Community March 25, 2024

How Helpline House Strengthens Our Community

Founded in 1968, Helpline House on Bainbridge Island provides social services to individuals and families in need. Helpline offers housing and utility assistance, social work and counseling services, a food bank, medical supplies, and senior services. Additionally Helpline has many great programs for children, including Project Backpack and Project Happy Birthday.

Here at Windermere Bainbridge Island, we are proud supporters of Helpline House. Their work is vital and strengthens are community in many ways. We recently spoke to Executive Director Maria Metzler to learn more.

Maria-Metzler-Helpline-House

Maria Metzler, Executive Director

Maria has been the Executive Director at Helpline House for the last seven years, she shared her story of getting involved.

“I was living on the Island, but commuting to Seattle for work every day. My whole career has been in social services and nonprofits, and as such, I was aware of the amazing work of Helpline House in my community. My kids were young at the time and I wanted them to grow up understanding what a healthy, connected, intentional community looks like, specifically, their own community. When the opportunity arose to become a part of Helpline House, I jumped.”

 

 

 

Helpline House’s Inspiring Mission

When we asked Maria about how Helpline inspires her, she said, “‘Becoming a part of the circle of giving and receiving.’ We are all in that circle, in various places, all the time. There are moments in our lives when we are the givers and equally as many moments in our lives when we are the receivers. We give and receive daily – love, affection, guidance, lessons. Helpline House exemplifies this in our community. It is one of the most generous, philanthropic, giving communities out there. Helpline House is lucky enough to be the face of that on Bainbridge Island. However, I would be remiss not to add that I’m inspired not just by the ‘givers,’ but by the receivers, too. It takes courage to ask for help. We are a better, stronger, healthier community because of their bravery and willingness to come to Helpline House. Ultimately, I truly believe we are all givers and receivers, and being at Helpline House is just one example of how we live that every day. We would not and could not exist without our community. In 2023, we distributed 68,000 pounds of food a month.”

Helpline is making an incredible impact, and we’re so grateful for Maria’s efforts and the rest of the Helpline House team. Additionally, they have a new mental health program for kids. Maria informed us that “Helpline House is the only provider of free mental health therapy for kids ages 5-12 in the area.”

How You Can Help

A great way to support Helpline House is through participating in a food drive. Also, you can donate food in the designated bins at Town & Country or Safeway. Financial support is wonderful, too. By making a monetary donation, Helpline has more purchasing power due to partnerships. Your dollars go further to purchase more food because staff can buy needed items through other, larger, food systems.

Giving events are also an easy, rewarding way to show your support. The Kitsap Great Give is a fantastic time to donate. April 16th is the big day this year, with early giving starting on April 1st. Also, you can round up or give directly at the registers at Town & Country any time you shop. In the fall, the annual Turkey Trot is a wonderful fundraiser.

If you’d like to help more regularly, there are weekly shifts available for volunteers. You can greet shoppers, stock and sort food, pick up food in the morning from local grocery stores, and more. Additionally, Helpline needs substitutes who can be available with a day or two’s notice when regular volunteers are unable to make it. Maria says, “Ultimately, one of the best ways of supporting our organization is to be an ambassador. Tell your family and friends about Helpline House and how you think Bainbridge Island is a better community because of it. Your support could inspire more giving, more volunteering, but also perhaps inspire a neighbor to seek help if previously they were unsure about it.”

For questions about getting involved, email: helpline@helplinehouse.org

Our Office’s Involvement

Windermere Bainbridge Island has long supported programs at Helpline House, namely Project Backpack. “We love Windermere,” Maria commented. “You make it possible for households who get brand new backpacks and school supplies for their children to also have a gift card to purchase the necessary items that are not included in the backpack pick up.”

Last year, our office also helped provide Thanksgiving meals by supporting Helpline’s Thanksgiving program with grocery store gift cards. This supplemented the Thanksgiving items Helpline offers in their food bank.

As Maria said, “It takes all of us” to improve our community. We’re so grateful for Helpline House!

 

Community February 7, 2020

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2019 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $52,475 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2019. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Bainbridge Island School Foundation | 2019 Dinner and Auction Gala

Bainbridge Youth Services | Annual Sponsorship

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Arms Around Bainbridge

Bainbridge Youth Services | Additional Funding

Bainbridge Island Senior Center

Island Time Activities

Boys and Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu | Annual Sponsorship

Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Foundation | Shred Fest Sponsorship

Bainbridge Island Land Trust | Preservation Partners Party

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

PAWS | Gala and Auction

Community January 18, 2019

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2018 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $56,550 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2018. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge Schools Foundation

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Program

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Bainbridge Youth Services

Bainbridge Island Senior Center

Island Time Activities

Salish Sea Expeditions

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu

Bainbridge Land Trust

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Cynthia Lait Art | Bainbridge Island Community Mural

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Community January 12, 2018

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2017 Donations

 

WIndermere Bainbridge Foundation

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $57,050 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2017. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

Bainbridge Schools Foundation

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Peacock Family Services

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Bainbridge Youth Services | Annual Sponsorship

Arms Around Bainbridge

Salish Sea Expeditions

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu

BARN | Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network

Bainbridge Island Senior Center

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Land Trust

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island | ShredFest Sponsorship

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Community January 5, 2017

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2016 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $35,200 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2016. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Bainbridge Youth Services | Annual Sponsorship

Salish Sea Expeditions

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu

Sustainable Bainbridge

Housing Resources Bainbridge | Rental Assistance Program

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Bainbridge Land Trust

Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship

Bainbridge High School Robotics Team

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Community January 10, 2016

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2015 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $31,300 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2015. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Program

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Arms Around Bainbridge

Hannah’s Hopeful Hearts

Crush Kids Cancer | Seattle Children’s Hospital

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run Sponsorship

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Bainbridge Arts & Crafts

Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship

Bainbridge High School Robotics Team

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Island Schools Foundation

Community February 1, 2015

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2014 Donations

 

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation Donations 2014

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $28,6500 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2014. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Ben Towne Foundation | Seattle Children’s Hospital

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Program

Salish Sea Expeditions

Arms Around Bainbridge

Peacock Family Center

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run Sponsorship

Westsound Wildlife Shelter

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts

Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship

PAWS 

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Land Trust

Community January 12, 2014

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2013 Donations

 

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation Donations 2013

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $25,105 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2013. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Helpline House | School Clothes Project

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Arms Around Bainbridge

Peacock Family Services

Boys and Girls Club Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run

Westsound Wildlife Shelter

Helpline House

PAWS

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Bainbridge High School Robotics Team | Spartronics Team 4915

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Public Library | Spelling Bee

One Call for All

CAST for Kids

Bainbridge Land Trust

Community January 10, 2013

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2012 Donations

 

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation Donations 2012

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $23,630 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2012. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island | Waypoint Historical Marker

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Boys and Girls Club Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Youth Services

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts

Taste of Lynnwood

Westsound Wildlife Shelter

Community February 1, 2012

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2011 Donations

 

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation Donations 2011

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $15,075 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2011. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Frontier Bank | Middle School Tutoring Program

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Boys and Girls Club Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run

Housing Resources Bainbridge

PAWS

One Call for All

Bainbridge Island Schools Foundation | PALS Contribution

Bainbridge Land Trust