishline to add your event to our calendar!  Want to plan ahead? Visit our website to review the events calendar. 

Do you have a favorite Poulsbo Brewery? Help them win bragging rights of being Poulsbo’s Most Popular Brewery while giving to NK Fishline!

• Pick up your “passport” & raffle ticket for $10 (you can  pick one up at Marina Market, right down the stairs from the food bank or any of the participating breweries).
• Every time you go to your favorite Poulsbo brewery and buy a beer, present this passport and get a stamp.  Each stamp will represent a donation by the brewery to NK Fishline and add to the Most Popular Brewery contest.
• When you get 20 stamps, turn in your passport — this will be your invitation to the winning brewery’s BBQ! 

When Gavin Watt officially became Fishline’s Volunteer Manager on August 1, many Fishline insiders were surprised. Gavin has been doing this job since the first of this year, but most didn’t know that he was doing so as a volunteer. When he stepped down from his role on the Fishline Board in July, he was able to become part of the paid staff, which we are happy about as he has been working so hard in service to Fishline.

Gavin is a self-effacing man, so you don’t hear much about the rich and interesting history that is his story. He was born in Michigan, the oldest of 8 children, living “a pretty normal childhood”. He joined the Navy when he was 18, moved to San Francisco and went into the Merchant Marine, ultimately serving in Vietnam. When he returned and went to school, he worked on ships during the summers to raise money for his tuition. He learned skills during this time that would launch him into the career that would come next.

Before he graduated, he married Laurel and had a family – 2 daughters – working odd jobs mostly in power plants. When the family moved to Canada (“Dad’s Canadian”), he dabbled in a hobby that he had once thought would be his career, photography. But it’s hard to make a living taking pictures, so he continued working in power plants in the area. They moved back to the states, onto Vashon Island, where he started a business in construction testing air and water flows. After 7 years as his own boss, he was invited to take on a job in the same field in California. He eventually retired and moved back to the Northwest.

As often happens with youthful, curious people, retirement wasn’t dormant for Gavin. He started doing his photography again and looked for volunteer work. He heard about Fishline, which he originally thought was “providing food for retired fishermen”. He started as a receptionist, where he worked capably for 3 years, then took on the volunteer role of Program Manager for Food for Thought. When the opening for Volunteer Manager came up, he graciously agreed to take it on. Aside from the confusion coming from an office that has a Gavin and a Garvin, he was able to get going right away and brought order and calm to what can be a very busy workplace.

This job can have its challenges. Keeping a hopping food bank and thrift store staffed with trained volunteers can have its ups and downs. “The hardest part is getting enough steady volunteers to keep up with our growth. ” But the ups are wonderfully energizing. “I love the people, the volunteers, the students we have working with us, our clients. It’s a great group of people to work with.”

You can contact Gavin at [email protected] with any questions or interest in becoming a NK Fishline volunteer. We’d love to have you!

Posted with Blogsy