The South Kitsap Helpline is the recipient of a $3,000 grant made possible by the Windermere Foundation.

The funds will be used to pay for emergency shelter costs for local families who become homeless, distributed through a local hotel/motel voucher program. The vouchers will enable short-term stays in local hotels/motels while they work to get back on their feet.

Helpline originally had asked for only a portion of the funds, hoping to have other local organizations match any funds donated, but Windermere Real Estate in Port Orchard chose to donate all of the remaining funds.

The South Kitsap Helpline, located at 1351 Bay Street in Port Orchard, is a nonprofit agency, comprised of the Helpline Thrift Store and the Helpline Food Bank. Proceeds from the thrift store (open to the shopping public) benefit the food bank, serving South Kitsap children, adults and seniors since 1980. The food bank serves about 2,000 people each month.