Ballard is a strong community because within it are individuals with the will to lend a hand to their neighbors. The Job Bank at the Ballard Senior Center started up two years ago with this concept in mind, to help people find work, which has become even more important during the recession.

The Job Bank acts as a network where those who need help and are willing to pay can get connected with those who are looking for work. This system has predominately been active within the neighborhood around the senior center, but it is actually open to anyone within Ballard and it’s neighboring communities.

This service started out by a suggestion from the director at the Center, Carlye Teele, at a small meeting. At the time, there was only one volunteer willing to head the Job Bank, Gail Nagy. She has been in charge of the service ever since.

First, an article was published about the Job Bank in the senior center's newsletter, Tidings, and since then it has appeared in other local newspapers, such as the Ballard News-Tribune.

"I think it's been a real help to the community and I try to help people the best I can," said Nagy.

The response from the community has overall been positive, as the participants have had good experiences with the Job Bank, she said.

Both the participants looking for workers and those looking for work go through a registration process. They must fill out a written application and go through an interview with the coordinator of the Job Bank.

Also, Teele runs the participants through a background check with the Washington State Patrol.

One of the participants in the Job Bank, Mary Zippel, said she appreciates the extra precautions taken to make sure no participants have a criminal background. Zippel is a member of the Ballard Senior Center and has had two different helpers come to her home.

“The Job Bank is a very good service”, said Zippel.

"Everybody was so happy with who came to the home to help them out," said Nagy.

Renard Noyes is one of the participants that has also been pleased with the service. For Noyes, who is now retired, it is more of a way to help out and get to know people in the community.

"It's kind of a convenience type set-up, sometimes the people in the community will invite me over for lunch or buy me some gasoline," said Noyes.

"It's a very casual, informal type set-up", said Nagy.

Informal it may be, but the job bank now has more than 50 applications on file and has helped more than 30 participants.

But due to troubling circumstances within the economy, the program has taken a hit.

"I just haven't been getting many calls at all," said Nagy. "I have more applications than people who need help. I blame it on the economy."

According to Nagy, many of the seniors within the community are assisting seniors and no longer have the means to pay for help.

To inquire about the job bank program and its services, contact Gail Nagy at the Ballard Senior Center at (206) 297-0403.