Showing posts with label hopelink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hopelink. Show all posts

Twin Ponds Giving Garden Seed Money fundraising update

Friday, December 4, 2015

Photo by Nancy Short

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, Twin Ponds Giving Garden met the $400 target within 48 hours and qualified as one of 75 projects for the matching grant from SeedMoney.org.

We couldn’t have done this without those of you who contributed on short notice. Thank you!

This is the first year for the SeedMoney program. It is unique because it supports non-profit food garden projects. In total, there are 526 projects from around the world participating, and SeedMoney has been thrilled by the response.

So much so that they have decided to offer more opportunities for the participating groups. There will be up to 16 additional grants offered based on donations submitted by December 16th.

Now we have a chance to think even bigger! The project that attracts the highest number of donors by the end of the campaign on December 16th will receive a $600 People's Choice grant.

Please "choose" our garden for this grant by making a donation today

A Garden is a Gift that Keeps Giving!
Thanks for helping us help those in need.


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Volunteers at Twin Ponds Giving Garden ask community help for Challenge Grant

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Volunteers in the Twin Ponds Giving Garden


The Giving Garden at Twin Ponds Community Garden is excited to announce that we have been accepted into a Challenge Grant. It is a race and we need your help to cross the finish line, which is $400. The first 75 organizations to reach $400 in donations will get a $400 match from Seedmoney.org.

Our slogan is "Giving Is Central". As volunteers, we raise organic vegetables for the Hopelink Food Bank serving Shoreline. In 2015, the garden produced 4,000+ pounds of fresh, pesticide-free, organic vegetables!

This is a new record for us and we look forward to besting this amount next year. Food from our garden means healthier living for some of Shoreline's most vulnerable populations. The Shoreline branch of Hopelink serves 390 to 440 families a month.

Volunteers in the Giving Garden


We also build community and foster an appreciation of food gardening by welcoming local schools, youth groups, church groups, and neighbors to join us on our mission to grow food. We appreciate the help and the excitement they bring to the garden.

Twin Ponds is still a developing garden. In 2015, or garden shed was broken into and many of our tools and supplies were taken. The result has been to make some of us feel like we are starting the garden all over again.Any funds raised will go to replacing and augmenting our tool and material supplies, seeds and seed starting materials, and soil amendments. It will also allow us to plan for future garden improvements.

The gardeners at the Twin Ponds Giving Garden ask for your support to reach our fundraising goal. Any amount is gladly welcomed and will be put to good use.


Littlest volunteers in the Giving Garden


Donations are considered tax-deductible via the parent organization Kitchen Gardeners International that is a 501c3 non-profit based in Maine. Donations once submitted are charged right away. They are final and non-refundable. The website will send donors a confirmation email.

We thank you for your support!
The Volunteers at Twin Ponds Giving Garden



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'Swift to Serve'--Symetra Week of Service volunteers Give Back at Hopelink in Shoreline

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Symetra's Shoreline Hopelink Team
Photo courtesy Symetra

“This annual tradition gives us a chance to ... make a positive impact in our communities through hands-on service.” — Symetra CEO Tom Marra

Nearly 400 Bellevue-based Symetra employees mobilized around the Puget Sound region in support of local communities during the seventh-annual “Symetra Week of Service,” held June 8–12.

Volunteers wore Swift to Serve t-shirts
Photo courtesy Symetra

Wearing bright green ‘Symetra Volunteer’ T-shirts, employees logged 1,300 hours over five days to help clear trails, landscape, stock foodbanks, make toys, tutor kids, paint, clean and organize on behalf of 24 nonprofit organization around the Eastside and in the Greater Seattle area. (See complete Puget Sound-area list of organizations here.)

Hopelink’s Shoreline service center drew an enthusiastic crew of Symetra volunteers. Collectively, six employees contributed nearly 20 hours of manpower on June 11 — helping to clean and organize the center as well as sort and stock items.

“Symetra is recognized as a company with a strong volunteer spirit. While we're engaged in supporting nonprofits year ‘round, the Symetra Week of Service spotlights our employees’ involvement in and commitment to the communities in which we live and work,” said Symetra CEO Tom Marra, who was among the employee volunteers.

