Food Lifeline Advocacy Update

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Summer is a time when many lawmakers spend time at home in their districts, reconnecting with the people, places, and organizations that they represent. For a handful of Washington State legislators, this includes a visit to their local food bank and organization that provides a vital service to their communities. We wanted to share a few of these visits with you and take a moment to thank both the food banks and legislators who took time out of their busy schedules to make these visits a success! Don't know if your lawmaker is planning to make a stop? Give them a call and encourage them to get in touch with us to set up a visit! Sincerely, Gina Clark Director of Public Policy

REPRESENTATIVE MARK HARGROVE VISITS AUBURN FOOD BANK  Debbie Christian, Director of the Auburn Food Bank shows Representative Mark Hargrove what goes into client food bags Tuesday, August 27th, Representative Mark Hargrove stopped by the Auburn Food Bank for a tour, a discussion of hunger in his district, and to help distribute food to clients. It was his first visit to the food bank where Debbie Christian, the director was joined by Radine Lozier from the Auburn Senior Center. The group toured the food bank, following the path clients take from the intake desk, through where clients pick up a bag of shelf stable food along with milk, and a large bag of fresh vegetables. Through to the back of the food bank, volunteers were busy sorting through produce and preparing bags for clients. "It was great to have Representative Hargrove come out to the food bank. It is so important for our lawmakers, who are making decisions about funding for hunger relief programs, to see the impact those programs have," said Debbie. "He stepped right in to talk with clients and help distribute food, right on the front lines." While watching the dance of food deliveries coming in and volunteers moving pallets of peanut butter to the packing area, Representative Hargrove asked great questions about where food comes from, what other services the food bank offers, and how SNAP (food stamps), other federal food programs, and food banks work together to address hunger. We are thankful to Representative Hargrove for taking time out of his busy schedule to see the crucial services and the need in his community. HUGE THANKS TO LEGISLATORS AND FOOD BANKS The following food banks and legislators have already set up or completed visits! Food Lifeline would like to thank them and our partners at Washington Food Coalition, Northwest Harvest and the other local community organizations for making all this happen. Senator Joe Fain, Auburn Food Bank Senator Ann Rivers, North County Community Food Bank Representative Brian Blake, St Vincent de Paul Longview Representative Susan Fagan, Council on Aging and Human Services Representative Dave Hayes, La Conner Sunrise Food Bank Representative Linda Kochmar, Federal Way Multi-Service Center Representative Kristine Lytton, Skagit Valley Neighbors in Need Representative John McCoy, Marysville Food Bank Representative Joe Schmick, Council on Aging and Human Services

Food Lifeline feeds hungry people. We stock the shelves and fill the tables of 275 food banks, meal programs and shelters throughout Western Washington.  Food Lifeline thanks MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, for supporting our advocacy program.

Seattle Food Committee Van Tour

By Paige Teeny, Member Service Director

Last week on Monday August 12, the members of Seattle Food Committee jumped on a van together, and headed around the city of Seattle to visit other food bank and meal programs. The group started off at HIP (or Hunger Intervention Program) at the Lake City Presbyterian Church. HIP has an amazing backpack and summer meals program. Every week, HIP has dedicated volunteers put together healthy lunches for students all around Lake City. Additionally, they have Cooking Demonstrations at North Helpline to help clients prepare healthy meals with the food available at the food bank. Moving on to the Rainier Valley Food Bank, HIP put a little pip in our steps!

SFC Committee gathered to talk about HIP and other projects

Next, we headed to Rainier Valley Food Bank. This small but important food bank is one of the most diverse in Seattle. With only three staff members and numerous volunteers, Rainier Valley FB serves over 11,000 clients each month! Though the space is small, they are working a client card system that they hope other food banks will soon be able to use. Clients will be assigned a number, which will keep lines short and help keep people move. After learning that much of their produce comes from Seattle Community Farm, we headed their next!

Staff Member explaining the amazing capabilities of Rainier Valley Food Bank

The *small* but well organized warehouse space.

