2009 Newsletters
Fall 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008-2009
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Hunger Intervention Program
Newsletter for Winter 2008-9
HIP News Bites: Hunger Intervention Program volunteers served 47,228 breakfast meals in 2008. The program has 132 volunteers including 55 who regularly sign up for one or more of 128 early morning serving slots per month to serve breakfast in the shelter.
Numbers of hungry clients soared during the December snow storms in Seattle. In just 15 days, HIP served 2761 meals and left many extra meals for later enjoyment. The additional numbers meant bringing an extra 60 pounds of food of food a day—nearly half a ton more food—during that difficult time.
Hot Meals: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday breakfasts have undergone an upgrade. Hot breakfast sandwiches, hash, frittatas, and breakfast casseroles have been added to the menus. Why the change?
Seattle has set aside money for bulk buy purchases for meals programs. This program provided beautiful fresh fruit in November and December and is now giving programs like HIP delicious organic ground beef. The ground beef along with ham from Food Lifeline provide the basis for one or two hot meals a week.
Hunger Intervention Program joined Seattle's Table in October, 2008. This program rescues food from restaurants to give to meal programs for the homeless. Restaurants, bakeries, and caterers are linked with meal providers in the same neighborhood to quickly and safely convert extra food that would be wasted to meals for the hungry. One HIP partner, Chipotle Restaurant at Northgate, gives us very tasty leftovers 3 times a week: rice, beans, lots of cooked meat, and salsa. These items are combined for "Chipotle casserole" and hot wraps that are heated and served at the shelter.
Money Matters: HIP has received a major award for equipment from Seattle Public Utilities. This grant allowed the program to purchase equipment to support HIP's partnership with Seattle's Table outlets. HIP received a grant from The Seattle Foundation to support the program in 2009. The program received generous support from volunteers and through its gift card program. Every penny is squeezed to wring the best value for superior meals.
FAQ of the Month:
Who are HIP's clients and do they have to qualify in some way to receive breakfast?
Answer: HIP serves breakfast to clients of the day shelter at the Downtown Emergency Service Center. The vast majority of breakfast guests are those who would be classified as chronically homeless; people with one or more disabling conditions. These conditions include mental illness, alcohol or substance abuse, physical disability, developmental disability or dementia. Many seek and receive services from the DESC for addiction or mental illness. If a client has checked into the DESC's day shelter and they are present at 8:30AM, they are most welcome to enjoy a HIP breakfast; no questions asked and no forms to fill out! HIP volunteers do not receive information about their breakfast guests although many have become familiar over the months and years of HIP's service as it converted from street-based service to shelter-based breakfasts.
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"Before we served breakfast it was always a nightmare around here — fights, arguments. It's definitely better when they get breakfast." ~Larry, DESC staffer
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