Northwest Harvest

This past sunny Saturday, Northwest Harvest along with KING 5, Safeway, Seattle Seahawks, Blitz the Seahawk, and football fans came together during the Seahawk’s Football Fest in support of childhood summer nutrition. Thank you to everyone who donated!

This weekend, all donations to Northwest Harvest’s Home Team Summer Campaign will be matched 1:1 up to $40,000 – doubling your impact to ensure kids have access to nutritious meals this summer! Summer is a time of hunger for kids experiencing food insecurity. Join KING 5, Safeway, and the Seattle Seahawks in supporting childhood nutrition. If you’re at Seahawks Football Fest today, stop by Gate 3 or Gate 5 to donate in-person, drop off non-perishable food donations, and say hi to Northwest Harvest! Alternatively, you can donate here: https://www.northwestharvest.org/get-involved/events/king-5-home-team-summer/?form=FUNULULJZWC

Join us for Seahawks Football Fest at Lumen Field this Saturday at 12pm, where the Seattle Seahawks, KING 5, and Safeway have teamed up to host a food drive to benefit Northwest Harvest! As part of the KING 5 Home Team Summer campaign, we’re collecting non-perishable food items with children in mind.

Not only will your donations provide meals for children, they could win you tickets to a game! The Seahawks are giving one lucky food or fund donor home opener tickets! Donations will be collected at Gate 3, Gate 5, and at the club and suites.

For info on Home Team Summer: https://www.northwestharvest.org/get-involved/events/king-5-home-team-summer/

To buy Football Fest tickets: https://www.seahawks.com/training-camp/attend/football-fest/

To donate to Home Team Summer: https://www.northwestharvest.org/?form=FUNULULJZWC

For a list of child-friendly foods to donate: https://www.northwestharvest.org/get-involved/food-drives/kid-friendly-donations/

Our FAN (Food Access Network) team regularly travels across the state to visit with the incredible community partners doing the work to end hunger in Washington. And we’re excited to share their inspiring stories and highlight what’s happening behind the scenes!

[image 01] On our visit to Spokane Tribe Food Bank in Wellpinit, Scott showed us their community garden, and how they’re getting kids excited about their fruits and veggies with their bike-powered blender!

[image 02] The Martin Luther King Jr Community Center in Spokane helps youth in their community by offering the community a Teen Leadership Program, a Teen Tech Center, after-school programs, and a variety of workshops that help effectively address community needs.

[image 03] When we visited Loon Lake Food Bank, we learned they support their community with community events like a pig raffle, bingo fundraiser, and paint parties with fellow food banks to support residents who have lost their access to SNAP benefits and COVID relief funds, and rising number of senior customers.

For more info about our community partners and how to support them, visit the links below.

Spokane Tribe Food Bank: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068823246046

Martin Luther King Jr Community Center: https://mlkspokane.org/

Loon Lake Food Bank: http://loonlakefoodbank.org/

(image description) First image- Scott is on the electric bike that they use to provide food demonstrations for children. Fruit is in the blender. Northwest Harvest staff are smiling next to Scott.

Second image- Matt, Freda, and Meg stand smiling in front of a food mural that was painted by kids at the Community Center.

Third image- Meg is taking a selfie standing outside the Loon Lake Food Bank with Ernest on the left, Terry on the forklift, and Henry near the forklift. Terry has a box of Northwest Harvest food on the forks.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This landmark piece of civil rights legislation provided crucial protections against discrimination in public and private spaces for disabled people. We celebrate the gains made towards inclusion for people with disabilities, amplify the tireless advocacy of disabled people and their supporters, and acknowledge the inequitable realities that many people with disabilities still experience.

Nearly 1 in 4 American adults live with a disability. Disability affects people of every race, age, country, ethnicity, or class. 27% of people with disabilities live in poverty, compared with 12% of people without disabilities. Disability and food insecurity also have a close and well-documented relationship: disabled people experience food insecurity at more than twice the rates of their non-disabled peers. That is why our work to end hunger must be intersectional and must center the experiences of the communities most heavily impacted by food insecurity. We look forward to building a more equitable, dignified, inclusive, and just food system in Washington for everyone.

Alt text: A black and white photo of a crowd of activists with varying disabilities, racial identities, genders, and ages at the 1993 ADA Anniversary March in New York City. In the front of the crowd is Judy Heumann and Justin Dart. Above them is a banner that reads “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. -Martin Luther King Jr.” Photo credit unknown.

Earlier this week, Northwest Harvest gathered together in beautiful Yakima to enjoy a picnic together! We may have replaced the sun and warm breeze for an air-conditioned facility, but the feeling of community and connection ran strong.

