The bounty from the food bank’s own garden and others is providing a welcome addition of fresh vegetables to free lunches prepared for youngsters and to food boxes distributed this summer.

But the providers themselves are in a real pickle, financially.

“I’ve got to come up with a substantial amount of money by the end of the week, to cover some bills,” South Kitsap Helpline executive director Jennifer Hardison said Tuesday.

The agency recently had to make some difficult cuts to reduce expenses as it struggles to make ends meet. Two paid staff positions that combined for 40-50 hours a week were eliminated. There are seven remaining paid staff members, including Hardison, and they all had their hours reduced.

“We hope eventually to raise those hours back up,” said Kareen Stockton, president of Helpline’s board.

They’re trying to remain positive and focused on developing more opportunities to bring in revenue from selling the herbs, vegetables and flowers grown in the gardens and greenhouse at the old Port Orchard Nursery, the site that Helpline acquired last year with the help of a special grant.

the reason we struggling harder now than we have in past with same situation is our client numbre have increased so much