Shutdown Response: Food Lifeline Joins Local Organizations to Support Federal Workers
We joined organizations across the Puget Sound Thursday for the Federal Workers Resource Fair at Seattle City Hall. The event, held by Mayor Bruce Harrell, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and the City of Seattle Government, was a chance for federal employees affected by the government shutdown to get connected with local resources and support.
We were there with our free mobile market, providing fresh fruits and veggies and shelf stable items.
We served about 80 families at the event.
Our new CEO Stephen Davis was on site to speak with the Mayor and Congresswoman about our response to the government shutdown, and to help with food distribution. He and Congresswoman Jayapal connected one on one with federal workers as they passed out food.
The event was as much a chance to show solidarity and support, as it was to share resources.
Torrance Dixon, our Community Programs Coordinator who led the distribution, summed up the feelings of camaraderie of staff and volunteers at the event:
“We stand with our community, we stand with federal workers who are going through these troubled times. Food Lifeline is standing in solidarity with you – we support you, we love you guys, and we’re here for you.”
The fair featured on-site assistance and resource information from a range of community and government partners, including:
- Seattle City Light (SCL)
- Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)
- Food Lifeline
- BECU
- Essentials First
- King County Promotores Network
- United Way of King County
- Washington State Employment Security Department
- Workforce Development Council of Seattle–King County
- And other partners
We’re sending a huge thank you to everyone who helped organize this event, and to our staff and volunteers working on the ground. We know what an incredibly different time this is, and want everyone to know they are not alone, and that together we will keep working to meet this moment with creativity, solidarity, and determination.
