Multi-Service Center

Visit MSC at Sound Transit's 2nd Annual LatinXPO next Friday, September 27!

This will be an exciting, in-person event at the Sound Transit Union Station Great Hall.
Immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of Latinx culture and explore valuable career resources. Connect with fellow Latinx professionals, gain insights from inspiring speakers, and discover a wide range of opportunities to advance your career, eat, enjoy music, dance, and have fun!

From workshops to networking sessions, this event has it all. Don't miss out on this incredible gathering of talent and cultural richness.

Come and be part of the Latinx Career and Cultural Resources Celebration! To register for free, or learn more, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sound-transit-and-king-county-rail-presents-the-2nd-annual-latinxpo-tickets-982494997987?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=

The countdown is on ⏱, we are exactly one month away from the MSC Helps Luncheon! Have you registered yet?

Registration is free and lunch is included!
Register here: mschelps.org/luncheon24

Keynote speaker Erin Jones will share her inspiring message and provide strategies to move communities towards bravery and racial justice. She will share ways we can connect with each other through hope and healing. We hope you'll join us!

Photo credit: Crain Photography - 2023 MSC Helps Luncheon

Thank you Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) for awarding MSC the Advancing Equity Grant!

As a not-for-profit health plan founded by Washington Community Health Centers, CHPW believes health care involves a lot more than a doctor’s office—it’s everything from housing to language support to educational opportunities, and so much more.

Our organizations' missions are tied by our shared work to reduce barriers and support each person in living their healthiest life. We are honored to be nominated and accepted as a 2024 grantee! 🙏 💙

Our Redondo Heights Fund is still going strong! Join in on the fun(d) by supporting MSC's newest affordable housing and a satellite food bank in North Federal Way. Construction is progressing and we are so excited to share the final results with you this winter.

You can learn more by visiting: givebutter.com/redondoheights

It's that time of year again, Back to School! Ensure your children are nourished and ready to learn with the help of Washington's Basic Food Program, also known as SNAP benefits or food stamps.

Did you know households receiving basic food/SNAP benefits also qualify for free or reduced school lunches? Basic Food is a monthly benefit program that helps people buy food and is available to individuals and families who meet certain income guidelines.

To learn more or to get assistance with your application, please get in touch with us at 253-838-6810 ext. 182 today!

Today is National Food Bank Day! Celebrate by showing your local food bank some ❤️. Here's how:

1. Host a food drive!

Collecting food on behalf of your local food bank is a great way to help stock the shelves and support your community. Some funs way to host a food drive are to incorporate them into your upcoming holiday parties by asking guests to bring nonperishable items and see how much you can collect! Or start a food drive at work, pick a prize for who can donate/collect the most, and make it a contest!

2. Volunteer!

At MSC you can volunteer any day of the week and in a variety of ways. Apply today and join a fun and dedicated team of volunteers and staff.

💙 Visit: mschelps.org/getinvolved/volunteer

3. Make a donation of food or money.

Bring in items from your pantry anytime! Just make sure they aren't expired. Or make a financial contribution to help support all the work that food banks do to feed our community.

🍏 Visit: mschelps.org/donate

Shout to fellow Federal Way org and amazing mentor program PHENOMENAL SHE, the host of this Saturday's Back 2 School Block Party! Don't miss this daytime event on September 7 located at the Federal Way Memorial Field. There will be food vendors, backpack giveaways, free haircuts, and more!

Join us on October 17 for the MSC Helps Luncheon! Share in our mission to uplift communities by increasing equitable access to advocacy, opportunities, and well-being.

Be inspired by keynote speaker Erin Jones while networking and enjoying lunch alongside South King County businesses, elected officials, and community members. It is free to attend with $150 suggest donation.

Register at mschelps.org/luncheon24

2024 MSC Helps Luncheon 2024 MSC Helps Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Happy Labor Day!

Our offices and food bank will be closed Monday, September 2nd. See you Tuesday!

We saw lots of smiling faces and sunshine today during our backpack giveaway. ☀️ Big thanks to Southwire for sponsoring this event! Special thanks to the volunteers, Southwire staff, and MSC staff who helped pass out backpacks and King County Library System for providing books for teens!

Today marks the last day of the Community Action Partnership Conference . MSC leaders attended and participated in this 3 day convention including CEO Kirsten York, COO Amanda Santo, and Economic Stability Director Phoebe Anderson-Kline. MSC was a proud sponsor of this event and Kirsten York even spoke on a panel on Community Action Partnership's collective vision for the future!

✨ We are leaving feeling inspired and ready to continue the work of CAP agencies that create opportunities for all people to thrive, build strong, resilient communities, and ensure a more equitable society.

