The coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of FareStart’s popular restaurant and put its catering and training programs on hold, but the Seattle nonprofit is as busy as ever. In fact, a dozen FareStart graduates have been rehired to help during the pandemic – preparing and delivering meals to more than 100 sites including Downtown Emergency Service Center, Plymouth Housing, Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Public Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, King County YMCAs, and more quarantine/isolation sites.
Since the pandemic began, FareStart has been on the frontlines of King County’s response bringing together partners across the Seattle area to prepare more than 250,000 emergency meals to vulnerable groups impacted by the crisis. These partners include the Seattle Seahawks and First & Goal Hospitality, MOD Pizza, and Taylor Hoang Restaurants.
By reallocating its resources, FareStart has been able to bring together government and community partners to identify need and coordinate production and delivery to isolation and quarantine sites, low-income senior communities, child care sites, and homeless shelters.
The efforts have not been without challenges – from implementing social distancing in active kitchens to working around food and supply shortages – but FareStart’s staff has adapted quickly and maintain its focus on the nonprofit’s mission.
At this time, the best way for individuals to support FareStart and their fellow community members is to make a donation to FareStart’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund.
The fund was launched to meet the emergency food needs in the Seattle community during the COVID-19 crisis and to ensure future support of vulnerable populations through FareStart programs and operations.
