The Bainbridge Island community celebrated Helpline House's grand opening on June 7

For nearly 60 years, Helpline House has been the place Bainbridge Island turns to when a neighbor is in crisis. They’re the only organization offering cost-free therapy to children ages five through twelve on Bainbridge Island. The organization has done important, life-changing work out of buildings never quite built for it, with demand increasingly growing over time. 
 
The Helpline Housewarming grand opening event took place on June 7. The very next day, doors opened to clients. Community members came home to a new Helpline House at the original address at 282 Knechtel Way NE on Bainbridge Island. 
 
Some new space features are: 

• The food bank is three times the size it was: What once accommodated three or four neighbors at a time can now welcome ten. 
• Commercial kitchen: Food from bulk donations can now be broken down and manipulated in ways the food bank wasn't able to do before, allowing less waste and the ability to serve more neighbors. 
• Building expansion from four social service rooms to nine: Two of the new rooms are large enough for group therapy, something previously unattainable – and the expanded capacity will allow Helpline House to host experts and specialists from state agencies and other nonprofits to efficiently connect clients to further support. 
• This building is fully accessible: This game-changing factor will make a huge difference for Helpline House clients and volunteers alike. 

Helpline House now has a foundation built not just for the community they serve now, but for the one they'll serve in the decades ahead. Learn more at Helplinehouse.org.
 
PSE is honored to be a long-time community partner with Helpline House.