Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap
INTERFAITH Council 

Designed and operated online by the Social Action Committee of Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church, the AGP encourages anyone, of any age, to give donations to nonprofit organizations as holiday gifts, rather than buying more things. 

The annual window for participating is during the months around the winter gift-giving season. The 2011-12 catalog includes gifts from 14 local, national and worldwide organizations. (Last year we raised over $5400 for a dozen varied groups.)

We screen each of the organizations in the catalog to be sure it uses the donations wisely and takes its mission seriously. We also have forged personal relationships with many of these organizations so we know they are run by dedicated, passionate people who share a deep sense of purpose and an unyielding commitment to the interdependent web of all existence.

Please join us this holiday season as we continue to spread hope and empowerment to people throughout the world.

The first Japanese-Americans forcibly taken to internment camps in WWII came from Bainbridge Island. To honor and remember them and this tragic event, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, in partnership with local and national governmental leaders, the Timber Framers Guild, the IFC, and many other volunteers, are creating a national Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial at the site of the old Eagledale Ferry landing.

The Agate Passage Friends Meeting visits immigrants lacking documents detained at the Northwest Detention Center (Tacoma) every Monday morning with the intention of of helping them to find the living support they need when they are released from detention and able to legally look for jobs.  We need your help with the following:  1) Homes for them to stay in for one to two weeks when they are released from detention and until they get connected with World Relief and other organizations ready to help them; 2) Overseeing of medical care; 3) Adult male clothing; 4) People interested in joining our visiting team.  We visit those recommended to us by the Tacoma Roundtable and Northwest Immigrants Rights Project as needing and welcoming visits.  Please contact Linda Parsons at linda@newthoughtcoaching.com or Judy Brown at jubrown7@gmail.com  Thank you.

IFC has a close, supportive connection with Helpline House. We help to seek volunteers and donations for many Helpline services to those in need.  Some ways you can help include:

• Register with the Chilly Hilly bike ride each February;
• Donate to the annual Helpline House Plant Sale each April;
• Take part in the golf tournament each summer;
• Contribute to Project Backpack at the end of each summer;
• Contribute to Project Wishbone each November;
• Assist the Holiday House each December;
• Participate in the community's many Food Drives;
• Assist in the Clothing Connection shop, the Food Bank, or the Helpline Desk.

Please join this community effort to help bring comfort and joy to many of our neighbors who are struggling to meet basic needs. Click here for more details.

We value and support the IVCs mission and efforts to help persons of all ages and persuasions maintain dignity and quality of life and to bring together persons of various faiths and good will to serve those in need in the community. For more information, call (206) 842-4441 Learn how you can help.

See February, 2011, B.I. Review article on IVC HERE

See July, 2011, B.I. Review article on IVC HERE

 IVC has a pressing need for more volunteers who can devote modest amounts of time to help our elderly or frail or vulnerable neighbors to remain independent and in their own homes, and to maintain dignity and quality of life.  Take someone to the doctor, shopping, banking, or running various errands.  Visit someone who may be lonely.  Help with some minor chores.  Do what you like to do when you want or have time to do it!

Sustainable Bainbridge was formed in 2006 to support cooperation and collaboration among a broad-based network of local organizations, businesses, government and individuals to protect and strengthen our community's social, environmental, and economic sustainability for current and future generations.

To get involved, click here.

IFC is exploring ways in which faith communities and their members can foster understanding and friendship with members of local Native American Tribes.

Return of land to Suquamish Tribe?  IFC has written a letter to State officials seeking a solution for the future of OldMan House State Park in Suquamish that respects the sacredness of this land to the Suquamish people and helps to heal past wrongs to the Tribe and divisions in the community.  Find out more.
Learn how you can help.

IFC supports and assists many local activities and services for young people. Check out our Youth page for descriptions, or find out more about how you can help.

Youth leaders and other interested youth and adults interested in organizing some interfaith youth activities should contact Kim Beyer-Nelson (kbeyernelson@hotmail.com ), Sarah Reid (sarah1970@gmail.com), and Sheri Farnsworth (sheri0208@comcast.net ).

Find out about the IFC's statement supporting the goals and work of the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights.  more...