TWIF Encourages Those Able To Assist Lending A Hand To Food Programs

FamilyWorks distributes food to families in need – and it takes volunteers to sort and label the food for sharing. Photo by K. Lindsay Laney, Aug ’12

With all the precautions and care in place, to protect as many people as possible from transmission of COVID-19, The World Is Fun has put their elaborate schedule of volunteering events on hold. However, with the deep need right now, especially for food and feeding programs, TWIF has sent out a list of seven ways those able to volunteer, and help, can do so right now.

1. FoodCircle – Volunteers are needed to drive donated food to organizations in need, to support a Food Recovery Program, and reduce waste. Find out more on FoodCircle.org (click here.)

2. Contribute to, or convert, a Little Free Library – The Little Free Pantry program allows zero-barrier access, neighbor-to-neighbor, to immediate food items. Find out more at TheLittleFreePantries.org (click here.)

Even donations of food, to food banks or Little Food Pantry, can help neighbors going hungry during this difficult time. Photo provided by FamilyWorks, 2020

3. Support our local food banks – even Little Food Pantry recommends working with the food banks – who need our assistance to feed those in most desperate need in our neighborhoods. TWIF recommends a few that need help: West Seattle, University District, Queen Anne, White Center, Byrd Barr Place, and Puget Sound Labor Agency. Those neighbors in Fremont going hungry can find aid (and volunteers/donors wanting to help in our community,) please look at:

4. Support FareStart – The job training program has suspended its usual operations, and set to alleviate hunger by producing and delivering prepared meals. Learn more about donation and volunteer opportunities on FareStart.org (click here.)

If you are healthy, and not high-risk, consider helping one of the organizations feeding our neighbors during the pandemic. Photo provided by Byrd Barr Food Bank

5. The Lifelong Chicken Soup Brigade has long provided nutritional and health support to our most vulnerable neighbors, and volunteers are needed more than ever to serve the more than 4,000 members in Seattle. Learn about the COVID019 relief efforts on Lifelong.org/covid19-emergency-volunteers (click here.)

6. Solid Ground – Donations and volunteers are needed to help other community members who are in crisis, and Solid Ground has programs to address housing, food and advocacy problems, as well as acknowledging social justice reforms. Learn more about assisting at Solid-Ground.org (click here.)

7. Students available to help in the healthcare system are encouraged to register through the National Student Response Network (NSRN.) In the event that hospitals, clinics and public health departments need additional assistance, the NSRN can quickly find those trained and available. Find out more about the NSRN on a Google.doc form (click here.)

Before volunteering, be sure to check with the organization’s prevention policies – and your own comfort and safety standards. Photo by FamilyWorks

The World Is Fun is not currently able to coordinate volunteers, but the need is still out there and the opportunities do exist. Please consider giving time, talent and or money to any one of these vital organizations, to help our neighbors survive this difficult time.

TWIF does encourage all volunteers to ask questions, before volunteering, about health protocols and contact risks. Make decisions about volunteer activities based on an honest assessment of your own health, safety and comfort level. To find out more about TWIF, visit their website at TheWorldIsFun.org (click here.)