BARN Members Put Their Skills To Work for the Community in 2025

BARN members worked together to make a lot of good things happen for the community this year. Here’s a look back at some of the projects completed in 2025:

·      The Bainbridge Public Library has a beautiful new bench for their Haiku Garden, created as part of a class in the Woodworking Studio

·      The prayer wheel at the Hall’s Hill Labyrinth is spinning again thanks to David Hays and Al Miller in Metal Arts

·      Helpline House displayed their gratitude to donors thanks to a life-size metal Giving Tree donated by BARN

·      Wayzgoose Kitsap, the annual print festival in Bremerton, recognized people who are supporting arts in Kitsap County with fused-glass and wood award plaques created by Betsy Hagestedt

·      The Bainbridge Island Land Trust has a large relief map of Bainbridge Island that was 3D printed at BARN by Tech Lab lead Keith La Plain. It will be used as part of their watershed education program.

·      Mike Bromell, a senior at BHS, designed and printed an upper-limb prosthetic device for rowers, using knowledge and tools he found at BARN, and shared the file online for free

·   Two Fix It Fairs offered in coordination with Sustainable Bainbridge connected skilled volunteer fixers with residents seeking to repair household items

·      Teen Night participants made pre-prepared meals and holiday treats to be donated through Helpline House

·      Friends of the Library has a new permanent sign on High School Road to promote upcoming events

·      A team of volunteers from the Culinary Arts Studio cooked green beans and sweet potatoes for hundreds of Thanksgiving meals served by Island Volunteer Caregivers. All the raw materials were donated by Bay Hay and Feed

·  BARN member Jeff Ort volunteered to help Island School parents create colorful t-shirts for their Forest & Fun & Run fundraiser.

·      Local teens enjoyed free, hands-on creative activities at BARN’s Teen Nights.

·      Woodshop volunteers helped to plane boards needed for the annual Harvest Fair seating and teeter-totter

·      The Battle Point Astronomical Center has new 3D printed trays to hold light ropes around the perimeter of the planetarium

·  Culinary Arts volunteers had an ongoing program called “Community Soups and Stews” that provided more than 100 meals to Helpline on six different occasions in 2025

·  BARN members donated more than 300 pounds of food to Helpline House in the first BARN Holiday Food Drive

Several projects that started in 2025 that are still in the works – look for news about them in the weeks to come. If I missed a 2025 project, please let me know by writing to communityservice@bainbridgebarn.org and I’ll add it to the list.

Happy New Year!