📢 Attention all Sacajawea Middle School students and families! Multi-Service Center will be hosting a table at the Back 2 School BBQ August 26th from 4-6pm.

We will be providing information, pre-screening, and assistance with completing applications for Basic Food (SNAP). Stop by our booth to say hi or ask any questions relating to our programs and resources. If you can't make it on the 26th, feel free to contact MSC's Community Access Coordinator Carolina at 253-838-6810 ext 182 to schedule an in-person or phone appointment.

Happy National Dog Day! We couldn't let this day pass by without recognizing the positive impact our furry family members have on our well-being.

We are wrapping up Hope Builders Month and wanted to say another huge thank you to all of our amazing supporters who give to MSC on a regular basis! These kinds of contributions mean more than you know for organizations like us. Thank you for continuing to create help, HOPE, and change in your community 💙.

If you'd like to become a Hope Builder by giving a recurring gift of the same amount either on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis, please follow the link below!



https://mschelps.org/getinvolved/donations/hopebuilders/.

Join us for our annual MSC Helps Luncheon this October! This mission based fundraiser features keynote speaker Erin Jones, updates from our CEO, a client story, and we will be presenting the Help, Hope, Change award to Grocery Outlet! Mark your calendar for October 17 from 11:30a-1p at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center.

Lunch is on us! This event is free to attend with a suggested donation. Register today: mschelps.org/luncheon24

All MSC offices will be closed Thursday, August 22, for our annual staff appreciation picnic. We will reopen at 8:30am on Friday, August 23.

Did you know MSC has a satellite food bank coming to North Federal Way next year?? The food bank will be part of our newest affordable housing development Redondo Heights. Construction is scheduled to be completed this fall and the food bank should open by January 2025!

How can you get involved now? Support the Redondo Heights Fund that will help cover operating expenses at the food bank as well as onsite services such as community resource navigation. A satellite location means we can serve more families and reach a different area of our community.

Join in on the fun(d) and become a supporter today!
🔗 givebutter.com/redondoheights

We are nearing the end of August which is MSC's Hope Builders Month where we celebrate members of our Hope Builders Club who give regularly to MSC! We have one more story to share from a longtime supporter, Wendy.

Wendy is an MSC Hope Builder and gives a monthly donation to support MSC’s work. “When people ask why I donate to MSC, I say, because I know what it feels like to need help,” she shares.

In the 1990’s, Wendy was a volunteer with MSC. She was successfully self-employed and very active in the community, but her health started to decline. Eventually she had to stop working, volunteering, and participating in activities. It took four years for a diagnosis.

“In all, I think I worked 9 part time jobs, including some at MSC, as my health continued improving. This work allowed me to keep my head above water. It also let me see that I had value and could make a difference in peoples’ lives. Through MSC, I was able to still receive help with my utility bills.”

“When I think about how long I was ill, all of my savings spent trying to stay alive, and the long recovery, it seems impossible to say there was a silver lining. But there was. I got involved with MSC in a variety of ways that pulled me out of a desperate place, allowed me to see my worth, and led to a rewarding career.”

“If not for MSC, I really don’t know where I would be today and I am forever grateful,” shares Wendy. “I believe the monthly donations I give to MSC provide stability. The more monthly donors, the more people they can help in more ways.”

Hope Builders support MSC with a recurring gift of the same amount either on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Learn more or join our Hope Builders at https://mschelps.org/getinvolved/donations/hopebuilders/.

MSC's Federal Way office is experiencing a partial power outage. This may result in the food bank being closed today, Monday, August 19, if power is not restored. Our phone lines and response time may also be impacted.

Happy National Nonprofit Day! Today we are celebrating the good work of nonprofits everywhere that are creating change and positive impacts in their communities. We'd like to shout out some of those local nonprofits who are doing amazing work, we see you!

Solid Ground
Neighborhood House
El Centro de la Raza
Communities In Schools of Federal Way-Highline
Eileen and Callie's Place
Kent Youth and Family Services
FW Black Collective
FUSION:Housing Families In Need
Bridging A Gap Weekend Feeding Program
Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care
Para Los Niños
+ so many more, we wish we could tag them all!

How can you celebrate National Nonprofit Day? Host a Facebook fundraiser! Here's how: 1. Create a post, 2. Select "Raise money", 3. Choose your favorite nonprofit (maybe one from the list above), 4. Share why are you supporting this nonprofit and what day it is!

If you're looking for a fun new recipe that's also friendly on your budget, give this delicious street corn salad a try!