Young people in our state are going hungry. 13% of children living in Washington and 38% of college students experience food insecurity. During the summer months, when school is out, having consistent access to meals is even more challenging. Thanks to The Peace Bus's All-Youth-Can-Eat campaign and support of participating restaurants in Seattle and Tacoma, kids 18 and under or college students (18-24) with ID can eat a meal for free during designated hours!

See images for participating restaurants and their All-Youth-Can-Eat details. For more details about the All-Youth-Can-Eat campaign and The Peace Bus, visit https://www.thepeacebus.org/

It makes our hearts happy to see an incredible organization - one that focuses on addressing food insecurity in our communities - receive such a generous gift. Congratulations, FamilyWorks Family Resource Center & Food Banks!

Seattle food bank receives $3 million anonymous donation to help families with food insecurity FamilyWorks, funded primarily by government support and the community, serves 5,000 families in Seattle every year.

Culinary Connections celebrates all the ways food influences our lives and our connection to community and land. Join us as we feature stories from Northwest Harvest’s staff and their culinary heritages.

In honor of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, we sat down with our very own Alex Titus, Internal Communications Manager, who shared stories of food, connection, and family.

“It’s a common joke in Southern Louisiana that momma cooks the everyday meals, and daddy gets the glory meals,” Alex Titus, Northwest Harvest’s Internal Communications Manager, explained. “During the week, our mom did most of the cooking, because she got home from work before our dad. On the weekends and all major holidays, Dad cooked. He would get up early on Saturday to prepare coffee for each member of our family – not just brew the coffee, but he actually took the time to prepare it according to everyone’s individual preferences and would deliver our mugs to us in bed. He would spend all day smoking sausage, cooking crawfish and crab, slow roasting meats, and grilling.”

Food wasn’t just sustenance in Alex’s world; it was a bridge between cultures and communities. They grew up appreciating the intricate flavors of Cajun and Creole cuisines, aware of the rich history behind each dish.

Beyond the kitchen, Alex found themselves drawn to social justice work, their passion fueled by a desire to serve their community. Food justice became a natural extension of their upbringing—a way to address systemic inequities while celebrating cultural diversity. They sought out roles in organizations aligned with their values, which brought them to Northwest Harvest.

As Alex reflected on their journey, they found solace and strength in their q***r identity—a source of liberation from societal expectations. They shared the freeing nature of q***rness and transness: “I’m just me. In my view of the world, gender is fake, so there is no such thing as being q***r because there is no such thing as an assumed binary or default orientation. I’m just authentic to myself. I’m free and joyful and I can be anything I want to be.” In q***r community, Alex has been embraced for who they truly are, free to express themselves authentically without fear or reservation.

Read more about Alex's story on our website: https://www.northwestharvest.org/news-insights/culinary-connections-alex-titus-pride-month/

In the heart of rural Washington, the chill of this past winter had settled over the Palouse. A sheriff's deputy, boyfriend to an office worker at the Council on Aging & Human Services (COA), made a disturbing discovery near Pullman: a young family huddled in a tent by the river, their infant and toddler shivering in the cold.

"We knew we had to act fast," recalls Paige Collins, executive director at COA, a partner in Northwest Harvest's network. "We’ve got people everywhere and we love springing into action."

Within minutes, two deputies were on the phone with COA, both seeking help for the family. Paige and the COA weren't working alone–they're part of a vast web of resources, the kind Northwest Harvest is proud to support. Within only 20 minutes, the family had a warm hotel room and food in Pullman Transportation, arranged through COA's fare-free program, was on its way, and the wheels were already turning to find this family more permanent housing.

This story isn't just about providing food and other resources for our neighbors. It's about what happens when a community comes together to solve a complex problem. By providing not only food, but also housing, resources, and a sense of belonging, our partner organizations aren't only offering access to food; they're giving folks the opportunities to build a future where hunger isn't a daily threat.

S**O Community Market and Fruitvale Community Market are closed today, Wed, June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth. Please connect with 2-1-1 to learn about local food access programs while we are closed.

Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day”, is celebrated June 19 and commemorates the true emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, it was not until June 1865 that the last of enslaved people became free. It originated in Galveston, TX where Union troops marched in, and Union General Granger gave the order to free the enslaved since Texas was the last of the Confederate states with institutional slavery.

Also considered to be “America’s second Independence Day,” Juneteenth is a day that not only marks historical significance but a cultural celebration. Long before it became a federal holiday in 2021, celebrations have been held across the South since 1865. In 2022, where the ramifications of African enslavement can still be felt, we must acknowledge our past as well as carry hope for our future.

