Kidzz Helping Kidzz Fighting Youth Food Insecurity in Kitsap County

At Kidzz Helping Kidzz, our mission is rooted in compassion, action, and just the right amount of organized chaos. Our Advisory Board is all in when it comes to tackling youth food insecurity in Kitsap County. Thanks to the overwhelming support of our community, our third annual food drive was a tremendous success. We’re excited to share the incredible impact we’ve made together.

Local Volunteer Opportunities For Kids In Kitsap Mobilizing The Community

On April 6, we kicked off our county-wide food drive effort by distributing 85 handmade food collection boxes throughout Kitsap County. And when we say “kicked off,” we mean those boxes barely had time to settle in before they started filling up.

The generosity of our community showed up fast and strong, proving once again that when neighbors are in need, Kitsap County delivers to help end youth food insecurity.

How To Donate Food In Bremerton And Silverdale Powering The Drive

A food drive of this scale requires dedication, muscle, and heart and thankfully, we had all three in abundance. Throughout April, volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes collecting donations, coordinating logistics, and keeping everything moving forward. 

Some people show up to support a food drive… and then there’s Jeff Hunt and Rocky Quackenbush. These members of Liuna Laborers Local Chapter 252 used their racecar to bring community kindness and serious horsepower to our mission.

Check out this International Motor Contest Association Modified division racecar, proudly sporting the Kidzz Helping Kidzz logo and driven by Jeff Hunt.

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Yes, that’s right. While most of us are handing out flyers, Jeff and Rocky rolled in at full throttle, turning heads and spreading the word in the most unforgettable way possible.

These two, proud members of Liuna Laborers Local Chapter 252, didn’t just support our food drive—they raced it into the spotlight. It is not every day you see community kindness paired with horsepower, but we are here for it.

We are incredibly grateful for their creativity, energy, and big hearted support. This is proof that when a community comes together, it can look a little louder, a little faster, and a whole lot of fun.

Our Youth Advisory Board also led an extraordinary food drive at the Bremerton Fred Meyer, demonstrating both initiative and heart in action. Youth of all ages volunteered their time, working in shifts throughout the day to engage shoppers, distribute flyers, and confidently share their mission of helping children in need.

What stood out most was their ability to step outside their comfort zones—approaching and speaking with adults in the community with confidence, clarity, and genuine passion.

The result was remarkable: 2,052 pounds of food collected in just four hours. Beyond the numbers, this effort reflects something even more powerful—the growth of confident, community-minded young leaders who are willing to use their voices to create change. Their dedication, teamwork, and courage to advocate for others continue to inspire everyone around them.

Supporting A Local Charity For Children In Kitsap With Silver City Restaurant Fundraiser

This spring, our friends at Silver City Restaurant & Ale House knocked it out of the park once again with an incredible fundraiser benefiting Kidzz Helping Kidzz! Throughout the month of April, customers came together to support local kids facing food insecurity, and the community response was amazing. Thanks to generous customer donations plus a $1,000 contribution from Silver City, a total of $2,344.23 was raised to help support kids in need. 

Check out this great photo of Owner Blake Piety and Robbi Perez, Office Manager and Marketing Director, helping celebrate the fundraiser’s success!

Thank you, Silver City, and thank you to everyone who donated. Together, we are making a difference — one act of kindness at a time!

Coordinated Logistics For Picking Up Every Food Collection Box

On May 7, our volunteer teams hit the road, fanning out across the county to retrieve donation boxes. Each team took on a different route, and thanks to their coordination and commitment, not a single box was left behind.

Let’s meet the incredible volunteers who made it all happen...

Team A (Port Orchard & Silverdale):

Jen & Adam Wiren tackled this route with their signature mix of planning, creativity, and determination. With tight timing and plenty of coordination, they made sure everything was picked up without a hitch—basically the logistics dream team.

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Team B (Bremerton & North Kitsap):

Katie Walz, a self-declared U-Haul expert and Bremerton local, took on her route with serious energy. Her efficiency and know-how helped her finish ahead of schedule—an overachiever in the best possible way.

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Team C (Churches, Schools & everything else):

Rhandel Darner, a seasoned driver with 10 years of experience at Kidzz Helping Kidzz, handled the church and school pickups. His background as a school bus driver definitely came in handy when navigating tight parking lots and busy drop-off zones. Every single donation was safely collected and brought to our central hub.

Getting Closer To Ending Childhood Hunger In Wa By Turning Donations Into Meals

On May 9, our warehouse was buzzing with energy as more than 60 incredible community members showed up ready to get to work! Within minutes, teams were formed and the space transformed into a well-oiled machine—boxing, counting, and weighing thousands of donated items. What could have been chaos turned into a truly impressive display of teamwork and efficiency.

We were also honored to welcome two elected officials who came out to support Kidzz Helping Kidzz. Senator Deborah Krishnadasan and Representative Adison Richards rolled up their sleeves, jumped right in, and worked alongside volunteers to help make the day a success.

And the final results? 

Absolutely amazing! 

The final impact on youth food insecurity: 6,701 pounds of food and 5,584 meals for local families.

