BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — A food bank on Bainbridge Island has hundreds of volunteers working to make sure kids receive nutritious food through the summer.
It comes during what can be a challenging time for families, as kids on summer break don't have access to the free or subsidized meals they get at school.
Helpline House, which provides social services on Bainbridge Island, expected to give out hundreds of bags of food to kids this summer through their ‘Kids’ Pantry’ program. The program is run in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island.
“There's so many other things to be worried about and to be thinking about, and your kids’ nutrition and your kids’ access to food should not be one of them,” said Maria Metzler, Helpline House executive director.
The bags can be picked up at Helpline House, located at 282 Knechtel Way NE on Bainbridge Island, on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on Wednesdays when they are closed.
Any Bainbridge Island resident can go to Helpline House to get food and you are allowed one ‘Kids’ Pantry Bag’ per child per week. The program runs anytime there are school breaks.
Each bag includes five days of breakfast, five days of lunch, two snacks per day, and fruits and veggies.
During school breaks in 2023, the agency provided around 900 ‘Kids’ Pantry Bags’ to families in the community.
Helpline House’s executive director said last year they saw a 26% increase in the need for food assistance.
Volunteers said many people have had to come to the food bank for the first time in their lives due to the rising cost of living and high food prices.
“They say that without that resource of the food bank, they don't know how they would make it because food costs so much now,” said Joan Spencer, a volunteer with Helpline House.
If parents are not able to visit Helpline House to pick up a ‘Kids’ Pantry Bag’ they can contact Helpline House and they can help to get the food delivered to you through their partnership with the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island.
The Rotary Club drops off food bags to families who lack transportation and also delivers groceries to the food bank to be packed up.
“I mean, they need it, you know,” said Paul Tice, a volunteer with Helpline House. “The kids don't get enough food.”
Helpline House said the increasing need in the community has caused increased costs for the food bank. If you want to help support them, you can either donate financially on their website, donate food at local grocery stores that have drop boxes, set up a food drive, or donate food directly to Helpline House.
How you can help
KING 5 and Northwest Harvest are teaming up with Safeway and the Seattle Seahawks for Home Team Summer, which aims to raise awareness and support for school-aged kids experiencing food insecurity during the summer.
Click here to donate online through Northwest Harvest between now and the end of the summer.
KING 5 will also host a food drive at Seahawks Football Fest at Lumen Field on Aug. 3. To support those affected by childhood hunger, join KING 5, Northwest Harvest, Safeway and the Seahawks to donate non-perishable food items. Learn more about Football Fest here.