📷credit: Houston Public Library

Image description: A historical black and white photograph of two women wearing stylish white hats and dresses sitting on a decorated horse-drawn carriage.

S**O Community Market and Fruitvale Community Market will be closed this Wed, June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth. Please connect with 2-1-1 to learn about local food access programs while we are closed.

“Our community is impacted by childhood hunger during the months away from school, and we hope our storytelling can help connect these families to the necessary resources.”

Northwest Harvest, in partnership with KING 5, is launching a campaign called Home Team Summer that aims to shed light on the realities of childhood hunger during the summer months.

In collaboration with Safeway and Seattle Seahawks, we aim to amplify the experiences of families that rely on schools for meals and who struggle to make ends meet during the summer months through storytelling.

In addition to the campaign’s awareness efforts, KING 5 will host a food drive at Seahawks Football Fest on Saturday, August 3rd. Support those affected by childhood hunger, join Northwest Harvest, KING 5, Safeway, and the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field to donate non-perishable food items. All donations made to Home Team Summer will go towards helping families in our community.

For info on Home Team Summer: https://www.northwestharvest.org/get-involved/events/king-5-home-team-summer/

For info on SUN Bucks (Summer EBT): https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks

For info on SUN Meals (free summer meal sites): https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunmeals

Northwest Harvest, and our partners KING 5, Vault89, and Washington Food Coalition have been awarded an Emmy for Best Outreach Program for the volunteer recruitment "Back 2 Action" campaign that was produced in fall of 2023! This award is a testament to the impactful work of community and collective action, and a great reminder that what we can't do alone, we can do together. Thank you for joining us in the movement to grow food justice across Washington.

Shout out to our inaugural group of volunteers at our Auburn Distribution Center! This is the first time we have hosted volunteers in our Auburn location since before the pandemic. It takes many helping hands to repack and organize the food donated to us, and we couldn’t do it without the support of amazing volunteers. It was a joy to welcome community back into our space to join the movement for food justice!

If interested in volunteering with a group, please email [email protected]

Since 2020, the Imperial Sovereign Court Of Seattle has volunteered at our S**O Community Market. The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle has a long legacy of partnering with organizations committed to supporting King County’s LGBTQIA+ community, and we’re grateful to be among the organizations they dedicate their time to.

LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and poverty. We are committed to ensuring everyone has access to the food they need and want. That’s not possible without collective action. Thank you, Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle, for being a pillar in our community and working with us to end hunger in Washington!

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) and Jewish American Heritage Month, we sat down with our very own Elizabeth Kiyan-Thompson, Brand Manager, who shared stories of food, connection, and family.

“Food has always connected me to my family – I don’t remember a time where we didn’t sit down for family dinner,” says Elizabeth.

Preparing and enjoying a wide variety of cuisine was a central experience of Elizabeth’s childhood. They were also raised very intentionally to see food as a human right and something that everyone deserved. “I had the privilege of growing up without experiencing food insecurity, and my family was always reminding my brother and I of the importance of caring for others, of paying attention to the rest of our community. I was raised with the belief that ‘if you are a person in society, then you help take care of other people in society.’”

The values she was raised with influenced Elizabeth’s personal and professional trajectory. With a strong groundwork of compassion and empathy, Elizabeth found herself pursuing work that all her to make meaningful change. They came to Northwest Harvest in 2015 as an interim Partner Programs Coordinator. Since then, they have held several different titles and roles. Currently, Elizabeth works as Northwest Harvest’s Brand Manager and spends her free time visiting bakeries with her mother, going to happy hours with her aunt, and enjoying home cooked dinners made by her father.

Read more about Elizabeth’s story on our blog: https://www.northwestharvest.org/news-insights/culinary-connections-elizabeth-kiyan-thompson-aanhpi-and-jewish-american-heritage-month/!

Did you know that childhood poverty and food insecurity are closely linked? For many families, the challenge of feeding their children can be felt even more intensely during the summer months. In a matter of weeks, over 1 million children will be home for summer break. During the school year, parents often find reassurance in knowing that their children receive nourishing meals at school, crucial for their development and well-being. When school is out, parents might not know where their children’s next meal is coming from. We are dedicated to ensuring that no child experiences hunger this summer. For families looking for support, United Way King County offers free summer meals and Seattle Human Services offers a summer food service program to provide meals for kids ages 18 and under.

