FRIDAY FIELD TRIPS WITH THE CHAMBER
Helpline House
On a Friday each month, the Chamber team hits the road to visit one of our members. We take a peek behind the scenes and ask business leaders to discuss their experiences owning and operating a business on Bainbridge Island. These Friday Field Trips offer the opportunity to showcase the diversity of our business ecosystem while gathering data about how we can best support our members.
Last month’s Friday Field Trip took us to Helpline House’s brand new facility on Knechtel Way. Our Chamber team took a sneak peek at the new facility before the grand opening to take a tour inside their new and improved space!
Upon entering their new facility, we were welcomed with a colorful and spacious lobby and waiting area. At the end of the lobby, Helpline House’s facility now offers a community conference room, with a television screen, plenty of outlets, and tables for community groups to reserve for meetings. Just around the corner, the lobby features a gorgeous staircase adorned by glass tile art and a beautiful glass chandelier that leads to individual office spaces provide a safe and comforting area for private meetings with an array of social services.
The new community market that looks just like your local grocery store, with organized products and produce, shopping carts, and checkout counters. Just behind the market, they have an incredible storage and organizing space for all of their product donations as well as a new commercial kitchen. The commercial kitchen space allows the Helpline staff to separate food and take mass ingredient donations and turn them into takeaway meals for shoppers–making easy meals more accessible for all!
BAINBRIDGE CHAMBER: What do you like most about operating on Bainbridge Island?
HELPLINE HOUSE:““This community. We have such a supportive, generous, creative, and amazing community. If we put the word out that we need paper bags, we get a delivery. If we say we're low on peanut butter, it starts arriving by the case. People volunteer on their day off, during their vacations, in their retired years. So many people are part of the 'circle of giving and receiving' - it's truly remarkable and makes Helpline House so very special.” - Maria Metzler, Executive Director
BAINBRIDGE CHAMBER: What are the greatest challenges you face?
HELPLINE HOUSE: ““One of the greatest challenges we face is balancing an equitable and meaningful response to growing need. Another is combatting the stigma that asking for help is somehow a deficit. While we do see growing numbers, we also know there's a population on this Island (and maybe it is you, reader) who could use some assistance every once in a while, or just during the holidays, or just during tougher months, but who won't ever reach out or come to Helpline. We want you to come - and we hope you do.” - Maria Metzler, Executive Director
BAINBRIDGE CHAMBER: What would you like the community to know about Helpline House?
HELPLINE HOUSE:““I answered this one first, because it's the easiest for me. I want the community to know that ALL are welcome at Helpline House. For the food bank, there are no income restrictions or residency requirements. For social services, a few programs have differing eligibility, but we want to help you navigate all the programs and assistance you may be eligible for that you might not even know about. There's a place for everyone at Helpline House.” - Maria Metzler, Executive Director
Learn More about Helpline House Below!
We had a great time learning more about Helpline House and encouraging all community members to check out their new facility and all of the resources Helpline provides! Read our interview with Executive Director Maria Metzler below!
