Helpline House plans expansion to meet growing needs
Record-setting numbers of food bank shoppers are overwhelming the tiny 42-year-old food bank at Helpline House on Bainbridge Island. In just two years, the number of annual shopping visits to the food bank has skyrocketed by a staggering 61%, from just over 11,000 in 2022 to over 18,000 in 2024. Executive Director Maria Metzler observed that “when the building was designed in 1982, the population of Bainbridge Island was half of what it is today, and the food bank served an average of 15-25 shoppers per day. Currently we host between 100-125 shoppers per day, which causes all kinds of problems for our clients including long wait times that can cause workers on their lunch breaks to miss out on food that they need. It has become unsustainable. At the same time, our community is asking for more services like our children’s mental health program, which we are providing in a space that is not built for that purpose. We’re proud that we have been so resourceful over the years, but it’s become clear that the community needs more from us than we can provide in this building”.
Fortunately, help is on the way. In 2022, the Helpline House Board of Directors approved a plan to build a new 11,700 square foot facility at their current location at 282 Knechtel Way NE on Bainbridge Island. The new building will feature more than triple the shopping area in the food bank and storage areas will be designed to efficiently handle the demands of growing food insecurity. It will be a much better and more dignified experience for shoppers and the 100+ volunteers that keep the food bank stocked and welcome clients with warm hospitality. Additionally, the second-floor case management and counseling rooms will greatly expand the scope of services that Helpline House can provide. This includes hosting representatives from visiting partner agencies who can offer direct assistance to Helpline House clients without requiring them to take a trip to Silverdale or Bremerton.
“Our clients, donors, volunteers and staff are extremely excited about this project. We’ve been serving Bainbridge Island since 1968, but in some ways, we think we have just scratched the surface of what is possible. We wish the need wasn’t so urgent, but it’s comforting to know that whatever happens, Helpline House will continue to be here to respond to the needs of our neighbors for the next 50 years or more.” PSE is proud to be a longtime supporter of Helpline House.