For details about United Way King County's free summer meals, visit: https://www.uwkc.org/free-summer-meals/

For details about Seattle Human Service's summer food service program, visit: https://www.seattle.gov/human-services/services-and-programs/youth-and-young-adults/summer-food-service-program

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to focus on the importance of mental well-being. 1/4 people worldwide will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organization. Daily life, relationships, and overall health can be profoundly affected by these issues. Justin Vierela, our Senior Manager of Community Philanthropy, has written about the connection between mental health and food insecurity.

My own experience with mental health issues began when I was 24 years old. I was struggling with depression and anxiety, and I knew I needed to seek help. Through therapy, I learned coping mechanisms and strategies for managing my mental health, and I was able to regain a sense of stability and control in my life. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to the same level of support and care that I did.

A recent BMC Public Health study on food insecurity in America found that food insecurity is associated with a 257% higher risk of anxiety and a 253% higher risk of depression. Food insecurity creates stress and uncertainty, which can exacerbate existing mental health issues or trigger new ones. This is especially true for vulnerable populations, such as children and the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

What can we do to address the link between food insecurity and mental health?

To read more, visit https://www.northwestharvest.org/news-insights/food-for-thought-may-2023/

Culinary Connections celebrates all the ways food influences our lives and our connection to community and land. Join us as we feature stories from Northwest Harvest's staff and their culinary heritages.

This Culinary Connection pairs perfectly with Jewish American Heritage Month. Nick Van Deren, our Senior Philanthropy Communications Specialist, shared stories of food, connection, and family. Below is an excerpt, read full feature at link below.

Nick’s love of food runs in the family. His Jewish grandfather and grandmother, who would visit often from New York City , would often ask “What are you people doing for lunch?” moments after they sat down to eat breakfast. Of course, breakfast was often the classic: a bagel, smear, lox or white fish, capers, sliced cucumbers, and pickled red onions. These days, it can be hard to get a bagel in Seattle that meets the standards of East Coast relatives. When visiting his grandparents in New York, he was treated to kosher salami (all beef) sandwiches, which he describes as the “Jewish version of a bologna sandwich.”

Nick’s grandparents on both sides were raised in houses that struggled to put food on the table, which resulted in lots of meals including boiled meat. Their particular appreciation for quality food, prepared with skill and love, to be shared with others was handed down in Nick’s family. This legacy lives on in Nick’s cooking today.

His home chef journey started in college. Once he moved out of the dorms at Western Washington University, Nick routinely frequented Joe’s Gardens, a local farm store across the street from his old apartment. He also worked in food: Nick worked in grocery stores throughout his 20s. Eventually he landed at Metropolitan Market, working as a buyer. “I started getting into cheese,” he said, and boy was he not kidding. Met Market sent him to the American Cheese Festival in Richmond, Virginia one year, for a three-day conference on cheese. Nick was surrounded by farmers, producers, cheese experts, and connoisseurs. He launched into studying for a test that would eventually earn him the title of Certified Cheese Professional, awarded to him by the American Cheese Society. “I think I worked harder on that test than I did for my college degree,” Nick chuckles.

Read more here: https://www.northwestharvest.org/news-insights/culinary-connections-nick-van-deren-jewish-american-heritage-month/

The House Agriculture Committee recently released their proposed Farm Bill, which cuts nearly $30 billion dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next 10 years. This will drastically reduce support for the millions of people in this country who are struggling during a time of increasing food insecurity.

In addition, Summer EBT, Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program, and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) — programs whose benefits are tied to the SNAP Thrifty Food Plan — would also experience cuts. The House Farm Bill proposal poses a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of the more than 41.4 million people who rely on SNAP to put food on the table.

It is crucial that advocates from across the country speak with one voice urging House Members to support SNAP by opposing the House Farm Bill, which would cut benefits to the program. We must be clear: No bill is better than a bad bill.

Tell Congress to protect SNAP here: https://p2a.co/ublfw96

Recently, as a way of connecting with each other and to remind us of our purpose, Northwest Harvest staff got together to build terrariums. Northwest Harvest provided the connection, succulents and air plants, and glass terrariums, and our partner Living Well Kent Collaborative donated nutrient-rich soil and vegetable starts grown with great care. Just as it takes more than food to end hunger, it takes more than sun, soil, and water for plants to thrive – it takes love. If you'd like to learn more about how Living Well Kent works to provide public spaces and initiatives that encourage healthier lifestyles and better living, visit their website- https://livingwellkent.org/index.html

Meet Jamielyn (Jamie) Wheeler, our Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives!

Jamielyn was named after her beloved parents James and Linda. Though many people call her "Jamie", she has made sure to keep "Jamielyn" as an option to honor her parents who have both passed away. Jamie's father, James, was a great baker and cook and taught her to be confident in the kitchen. She's kept all of his old recipes and loves to cook familiar dishes from her childhood for her friends and chosen family to enjoy.

