I often think about how lucky we are on Bainbridge Island to have the resources provided by Helpline House.

Then I remember, like the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, services like Helpline House are here because of we, the people. Helpline House would not exist if not for the support of the island — both in forms of money and in donations of goods — and just plain support of love and neighborly honor.

Despite the perception of many living outside the boundaries of Bainbridge Island, there are many of our friends and neighbors living just one paycheck away from being without a meal, or without a home.

I guess that is one of the reasons I started working with the BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk organizing group several years ago. Twenty percent of the funds raised in the annual walk go directly to Helpline. I see that value; I have been assisted by that value; I want that value to continue to remain stitched into the fabric of Bainbridge Island for years to come.

It’s easy to look back several decades and recognize that Bainbridge Island is not the same place that it was in the 1950s, ’60s, ‘70s, even ’80s. I think pretending that the island could have ever stayed the quiet community of those early years is like ignoring the changes brought on by the automobile, the spaceship and the personal computer.

However, and this is a big however, we need to remember to take care of what we’ve got — and who we’ve got — which brings me to one of our focuses for the 2017 CROP Hunger Walk — scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, starting at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church.

Some of the forces of service on Bainbridge Island are unassuming. Helpline is unassuming at its Winslow location off Knechtel Avenue.

But the service organization becomes very assuming when you find yourself in need of its services. When I worked as a courtesy clerk at Town & Country Market back in the ‘70s, a man would walk into the store, just about every evening, to pick up a few choice vegetables and other food items. To call Dave Ullin unassuming is probably the wrong choice of words. For a teenager, Dave was fairly intimidating from afar — and even more so across the counter at the store. However, once a rapport was established, Dave was someone you wanted to be able to carry around with you like a set of encyclopedias. You may delve into his volumes looking for a specific topic, but would come out with much more education than you ever expected.

Dave took a humanitarian care in watching over and offering assistance to the residents of Eagle Harbor. After his death in May, I’m sure you read about this amazing man and his meaning to the folks of the harbor.

I can’t remember Dave ever walking in one of our CROP Walks over the past 22 years, but he epitomized the same humanitarian spirit that we feel each fall as we take to the streets of Winslow. Over those years, local walkers have raised over $800,000 for CROP Hunger Walk. Seventy-five percent of the funds go to Church World Service for its ongoing world-wide assistance programs. CWS even jumps in to help with natural disaster relief — like the recent Hurricane Harvey.

Because of CROP Hunger Walks, when disaster strikes, CWS already has emergency supplies packed and ready to send immediately — no need to wait for special fundraising drives.

OK, here’s the basics. While the walk itself is Sept. 24 and everyone is invited to sign up and join in the walk, you can also participate by donating to a walker. Donating is really easy; go to www.crophunger walk.org/bainbridgeiswa.

There, you will find a way to donate to the walk, and even register if you’d like to walk.

Another way to contribute is to contribute on Restaurant Day — set for Thursday, Sept. 14. Participating Bainbridge Island restaurants are offering to contribute a portion of their earnings that day toward CROP Hunger Walk. Look for CROP Hunger Walk posters at the restaurant or ask when you are making a reservation. We did not have a final list of restaurants at press time.

See you on the streets Sept. 24!

David Beemer is with the BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk Committee.