By the end of the event, we collected 9,298 food items, weighing in at 6,701 pounds—that’s the equivalent of 5,584 meals for local families. 

Yes, we double-checked the math. Twice. And we couldn’t be more excited about what this means for our community!

Impacting Backpack Program Donations With Final Packing And Delivery

Transporting over three tons of food is no small task, and one trailer simply wasn’t going to cut it. Fortunately, Jen and Adam Wiren stepped up again, generously providing a second, larger trailer to get the job done.

Packing everything was a bit like a high-stakes game of Tetris, with some unusually large boxes adding an extra challenge. Thankfully, the Liuna Laborers Local Chapter 252 brought their strength, teamwork, and determination (and possibly superhuman stacking abilities) to get both trailers filled to capacity. 

We were also joined by members of WaFd Bank, whose generous $2,000 grant helped make this entire effort possible. The Submarine Officers Spouses Charity Association brought amazing energy and generosity, diving right in to help us count, weigh, and sort the donations.

Their enthusiasm and teamwork made a big difference—and we’re so grateful for their support!  In addition, Costco generously donated $500 worth of food, further boosting the impact of our drive.

Once the trailers were loaded, it was time to hit the road. Our first stop was Bremerton Backpack Brigade, where Sherrill Gross welcomed us and helped coordinate a smooth delivery of 3,015 pounds of food to support students across eight Bremerton elementary schools.

Next, we headed to the South Kitsap Backpack for Kids program, where Shirlene Wells and her incredible volunteer team greeted us. The remaining 3,657 pounds of food were delivered quickly and carefully, ensuring it would reach the families who need it most.

A huge shout-out to the Liuna Laborers Local Chapter 252, who once again showed up in a big way. After supporting our toy drive last year, they proved (again) that they are an absolute force when it comes to getting things done.

Creating A Food Lifeline For Child And Family Success In Kitsap County

This food drive was about more than just delivering meals—it was about creating a lifeline for children and families in our community. Access to nutritious food directly impacts academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and long-term success. By helping meet this fundamental need, we’re giving kids the opportunity to learn, grow, and dream—without hunger getting in the way.

Local Business And Community Organization Support For The Kidzz Helping Kidzz Food Drive

We are beyond grateful to the local businesses, organizations, and individuals who made this campaign possible:

• Academy of Dance

• Alive Church

• Annapolis Fitness

• Blue Sky Printing

• Bremerton Family YMCA & Hazelwood Family YMCA

• Caffe Cocina

• Destination Harley Davidson

• Grocery Outlet

• Greens on Your Way

• Hillcrest Church

• Kaiser Eye Care Center and Physical Therapy

• Kitsap County Public Works

• Kitsap Physical Therapy & Sports Clinic

• Kuresman Insurance

• ProSport

• Silver City Restaurant & Ale House

• St. Anthony of Egypt Episcopal Church

• St. Michael Medical Center

• Street Sports Poulsbo

• Schroader, Goldman, and Bender

• The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints

• The Doctors Clinic

• The Latitude 48 Group- Ameriprise Financial Services

• WaFd Bank

• Washington State Auditor’s Office

• Whitlock & Forster, LLC

  
  

Volunteer Uhaul Drivers:

• Rhandel Darner

• Tia and Tony Picini

• Katie Walz

• Jen & Adam Wiren

  
  

Food Pickup Volunteers:

• Melanie DeShields (Bremerton & Silverdale)

• Tia Picini (Poulsbo & Kingston)

• Amber Nash (Port Orchard)

Celebrating Our Youth Leaders

At the heart of Kidzz Helping Kidzz is an incredible group of young changemakers. Our Advisory Board, composed entirely of youth, continues to demonstrate that leadership knows no age. These inspiring students are the future of our community—and they're already making a difference today.

Advisory Board Members:

• Everette Crouse 

• Zachary Darner 

• Noah Darner 

• Zechi DeShields

• Paige Devey 

• Makayla Devey 

• Alexis Eames 

• Arianna Guy 

• Selah Guy

• Micah Guy

• Leighton Hill 

• Logan Hill 

• Matthew Manzano

• Jameson Neumann

• Grace Neumann 

• Tyson Payne

• Beckham Payne

• Elim Song

• Emery Weaber

Building A Future For Youth Food Insecurity And Lasting Community Change

Since launching our first food drive in 2024, we’ve delivered over 12,500 meals to families in need. Each campaign strengthens our belief in the power of community, collaboration, and compassion.

To every volunteer, donor, driver, business, and partner: thank you. You’ve helped create lasting change—and we’re just getting started. Together, we’re building a future where youth food insecurity is a thing of the past and no child has to go hungry.

Join Our Mission At The Upcoming Fundraiser At Blu Berry Frozen Yogurt In Silverdale

Join us on Tuesday, May 26 from 5-8pm for a sweet and simple way to support Kidzz Helping Kidzz! We’re hosting a fundraiser at Blu Berry Frozen Yogurt in Silverdale, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to KHK.

It’s the perfect excuse to gather your friends and family, enjoy some delicious froyo, and help us bring joy to kids in need. Every swirl makes a difference—come treat yourself and support our mission!