Seattle Community Farm is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Rainier Valley Food Bank. However, once in this piece of paradise, South Seattle feels very far away. Growing more types vegetables than I can remember (Think as if the Garden of Eden was placed two blocks from MLK), the members of SFC were schooled in sustainable farming by farmer Scott (pictures right). On this 1/2 acre farm run by Solid Ground, it grows an astounding 9,600 pounds of food, most of which are donated to Rainier Valley Food Bank. One part that I was particularly interested in (besides the mouth watering tomatoes, peas, squash...) was the small rain garden at the bottom of the farm. For more information on what is a rain garden, click here.  Anyone from clients to volunteers are welcomed to help harvest the garden, and even take home some of the beeeeauuutiful produce.

Beautiful produce waiting to be picked!

Moving further up Seattle, we headed to Seattle Indian Center. Among the many programs, there is a food bank, meal program, and men's hostel. While all are welcomed, Native families are given priority here. During our time there, we got to meet the Chef of the meal programs, who is known for his fresh and delicious food. Anyone is welcome to come to breakfast or lunch, so I know where I'm going this week! The men's hostel was clean and welcoming. While it is known as transition housing, guests have stayed up to a year in this safe environment.

The last leg of our trip, and our neighbor, was University District Food Bank. Our neighbors to the south...and the left of us (their office sits right next to us, and the food bank below) was perhaps the smallest food bank we saw, but very efficient. UDFB recently changed their hours to help clients (and their wait in lines!) Joe, the director (pictured on the left), comments that once they showed clients that no matter what time they came, the type and quanity of food would be the same, clients came in on their on time. It saved time in line but also room in the food bank. UDFB is in the middle of an exciting capital campaign to expand and are expecting a brand new MUCH bigger food bank in the next couple of years.

Thank you to ALL the wonderful food banks that allowed us to visit this year. To see more information about each food bank, simply click the link to their name!

Operation Sack Lunch: See the changed schedule!

Job Opportunity at Teen Feed

We’re hiring a Part-time Development Associate!

Interested in fund development or communications?
Join the Teen Feed team as our part-time Development Associate in support of our programs to meet the basic needs of over 600 homeless and at-risk young people annually. The Development Associate will work closely with the Director of Development and Communications to help manage the fund development and communication activities at Teen Feed. This is a part-time position with a growing organization which values dignity, equality, compassion and humor. Teen Feed’s programs have recently expanded to serve young people in need in Seattle’s University District, South Seattle and Auburn areas. The Development Associate will work from Teen Feed’s University District office.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Records Management:

• Enter donations, update donor/volunteer information and produce database reports
• Produce and track thank you letters and acknowledgements

Communications:

• Maintain public calendars to maximize volunteer and event opportunities
• Support social network and communications activities (Facebook, Twitter, Blog)
• Assist with website maintenance and updates

Fund Development:

• Manage basic needs and donations drives
• Support and track donor and foundation stewardship activities
• Assist in managing special events – reservations and task management

Other:

• Liaise with Teen Feed’s community of donors, volunteers and service providers
• Provide in office phone support
• Additional duties as assigned/desired

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum 3 years administrative experience
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs
Solid organizational and time management skills
Exceptional interpersonal communication and customer service skills
Able to meet deadlines with competing priorities
Attention to detail – great proofreader is a plus!
Positive and flexible with a healthy sense of humor
Other Desired QualificationsExperience with Salesforce or other databases
Knowledge of the issue of youth homelessness
Interest in fund development or communications

COMPENSATION
Salary: DOE
Hours: Part-time, 20 hours a week (some evening/weekend work may be requested for special projects).
This part-time job offers a competitive hourly range, opportunities for staff development and a mutually agreeable daytime schedule. Health benefits are not currently provided for this position. This position works alongside passionate co-workers and makes a difference in the lives of homeless, at-risk, and unstably housed youth.

