Meet Our Members - Teen Feed

Teen Feed is a fantastic agency serving right here in the University District neighborhood where our office is. Their approach is unique, their clients are specific, and the results are inspiring. Teen Feed rotates to different churches each evening to provide a delicious meal in a friendly environment for homeless youth. In addition, they also have staff and resources available to assist the teens with any issues they may be facing or help them succeed in any way they can.

Last night, we visited them at University Congregational Church as a volunteer crew from Temple Beth Am served a delicious meal and a great experience for homeless youth in the area. This low-key environment allows for a safe, relaxed place for the youth to be renewed with a home-cooked meal and enjoy time with friends.

The staff and volunteers at Teen Feed are inspiring with their positive attitudes and sincerity in service to the youth that arrive. The youth that attend the meals are not just clients, but interesting individuals with stories, backgrounds, and a need to hope for their future.

Teen Feed operates on the principle that when youth are able to rely on consistent contact with safe and non-judgmental adults, they are better able to take on the challenges of finding safe shelter, a job, or attending to their mental or physical health.

Photos: Excellent young volunteers from Temple Beth Am are enthusiastic to serve!

Learn more about this innovative and impactful agency at their website here.

Here's information on how to volunteer with Teen Feed:

Below is the Teen Feed orientation information, the first step to becoming a volunteer at Teen Feed. The orientation contains information about Teen Feed’s history, best practices, rules and guidelines that help us provide excellent care every night. At the orientation you will also receive an application and background check paper work that you will take home, fill out, and return to us. After the orientation you and a Teen feed staff member will decide which volunteer position is best for you and which night (or nights) works best for your schedule. Thank you and we will see you soon!

Teen Feed Volunteer Orientation

Date: Every first Thursday of the month from 5pm until 6:30pm

Location: University Congregational UCC.

4515 16thbAve NE Seattle, WA 98105

(Enter by going down the stairs through the large rust colored doors on 16th)

If you have any further questions contact Jaime Jamison at jaime@teenfeed.org or (206)229-0813

How to be an Advocate Volunteer for Teen Feed:

Advocate Job Description

Teen Feed is a dinner program for homeless and street-involved youth. We serve dinner seven nights a week. The heart of our program is having Advocates available to interact with the youth. This person commits to a minimum of six months to show up once a week (or more) to Teen Feed and sit and talk to the guests. The goal is to get to know them, create a safe and welcoming presence, and be available to help the young people know about services. We interview each potential Advocate after they have visited Teen Feed once. We seek those over 21, who show themselves comfortable interacting with youth who don’t typically trust adults. Basic responsibilities include:

To take the required Teen Feed Orientation offered by Teen Feed To be consistently present and accessible to the youth	This class is offered to help new our Advocates better understand and care for the youth that we serve. You can sign-up for the class at Jaime@teenfeed.org To be open and approachable, interested in getting to know the youth, hear their concerns, value their thoughts
To be non-judgmental and open-minded	· Accept them at face value · Encourage the solutions or progress they have made
Demonstrate that you care	Be an attentive listener and be proactive in meeting their requests of you.