Teen Feed Basic Needs Drive Organizer (Seattle) (In-Person) (6months)
Teen Feed works to offer basic needs items and daily essentials to help houseless youth to care for themselves. We distribute basic needs items to youth at the nightly meal program, during street Outreach, at Inreach, and in our office as youth access support coordination. As the weather changes, so do our basic needs items!
Work Description: Support Teen Feed by organizing a Basic Needs Drive (or multiple) within your community throughout one or multiple academic quarters. Our young people are in need of new and high quality clothing, life supplies, hygiene items, and toiltries. This may look like collecting items from your school, place of work, posting flyers around U-District, and even contacting businesses about if they have items to donate, for at least 3 hours per week. This position coordinates directly with the Youth Services Specialist, Program Services Manager, and Kitchen Coordinator to collect items of highest need.
Impact: Youth facing homelessness, housing insecurity, or food insecurity need support, resources, and genuine care. Basic Needs Drive Organizers will make a positive impact through Teen Feed by supporting our guests with basic needs items, life supplies, camping gear, and seasonal items.
Supervisor:
Jordan Van Hoozer
volunteercoordinator@teenfeed.org
(206) 446-1075
Location:
University District Dinner Site(s)
Both weekly dinner sites are on 16th Ave NE: one is on 16th and 45th, the other on 16th and 50th. Site of weekly volunteer shift subject to day of the week scheduled.
Seattle, Washington 98105
Supplies collected from the Basic Needs Drive(s) will usually be delivered to the University Congregational Church of Christ dinner site, unless specified to dropoff at our other dinner site (University Lutheran), or the Teen Feed office (4740 B University Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98105). All donation item dropoff locations are within a few blocks of each other in U-District.
Teen Feed may need support organizing and distributing items between dinner sites, which this CSL volunteer could assist with as well.
We serve dinner out of two dinner locations:
-Saturdays/Sundays/Mondays: University Lutheran Church, 1604 NE 50th St, Seattle, WA 98105
-Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: University Congregational UCC, 4515 16th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Both dinner sites are in U-District right across the street from UW’s north campus.
Directions:
-University Lutheran (ULU):
Please park in the north side parking lot (accessible from 16th Ave NE), if driving. If you are dropping off items, once you park, please call the meal phone at: 206.229.0813 and a coordinator will receive you. (5:30-6:30pm Sat-Mon)
-University Congregational (UCONG):
If dropping off items, please pull up to the church on 16th Ave NE along the yellow curb near the red trashcan.
If coming to the church to organize items or move them from one site to another, you are welcome to park in either the northside parking lot in any numbered spot that says “Reserved for University Congregational Use Only,” or in the big parking lot directly east across 16th Ave NE from the church. Once parked, walk over to the east side of the church on 16th Ave NE.
If you’re facing the church, you’ll go to the flight of orange/red double doors down the stairs on 16th Ave NE, marked by a red trash can on the sidewalk at the top of the stairs. This is also where New Volunteer Orientation is held.
The door will be locked, so you can call the meal phone at: 206.229.0813 and a coordinator will let you in. (Tues-Fri 5:30-6:30pm)
*It is the same phone number for all Teen Feed locations.
Bus Notes:
Both Teen Feed dinner sites are 1-3 blocks distance from the University District Lightrail station, as well as multiple bus lines (21, 32, 44).
Must be 18 years old
Other paperwork: Volunteer Application which includes Background Check Release Form, Healthy Boundaries Document, and Photo Release
Background check required
Skills Needed:
The ideal volunteer looks like someone who:
● Is patient, consistent, reliable, and positive
● Believes in harm reduction principles and meeting people where they’re at
● Values the power of positive relationships and reliable support networks
● Is self-motivated and passionate about supporting the homeless members of our community
● Has an interest in community health, or is a citizen concerned with general wellness, nutrition and active volunteerism
● Is interested in committing a minimum of 6 months (but ideally 1 year) to volunteering with Teen Feed