Local Spotlight: Bainbridge Island Artisan Resource Network

For this month’s Local Spotlight, we’d like to highlight a business that has gone above and beyond to help our island community—Bainbridge Island Artisan Resource Network (BARN). BARN is a non-profit community center with a mission to, '“build and support an open, intergenerational community of artisans and makers who are dedicated to learning, teaching, sharing, and inspiring one another with creativity, craftsmanship and community service.”

Woven into their mission statement, community is at the heart of BARN. As true artisans and craftsmen, they all found unique ways in which they could contribute around our island in this time of need.

When the wife of a local doctor rose to the challenge of creating protective gear for local physicians, BARN was ready to help. Physicians wearing the gear, PAPR masks, are serving COVID-19 patients and need the gear for protection, but they were facing a shortage. With the incredible help of BARN, they used laser cutting and 3D printers to create the components, making the absolute most of their resources. A studio lead from BARN who helped on the work said they were also working on a homemade version of the air pump if no other options are available—incredible!

Photo by BARN: 3D printers working overtime to help with the COVID-19 response. BARN volunteers are using them to make components for face shields, PAPR hoods, and other protective gear so urgently needed by health care workers.

Additionally, BARN volunteers are working with Bainbridge Prepares and COBI’s Emergency Operations Center to organize volunteers who are making face masks for health care providers. Several other studios of theirs have donated N95 masks and nitrile gloves that they had in stock.

The commercial kitchens are being made available for organizations like Arms Around Bainbridge so they can continue providing healthy meals to families in need. And it doesn’t stop there. Recently, the Woodworking Studio designed and built outdoor food cabinets for Helpline House, so they can continue to provide food to those who need it.

The readiness of these professionals to jump in and contribute is inspiring! Thank you to BARN, and all the wonderful businesses on Bainbridge Island, that continue to make this such a wonderful place to live.

Be sure to check out their new online classes!