Jamielyn grew up in Olympia, Washington in a mixed race household to politically active parents who were justice focused. She is a graduate of the University of Washington where she earned a bachelor's degree in political communication. Jamielyn has worked in electoral and issue campaign spaces for over a decade and is excited to have joined Northwest Harvest!

This past weekend, some members of our staff had the privilege and great pleasure of attending The Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Indigenous Foods Symposium at the University of Washington Seattle. This annual symposium brings people together to share knowledge on a range of topics: traditional foods, plants and medicines, environmental and food justice, food sovereignty and security, health and wellness, and treaty rights. This symposium serves to foster dialogue and build collaborative networks as Native peoples strive to sustain their cultural food practices and preserve their healthy relationships to the land, water, and all living things. Staff members attended sessions on basket weaving, traditional foraging techniques, rematriation of land and seeds, and learned about food sovereignty work around the globe! As one of the researchers said, “contemporary food systems require us to eat colonization and whiteness in our everyday – what would it be like to see food as family, not a commodity? We seed hope by sharing our stories.” We are grateful to all the organizers, presenters, and community members who made this space so special, and for sharing such important knowledge!

It’s GiveBIG time and we need your help! We’re in this together. We’ve all been saying this a lot lately—and it’s true!

The thing is, we have always been in this together. From the cooks who spend time in the kitchen to the farmers who grow ingredients to the workers who stock shelves in grocery stores, a network of people brings food to our tables. Food connects us, and at times like this, we need that connection more than ever.

Our compassion and generosity connect us as well. Organizations around the state are rallying around families grappling with how to make ends meet. As the number of people who are food insecure in Washington has nearly doubled, we must work together so that every family can get the food they need.

Whether you GiveBIG to Northwest Harvest or another incredible organization in our state today, know that together we’re going to get through this. Together, we can build a more equitable Washington than ever before.

To make a GiveBIG gift or read about other organizations, visit: https://www.wagives.org/organization/northwest-harvest

For a list of our partner organizations within the Food Access Network to consider giving BIG to, visit https://www.northwestharvest.org/our-work/food-access-network/

For a look at our BIPOC Market Voucher Program in action, watch this quick video: https://vimeo.com/913808176

Tomorrow is GiveBIG and it’s an excellent chance to discover more about WA organizations that may not be as widely recognized as Northwest Harvest. We encourage you to learn about and support grassroots organizations in your community. There are many amazing organizations doing the work to make our communities better for all!

If you make a gift to Northwest Harvest during GiveBIG, we will dedicate those funds to our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Market Voucher Program. A program that purchases vouchers/gift cards from BIPOC-owned businesses and distributes them to community groups working with BIPOC-populations. This program boosts the local economy and provides needed resources to those who need them.

Our efforts to grow food justice will be stronger when these organizations are thriving. We cannot do this work alone. On behalf of our community, thank you for your endless dedication to ending hunger in Washington.

Early giving is now open! To make a GiveBIG gift or read about other organizations, visit: https://www.wagives.org/organization/northwest-harvest

For a list of our partner organizations within the Food Access Network to consider giving BIG to, visit https://www.northwestharvest.org/our-work/food-access-network/

For a look at our BIPOC Market Voucher Program in action, watch this quick video: https://vimeo.com/913808176

Save the date, this year’s annual GiveBIG is May 7 and 8!

GiveBIG is an annual event that invites individuals and organizations across Washington to come together to invest in our communities. It’s an excellent chance to discover more about WA organizations that may not be as widely recognized as Northwest Harvest. We encourage you to learn about and support grassroots organizations that are led by communities often left behind as a result of unjust practices in society – particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color orgs working to end hunger and financial insecurity.

If you do make your gift to Northwest Harvest this GiveBIG, we’ll dedicate those funds to our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Market Voucher Program, a program that purchases vouchers/gift cards from BIPOC-owned businesses and distributes them to community groups working with BIPOC-populations. This program boosts the local economy and provides needed resources to those who need them.

Our efforts to grow food justice will be stronger when these organizations are thriving. We cannot do this work alone. On behalf of our community, thank you for your endless dedication to ending hunger in Washington.

Early giving is now open! To make a GiveBIG gift or read about other organizations, visit: https://www.wagives.org/organization/northwest-harvest

For a list of our partner organizations within the Food Access Network to consider giving BIG to, visit https://www.northwestharvest.org/our-work/food-access-network/

For a look at our BIPOC Market Voucher Program in action, watch this quick video: https://vimeo.com/913808176