TO APPLY
Please email a cover letter outlining your interest and resume to suzanne@teenfeed.org. This position is open until filled. No phone calls please. Teen Feed is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ persons and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

ABOUT TEEN FEED
Founded in 1987, Teen Feed works with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets. With the tremendous support of the community, Teen Feed responds to the most basic needs of homeless youth with three programs: Teen Feed meal program, Street Talk Outreach Program (STOP), and Service Links for Youth (SLY). Teen Feed’s programs serve young people in need in Seattle’s University District, South Seattle and Auburn areas. To learn more about Teen Feed, please visit www.teenfeed.org

Northwest Harvest Advocates Update

Advocates UpdateMonday, August 19      IN THIS ISSUE Advocacy Doesn't Take a Recess Upcoming Events           Sept. 18-20 Washington Food Coalition Annual Conference Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.  Your Weekly Action Alert: Advocacy Doesn't Take a Recess Federal Level:   A proposal to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly "food stamps") by $40 billion may be presented for a vote in early September. We've got resources and tools that advocates can use to contact members of Congress while they are home during the August recess!  Read more     Take Action: Your Advocacy Tool Kit for the August Recess    Now is the time to contact your member of Congress who is back at home in district for the next few weeks before returning to D.C. in September. Not only do members want to hear from you, they need to hear from you. They come back home to learn about what is happening to their constituents to inform how they will vote on legislation. We need to let them know that cuts to SNAP are unacceptable and how these cuts will hurt the clients we serve.  Here is a mini-toolkit to help you plan your contact with your member of Congress, and you don't have to travel far to find them at a meeting or at their office near you. Use our updated template to write and collect messages about how SNAP cuts will hurt real families. You can then drop off the messages at your Congressional member's district office near you, or email Christina if you need assistance with sending these to Congressional members. Find your member of Congress when they visit a state fair. Attend a town hall or other event for constituents and ask questions or speak up about cuts to SNAP and the importance of federal nutrition programs. Arrange for a site visit from your Congressional member or meet with them at their district office. Christina can also help coordinate these visits. Write a letter to the editor or op-ed to your local paper emphasizing the need for a strong public/private partnership between government programs and private charities to feed hungry families in your community. Don't know what to talk about? See more resource information here.Thank you for speaking up for hungry families! Take Action Tip for our Partners: Consider writing about the impact of these cuts on your work and on your clients in your next agency newsletter. Your newsletter is an important source of information for others about hunger in your community!

Meet our Members: Salvation Army Renton Food Bank

by: Paige Teeny, Member Services Director

Ask Director Beverly Storey what makes her food bank unique, and she’ll tell you her volunteers and her prayer group. Both make Salvation Army Renton Food Bank a very busy but successful food bank. The food bank sits in a quiet neighborhood under leafy, green trees. Door open for two rounds of distribution; once in the morning and in the afternoon. The distribution warehouse was built with the food bank in mind, and is large and spacious with room to grow. While there is another small food pantry in the area, most of the clients from around Renton step through the Salvation Army's doors. Salvation Army Renton has more than 6,000 clients that are allowed to come once a month for groceries.  They have seen their client base expand significantly in these last few years. If the financial support were there, Director Beverly would love to serve clients more often. In addition to the food bank, there is also Homeless Boxes. These are quick nonperishable food boxes that can be picked up on a weekly basis for those without stoves or refrigeration. Salvation Army Renton also works with the school district to provide backpack program.

Salvation Army Renton has a dual shopping/preboxed distribution method. Each client is called in from the waiting room, one at a time. They have a volunteer shopping assistant who guides them through the shopping area where they can choose from fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as dairy and bread. Canned goods and other specialty items however are placed in boxes for each client to take. For a while they used switched exclusively to the shopping model, but had extraordinary wait times for clients. They dual method approach works best for them and their clients. 

You can find out more about Salvation Army Renton and the services they provide at their facebook page here.

Clients setting up and choosing fruits and vegetables.

Large warehouse space to expand.

Speciality Items out for grabs.

Client posing with the fruits and veggies of the day!

Lots of yummy dairy and fresh veggies for all to enjoy.

An example of a box fully loaded.