With a “state of emergency” boosting spending around 17%, Seattle is poised to spend $47 million in 2016 on its homeless and low income programs and services. Of course, it’s not enough. Here are opportunities to help around Capitol Hill and District 3 including meal programs and donation drives at your favorite bars and restaurants. CHS will update this post throughout the holidays so let us know about anything we’ve missed or need to add. You can also add your area giving events to the CHS Calendar. Happy holidays.
- At the bottom of this post is a roster from Seattle.gov’s Emergency Food page documenting almost all of the food banks in the city. You’ll find location and contact information for each for donation and volunteer needs.
View Seattle-area Meal Programs in a larger map - This map from the Meals Partnership Coalition shows locations of regular hot meal services in the city.
- On the map, you’ll note Capitol Hill’s Community Lunch program. CL hosts an annual dinner on Thanksgiving at Broadway’s All Pilgrims Church — just as the service does every Thursday. Learn more at communitylunch.org.
- 16th Ave’s Jewish Family Service has many opportunities to help — including their holiday gift basket program:
Individuals and groups participate in bringing joy to seniors and people with disabilities each year at Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, Purim and Passover. Help by donating items; collecting food at a grocery store; or filling, decorating and/or delivering the baskets. Sign up for just one portion of the project…or pick a holiday with your group and see it through from beginning to end.
- Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission feeds the hungry every Sunday at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church on Harvard from 2-6 PM. Volunteers will be there on Thanksgiving starting at 3 PM. You can view a roster of donation needs here.
- E Madison’s Jubilee Women’s Center has a wish list for donations.
- First Hill’s Mary’s Place annually features Holiday Giving Tree Tags for you to help make somebody’s holidays bright with.
- Plymouth Housing Group is looking for donations to help with its downtown Thanksgiving meals.
- Lifelong and the Chicken Soup Brigade’s Care to Shop program is in need of ongoing volunteers