Dressing Ingredients
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
1 lime
¼ tsp smoked paprika
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp sea salt

Salad Ingredients
5 ears of corn, husked*
¼ cup fresh cilantro
3 Tbsp cotija cheese**

Optional but Recommended
2 Tbsp pickled red onion
1 Tbsp pickled jalapeño

INSTRUCTIONS:
Shave kernels from corn cobs into a mixing bowl with a sharp knife.
Mince cilantro and (if using) dice jalapeños and onions into small pieces.
Gather dressing ingredients: mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and sea salt. Zest and juice lime.
Whisk all dressing ingredients together until smooth.

In a very hot skillet, add corn kernels and stir them every 30 seconds or so just until there’s a good mix of toasty corn kernels present. You do not need to cook them for long or add any oil, you just want some color on the kernels. Remove from skillet and pour into large serving bowl.

Toss toasted corn, cotija cheese, cilantro and dressing together until well combined. (Add diced pickled onions and jalapeños if you chose to include them!) This salad can be enjoyed warm or chilled with an extra sprinkle of chili powder on top if you like it spicy! Enjoy.

It feels like food prices just keep going up. Basic Food, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, helps people income-eligible households buy groceries. Eligible households receive an electronic benefits (EBT) card with monthly benefits to buy food at participating grocery stores and farmers markets. To get pre-screened or to receive help with your application, please contact Carolina, MSC's Community Access Coordinator at 253-838-6910 ext 182

Look how happy food bank director Steven Curry is to have MSC recognized for 10 years of service to the IRS for hosting a site for Way of King County's free tax prep program! Thanks for the recognition, we are always happy to host!

Thank you Beaty, DDS for hosting a coffee drive to benefit the MSC Food Bank! Now through the end of September you can drop off coffee in any form to the Drew Beaty DDS office at 31003 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, WA 98003.

Remember, coffee isn't just a drink. It's a hug in a mug, a cup of hope, and the fuel for great conversations. Let's make sure our community can enjoy some of the simple things in life. Let's brew some joy together!

Hope Builders Month continues, and we are celebrating our supporters who make a recurring donation to MSC each month! Thank you to our amazing community of givers. Today we are sharing Annette's story and why she is a Hope Builder.

An inaugural member of our Hope Builders Club, Annette has been giving monthly recurring gifts for the last three years. Annette first became involved with MSC when she joined our event planning committee in 2017 and she continues to share her time and talents on the committee. Annette shares that she began to give regularly because MSC “is an organization that does a lot of good and provides so much support in the community.”

Annette is most passionate about MSC’s William J Wood Veterans House (WJW) and other housing opportunities offered by MSC. She visited WJW and thought it was a wonderful place for the veterans who have served our country and now need a nice place to stay.

Annette encourages others to join her in the Hope Builders Club because the impact of ongoing donations allows MSC to “know that money will be coming in, so makes it much easier to budget expenses and outflows of money where it is needed most.”

Thank you Annette! Hope Builders support MSC with a recurring gift of the same amount either on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Learn more or join our Hope Builders at https://mschelps.org/getinvolved/donations/hopebuilders/.

We're out at the Federal Way Community Festival today! Hosted by the City of Federal Way Diversity Commission, MSC is proud to be a sponsor and excited to celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our community.

The festival goes until 6pm this evening at Town Square Park. Come learn about our services and pick up some MSC swag! We'd love to see you!

Federal Way, WA

Special thanks to Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and the Success Foundation for including MSC in their Workforce Discovery Lab! We hosted a 90 minute workshop on MSC and the nonprofit sector so that students can have a bit more understanding about the work we do and consider working or volunteering at a nonprofit in the future.

Students were lucky enough to hear from our CEO, Kirsten York as well as Associate Director of Housing and Homelessness Programs, Cobie Sparks-Howard. They also got to tour the food bank with Food Bank Director, Steven Curry and ask as many questions as they wanted! It was a great afternoon spent with really wonderful and engaged students.

MSC's CEO Kirsten York and Abi McLane, COO of Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties out at the FUSION:Housing Families In Need annual Summer Gala! They had a whimsical time at the Wonderland themed event supporting Fusion's mission to provide housing and support services to families experiencing homelessness in our community.

Shout out to our amazing partner Laine Photography for offering free family and business photos for our clients today! Thank you for donating your time and talent 📸 our clients are going to treasure these photos forever!

Got plans this weekend? Come visit MSC at the free Federal Way Community Festival! Hosted by the City of Federal Way Diversity Commision, MSC is proud to be a sponsor and excited to celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our community.

We will be there from 11a-6p, come say hi! 😎