SEATTLE (April 13, 2020) – Seattle-based nonprofit FareStart is partnering with organizations throughout King County to prepare emergency meals for vulnerable groups impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The Seattle Seahawks, First & Goal Hospitality, Taylor Hoang Restaurants and MOD Pizza will each work in strategic conjunction with FareStart, allowing the organization to provide up to 50,000 meals daily as needed. FareStart will also partner with United Way of King County, the YMCA and the Seattle Housing Authority to provide meals especially for children.
First & Goal Hospitality, the in-house concessions company for CenturyLink Field, will coordinate with FareStart to produce thousands of meals daily in the stadium's kitchens. The meals, from sack lunches to frozen dinners families can reheat at home, will be provided to organizations that support low-income youth, seniors, people experiencing homelessness and other communities in need.
"We are truly thankful to have the opportunity to partner with these organizations to support our communities that have been hit hardest by the crisis," said Angela Dunleavy-Stowell, CEO of FareStart. "All of us have felt the impacts of COVID-19, and these strategic collaborations have been developed to expand our ability to provide meals in support of our neighbors."
Since the emergency response began, FareStart has been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response throughout King County. The nonprofit has provided more than 130,000 emergency meals to date to groups such as the Downtown Emergency Services Center, Plymouth Housing and the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, as well as King County isolation and recovery sites and other organizations.
"Serving our community is such an important part of our mission, and so during such a trying time, we are incredibly proud to come together with FareStart to produce meals for
those in need," said David Young, the Seattle Seahawks' senior vice president of business operations and general manager of CenturyLink Field.
Taylor Hoang Restaurants is stepping up in a significant way. In addition to meals, they are providing warehouse space, transportation and other critical logistical support to help FareStart's emergency meal efforts.
MOD Pizza is supplementing FareStart meals by supplying pizzas to King County shelter facilities for people experiencing homelessness.
In addition to instituting these strategic partnerships, FareStart has launched its COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund to ensure future support for expenses associated with the most immediate crisis responses, including direct food costs, meal production and delivery expenses, as well as for students and graduates. The fund will also support the relaunching of FareStart's job training programs and its restaurant, cafés and catering enterprises.
FareStart will continue to explore other strategic partnerships throughout King County in an effort to most efficiently and effectively support the region's most susceptible communities.
Donations to FareStart are welcomed and encouraged. To donate, please visit www.farestart.org.
