South Kitsap Helpline

The property that South Kitsap Helpline now owns was once a home to the Greseth family, longtime residents who founded The Port Orchard Nursery in 1949. The site housed their family home and the nursery including three commercial greenhouses.

With deep respect for the site’s history, we used the greenhouse as inspiration for the design of the new food bank. As a greenhouse nurtures plants, South Kitsap Helpline nurtures people. The new building’s architectural expression uses simple forms and materials seen in common greenhouse structures and functionally provides a space for people to give, gather and grow.

This 10,000 square foot food bank will house a new food market, operations warehouse and administration offices along with a community room that can be used for classes, clinics and other programing to support the local community. Uniquely, the site will incorporate garden beds and a future greenhouse which will be used for growing and learning about food. The ‘Compassion Kitchen’ is a space where someone can take home prepared meals, baked goods or a fresh soup made from excess donations and garden yields. Not only will the space provide food to fill bellies, but it will be a warm place to rest and will act as a teaching kitchen.

“Give – Gather – Grow”