POULSBO — There’s been no decision made as to whether North Kitsap Fishline will lease or sell a portion of its new property on Viking Avenue. However, the number of people using the nonprofit’s services during the grand opening May 6 at its new location may influence that determination.

All parking stalls were filled by 10 a.m., and overflow parking was filling up fast. A line from the front counter of the new market stretched back to the welcome desk.

The non-profit agency was located in a 3,000-square-foot building on narrow 3rd Avenue. The new space is double that, sited on a 1.7-acre lot.

Fishline bought the site from Poulsbo RV for $900,000. The nonprofit has a mortgage for the first time.

Because its former building was so small, Fishline leases space around Poulsbo for storage of some of its goods, based on need and expiration dates. It uses space at the former Poulsbo Police Station and a room in a Poulsbo Village building.

“We’re going to be consolidating [and] pull everything into one of two spaces,” director Mary Nader said.

Consolidation is “one of the beautiful parts of the move, as it will allow for better inventory of products,” she said. It will also cut costs as the nonprofit adjusts to a mortgage.

No decisions have been made in regard to the old building, Nader said. She said they will wait until Fishline is settled in on Viking Avenue. A decision about what to do with the old building is expected to be made by the end of this year, she said.

The market space within the new building will allow people to browse without feeling “scrunched.” It’s expanding from a few hundred square feet, to 1,200 square feet.

“I just want to tell our community how deeply grateful we are,” Nader said. “We can improve the experience for clients, donors, volunteers … I just want to thank people for making this possible.”

To show gratitude to the community, a public celebration is scheduled for June 7 at noon.

North Kitsap Fishline is a non-profit organization that has been meeting emergency food and housing needs and advocacy services in North Kitsap since 1967. ​

In addition to its food bank, North Kitsap Fishline helps 150-200 households a month with:

 

• Eviction prevention.
• Utility assistance.
• First month rent/deposit.
• Emergency housing.
• Gas vouchers to job interviews, medical appointments.
• Prescription co-pays.

 

Fishline provides weekend meals for 150-170 children, delivers groceries to 12-15 homebound clients, provides 400-425 households with holiday baskets and provide gifts/toys for Christmas for 400 or so children.

Fishline also owns Second Season, a thrift store on Anderson Parkway. Proceeds from Second Season help defray Fishline’s expenses.