Hopelink, the largest social services agency serving north and east King County, opened a brand new center in the Totem Lake area of Kirkland this week.
The new Hopelink Kirkland/Northshore center, located at 11011 120th Avenue N.E. in Kirkland, replaces the existing Hopelink locations in the Bridal Trails and Bothell areas with a new one-stop-shop where Kirkland and Bothell clients can access all of Hopelink’s services, including a new grocery store-style food bank.
Hopelink Kirkland/Northshore will be the first of Hopelink’s centers to use the grocery store model in its food bank, and is one of just a handful in existence that will provide such extensive selection and flexibility, due to its large size and liberal hours of operation.
Traditional food banks employ volunteers or staff to hand out food from a set selection of items to clients walking down a line. To pick up their food, clients typically must come to the food bank at a pre-determined time and date. Hopelink’s new location mirrors a typical grocery store where shoppers can select canned goods, baked goods, produce, meat and dairy items from cases and shelves. The grocery store will be open 25 hours per week with daytime and evening hours. Clients will select the foods right for their families and have the ability to shop the food bank at their convenience.
Additionally, Hopelink is one of the few social services organizations in the area to combine such a wide range of services in one location for the benefit and convenience of people needing help. Hopelink Kirkland/Northshore, serving the Kirkland and Bothell communities, offers adult education, emergency financial assistance, energy assistance, a job program and family development.
“By opening Hopelink Kirkland/Northshore as a full-service location with a grocery store food bank, Hopelink is adapting to better meet the changing needs of the communities we serve,” said Marilyn Mason-Plunkett, Hopelink president and CEO. “Families typically can benefit from more than one Hopelink service so it makes sense to enable them to access multiple services in one location. Many of our clients hold jobs in addition to juggling their other family commitments so a food bank that offers them more convenience and flexibility is a huge advantage for them. It’s an innovative approach and an exciting major step in making it easier for people who need Hopelink’s help to get it.”
Hopelink’s moves from Bridal Trails and Bothell into the new combined site were precipitated by lease expirations in both locations, which coincided with a long-term effort by the organization to find new and better ways to serve clients.
Hopelink Kirkland/Northshore is located at 11011 120th Avenue NE in Kirkland. The phone number is 425-889-7880.
Since 1971, Hopelink has helped homeless and low income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities make lasting change in their lives. Hopelink promotes self-sufficiency by helping people meet their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development, transportation and adult literacy. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425.869.6000 or visit www.hope-link.org.
