BY DAVID BEEMER
I’m one of those increasingly rare locals who can honestly say they were born and raised on Bainbridge Island. While the island has changed in too many ways to count over its 50-plus years, there are a few precious local attributes that have remained strong and truly make this a special place to live.
Back in the 1960s (and probably earlier), there was a group of local businessmen and community leaders on Bainbridge who organized a somewhat quiet annual Christmas gift purchase and delivery program to help some less fortunate folks experience a better holiday season. Last Christmas, a similar group of island do-gooders organized a similar venture in what may have been the Bainbridge feel-good story of the season.
In 1968, local church women founded Fishline, which morphed into Helpline in 1973. Today, the myriad services offered by Helpline are staggering, with the food bank portion of the operation remaining its key staple.
While most of us would consider the Bainbridge population as an affluent demographic, it might be shocking to some that around 300 families each week are supported by the Helpline House food bank. Another of Helpline’s big summer and fall campaigns is the annual back-to-school backpacks program. The Strom family, Modern Collision and several other local entities provide huge support for this.
I’ll mention one more. Longtime CROP Hunger Walk supporter Kent Chadwick is our walk’s honoree this year — another one of those somewhat quiet champions for many island efforts to better our community.
The list really goes on and on, but I’ll stop there because I’d leave somebody out. That is the beauty of the generosity of Bainbridge Islanders — I would leave somebody out — there is always somebody else who is giving of himself or herself to assist a fellow islander.
That’s why the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk always finds so much support and why our local walk is always one of the top walks in the country — 16th in the nation in 2014, and the number one walk on the entire West Coast.
In its 20 years of existence, BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk has earned more than $711,000. With 20 percent of the funds earned going directly to Helpline House and 5 percent to Fishline of Poulsbo, there’s more than $177,000 staying right in our local communities.
Truly, this is an easy sell to the charity minded folks of Bainbridge.
OK, so here we go! The 21st annual BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk is scheduled for Sept. 27. We’re really looking to make it another great campaign this year — maybe even cracking the top 10 in the nation!
The past many years — in fact for most of the years of our walk’s existence — the Bainbridge event has been the recipient of an anonymous donor who will match every donation made to our CROP Hunger Walk. We are so fortunate to have this extra push of support, but it takes all of us to make it happen.
Let’s show that Bainbridge pride and make this the best CROP Hunger Walk ever! Oh, and don’t forget Restaurant Day.
On Sept. 17, several Bainbridge Island restaurants are offering to donate a portion of their earnings for the day to CROP. Show your support, both for your favorite eatery and for CROP — and don’t forget to say “Thank You.”
If you can’t make it out on Sept. 27, find a walker and offer a pledge, and eat out on Sept. 17. Or, you can go to www.cropwalkonline.org, navigate to the Bainbridge walk, and donate.
For more information on the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk, contact Chris Christensen at 842-5830 or Rachel Kerbrat at 842-8729.
David Beemer is a member of the BI/NK Crop Hunger Walk organizing committee.
