Giving Back in South Lake Union

As we head into 2026, giving back remains a powerful way to stay connected to the South Lake Union community. While the holidays often spark generosity, the need for support—from food access to family shelter—continues well beyond the calendar year. Across the neighborhood, local nonprofits are doing critical, often behind-the-scenes work to ensure neighbors are fed, housed, inspired, and supported.

Whether you’re looking to donate money, goods, or time, South Lake Union offers meaningful ways to make an impact at any point in the year. From working to end youth homelessness to helping families find stability, these organizations reflect the heart of SLU: people showing up for one another.

We’re highlighting five local nonprofits making a difference—and sharing how you can be part of that work in 2025.

Keeping Families Safe and Housed — Mary’s Place

Each night in Seattle, families with children face the reality of sleeping in cars, tents, or encampments. Mary’s Place works to ensure children have a safe, warm place to sleep while helping families move toward stable housing.

Through its No Child Sleeps Outside campaign, Mary’s Place raises critical funds to expand shelter capacity and connect more families with permanent homes. In 2023, the organization served more than 2,000 families and helped over 1,300 secure stable housing. Community support helps ensure more children sleep safely indoors.

nochildsleepsoutside.org

Ending Youth Homelessness — YouthCare

For more than 50 years, YouthCare has worked to end youth homelessness by meeting young people where they are and supporting them through individualized care. Operating six sites across Seattle, YouthCare serves more than 1,500 young people each year.

Programs span early intervention, emergency shelter, housing stability, education, and employment training, with additional partnerships providing legal aid, health care, and postsecondary support. Accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), YouthCare meets the highest standards in social service delivery. Donations directly support young people building stability and independence.

youthcare.org

Restoring Stability and Self-Sufficiency — Dignity for Divas

Dignity for Divas supports women transitioning out of homelessness by focusing on long-term stability, healing, and self-sufficiency. Securing housing is a critical first step, but sustained support is what helps prevent a return to homelessness.

Through the Diva Dream Academy, women have access to counseling, trauma-informed workshops, résumé writing and technology training, and wellness offerings such as yoga and meditation. These services help remove barriers and support women as they rebuild with confidence and purpose. Community support keeps these programs accessible to those who need them most.

dignityfordivas.org

Meeting Essential Needs With Dignity — Immanuel Community Services

Immanuel Community Services addresses the immediate and ongoing effects of poverty, hunger, homelessness, and addiction for thousands of Seattle residents each year. With a small staff and a strong volunteer base, the organization serves more than 20,000 people annually.

Support extends beyond financial donations. Community members can contribute essential items such as warm clothing, sleeping bags, tents, and bedding, or give back through everyday shopping by linking a Fred Meyer rewards card to ICS. Read more about Immanuel Community Services here.

icsseattle.org

Food, Jobs, and Opportunity — FareStart

FareStart uses food as a catalyst for change, providing job training, pathways to employment, and millions of meals to the community. Its social enterprise restaurants and food programs serve schools, shelters, health care centers, and other community partners.

Since 1992, FareStart has prepared more than 16.6 million meals. Supporters can give through donations, workplace giving, stock or IRA contributions, or by volunteering time to help with meals, events, and food distribution.

farestart.org