Nearly every day, 1,500 fresh, nutritious meals prepared by FareStart students, staff and volunteers make their way to Seattle-area nonprofits, shelters, respite centers, youth and adult daycare centers and schools. The breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks produced through our Community & School Meals program have played a central role in our work for more than 30 years — and on multiple levels.
Community & School Meals alleviate hunger for people in need through our partnerships with organizations like Boys & Girls Club of King County, The Children’s Center at Burke Gilman Gardens, Compass Housing Alliance, DESC, Full Life Care, Harborview’s Medical Respite Program, Navos, Salvation Army, Seattle Indian Health Board and YMCA of Greater Seattle.
These meals also put people to work and open doors to economic opportunity. With professional chefs guiding the way, our students gain skills that prepare them for stable employment. Revenue from our meals program sustains our mission to transform lives, disrupt, poverty and nourish communities through food, life skills and job training.
Cornerstone of Culinary Training
Students in our Food Pathways Program hone foundational culinary skills, preparing Community & School Meals.
“They get to do so many different things in such a short amount of time,” said Charles Mahle, Culinary Manager of Contract Meals at FareStart. “They learn how to use combi-ovens, fryers, tilt skillets, big mixers and all kinds of cool equipment.”
Chef trainers mentor students as unique individuals, paying close attention to the interests they develop as they progress through the program.
“Our focus is on the student and giving them opportunities that fit their interests,” Charles said. “It’s a much better experience than culinary school, which is much more regimented — like, this is what you’re going to learn, this is what you have to practice, and this is what the job is going to be afterward.”
19 Million Meals and Counting
Since 1992, FareStart has produced and distributed more than 19 million breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Our meals program ramped up significantly during the pandemic, amid a surge in federal, state and local funding for emergency food.
Food insecurity still looms large in the Seattle area, even as public funding to feed people has dwindled or dried up. This means less support at a time when our community needs more, with inflation, skyrocketing costs for groceries, and a shortage of affordable housing driving the cost of living ever higher.
“More folks are finding themselves in situations where they’re facing barriers like homelessness or unemployment that make it harder to put food on the table,” said Brianne Booth, a Social Enterprise Account Manager at FareStart.
Some of our Community & School Meals partners still receive federal support through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Some have rejiggered their budgets to make room for FareStart meals.
Volunteer — Our meals program runs 365 days a year and relies on hundreds of volunteers, who prepare and package meals alongside students and staff on weekday mornings, and on weekends, when students are off. It’s easy to register as a FareStart volunteer, browse openings and sign up for a shift.
Partner with us — We offer seasonal menus that change daily, including vegetarian and allergen-free options. Meals are available for delivery or pickup: Monday through Friday for schools, seven days a week for community meals. Pricing varies based on the number of meals per day and the number of days per week. To learn more, email contractmeals@farestart.org or call 206.247.5391.
Donate — There are many ways to support FareStart with your generosity, whether it’s making a one-time gift or becoming a monthly donor. Now through December 31, all new recurring donations will be matched for 12 months! Make a gift today and help us open doors for more students.
