Presented by Hopelink
For those experiencing food insecurity, recent changes to benefits, programs and other types of support are creating even more anxiety.
But Hopelink, a Washington nonprofit devoted to making positive change, is making sure people across North and East King County don’t go hungry.
It’s a message that Hopelink has been sharing with the community since 1971. The organization’s programs help people experiencing poverty, immigrants, refugees and people with disabilities in North and East King County.
As director of Food Programs at Hopelink, Amanda Lopez-Castañon notes that these days, what she hears most often is whether programs people depend upon will be cut. She tells those that express this fear that Hopelink will continue to be there for them.
“That food helps them alleviate other expenses that they might have, especially in times like these when things are very difficult for people,” she said. “We are now serving many more people who were working, many with good incomes, but their circumstances have changed.”
Hopelink’s programs help build stability for those they serve and equip them with what they need to exit poverty.
Getting food to those who need it
One key component of this is food assistance. Hopelink's food program helps people meet some of their most critical needs. Even when clients qualify for public programs, these may not be enough to keep them food secure throughout the month. Helping people weather the problems caused by rising grocery prices, high costs of housing, a stagnant job market, and reductions in other food assistance is a necessary and important part of Hopelink’s many programs to move people out of poverty.
To help those struggling to close the gap between what they have and what they need, Hopelink currently operates five food markets. Located in Bellevue, Redmond, Shoreline, Kirkland and Carnation, these facilities are open four days a week.
For people who visit a Hopelink market, the experience is similar to a grocery store. Inside are a variety of staples and fresh food, all free to those who need them.
“Back in the day, the more traditional model of food banks was a very small area where the volunteers and staff would pre-pack bags. It was the things that we thought would work to make a meal,” she explained. “Our model, and many around the country, have evolved into the market model.”
Shoppers move through the space with their own cart, picking out what they need. This encourages better results and full utilization of all resources available.
A partnership with Essentials First and donations from KidVantage and United Way recently stocked baby formula, diapers, and wipes, always a welcome addition to the supplies offered through the Hopelink markets.
“We are not a baby formula provider, per se, but when we can do stuff, we do it!” Lopez-Castañon said.
An example is, outfitted with support from COVID-era federal funding, the refrigerated Hopelink Mobile Market truck brings a selection of staples often available in brick-and-mortar locations to areas across East King County that lack nearby access to affordable, healthy food options.
“We have up to 10 stops for the Mobile Market,” Lopez-Castañon said, noting that they are looking at the best ways to remove barriers to access. “We are here to feed the people.”
Hopelink also has a home delivery program for those who are housebound. For families with school-age children, Hopelink’s has two programs to help parents and guardians, End Summer Hunger and Kids Need School Supplies.
Not one size fits all
Each market has a slightly different demographic, and supervisors are able to tailor the markets to what their clients need, according to Lopez-Castañon. This flexibility is an important part of making people feel that they are welcome at the markets, further reducing barriers.
Giving people a choice when selecting their groceries means that they can find the foods that work best for their family, health needs, and cooking styles.
“One of the hopes is that it cuts food waste, but it is also about giving people dignity and providing food in a way that touches them,” Lopez-Castañon said. “Not only giving people something that they can use, but something that they love, so they come out of the market with a smile.”
To create a smile can be as simple as providing culturally relevant vegetables. The Hopelink Harvest program partners with local farmers not only to glean food from their fields, but also to encourage them to grow the produce requested by Hopelink’s clients. The combination has been a win-win in supporting local farms as well as the food markets since 2011.
Community helping community
When this winter’s floods left local farms buried under mud, Hopelink Harvest volunteers turned out for the cleanup. Lopez-Castañon was one of those who got muddy as a way of showing support for the farmers for all they do for Hopelink.
Volunteers make possible all aspects of Hopelink’s food assistance, Lopez-Castañon emphasized. One popular program for local gardeners is being reintroduced: Plant a Row, Share a Row, which encourages avid home gardeners to bring their excess produce to Hopelink markets - or even plant a row specifically for donation.
Traditional support from in-kind donations to food drives also help power the markets. While all types of non-expired, non-perishable food donations are welcome, Lopez-Castañon recommends contacting the markets or scoping out the Hopelink website if people have any questions.
“The community has stepped up in the last few months. Feeding their neighbors is very important to many people. Thankfully, people are doing that in big ways,” she said. “But we can always use more word of mouth. Tell people that we are here. If you know someone is in need of food, send them to us. Or advocate for us. Advocate for food justice, and all the things that people need to sustain a life that is whole.”
Lopez-Castañon’s heart is in leading the food assistance program and she has nothing but praise for the employees involved in the Hopelink’s food assistance programs, as well as the many volunteers who execute the programs at Hopelink. She encourages anyone interested in working with Hopelink or seeking assistance to check out all the opportunities listed on the website.
Presented by Hopelink