“This annual tradition gives us a chance to connect with our colleagues, join forces to help our nonprofit partners who do so much good and make a positive impact in our communities through hands-on service.”

Symetra at Shoreline Hopelink
Photo courtesy Symetra

Symetra Week of Service began in 2009 with 130 employees in the company’s Bellevue headquarters volunteering at seven area projects. Since the program’s inception, Symetra employees have contributed more than 10,000 Week of Service hours.

To see more of Symetra’s 2015 Week of Service volunteers in action, visit Facebook. Learn about the company’s community programs here.



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Sears Outlet holding food drive for HopeLink this weekend

Friday, May 22, 2015

The Sears Outlet store 15711 1/2 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133 will hold a food drive Memorial Day weekend to benefit the Shoreline HopeLink. 

All customers who bring a donation of canned or boxed food will be entered in a raffle to win a free BBQ.

The Outlet Store is in the lower level  of the store, entrance next to auto department.


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Let Hopelink help you with your energy costs

Monday, March 16, 2015



Up to $1,000 per individual is available right now to help qualifying low-income renters and homeowners with energy bills. You do not need to be behind with your payments to benefit.

Call 800-348-7144 now to make your in-person appointment.

The appointment line is available in English, Russian and Spanish.

The line is open 24/7 and is updated at 9:00am, Monday through Thursday, with the latest available appointment times.

Phone appointments for those who are elderly or have a disability can be made by calling 800-374-4131.



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Businesses: sign up for Can Madness

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Shoreline and Lake Forest Park businesses have until February 26 to sign up for Hopelink’s sixth annual Can Madness competitive food drive. The fun and friendly tournament is aimed at replenishing Hopelink food banks during the challenging late-winter months.

Last year, 32 businesses – including three in Shoreline – collected nearly 30,000 pounds of food and almost $3,000 in cash during the five-week, single-elimination tournament. Redmond Physical Therapy took home the trophy, defeating JJ Mahoney’s Irish Pub in the final round.

To ensure that groups of all sizes are able to compete on a level playing field, the competition uses a unique scoring system that divides the number of pounds of food collected each Friday by a denominator that reflects the size of the business. 

The tournament will run from March 1 through April 3.

Toni / Guy has been a strong competitor
Staff load donations

Hopelink Can Madness is a bracketed competition similar to the national spring college basketball tournament, matching businesses in weekly contests to see which one can bring in the most food. The annual food drive was created six years ago as a way to help offset the traditional decline in donations after the holidays, while enabling local businesses to compete for the title. Since 2010, the competition has brought in 91,035 pounds of food and $8,044 in cash.

More information and registration online or contact Jenny Dreyfuss Ibrahim at jdreyfuss@hope-link.org  425-897-3710.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County by promoting self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helping people make lasting change. Hopelink assists people with meeting their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425-869-6000. 


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Shoreline artist helps with Hopelink gift room

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Kris Barrows sells her earrings on Etsy
and at local craft fairs

Shoreline Hopelink has a gift event for clients of Hopelink who are grandparents or non-custodial parents. These individuals want to give gifts to their families, but when you have limited funds it is not realistic to spend what you have on toys and gift cards.

Shoreline manager Kevin Osborn says, "We started the grandparents gift event years ago, and added the non-custodial parents several years ago when we found that so many parents were talking about how they couldn’t get gifts from various programs because the kids weren’t living with them full-time. 

This year's event was on December 18th. One Shoreline artist stepped up to help in a big way, offering free her hand-crafted earrings. K Betker tells the story.

If people are here, it probably means they aren’t doing much for themselves,” Kris Barrows explains, as another Shoreline Hopelink holiday gift room shopper approaches a table covered with literally hundreds of earrings.

Kris is on a mission: to bring a smile to women who are used to putting themselves last. Struggling to make ends meet and focused on choosing toys and gifts for their kids, Kris’s invitation to select a free pair of earrings for themselves takes them by surprise.  “Are you serious? This is so awesome … I’m  overwhelmed … thank you …”

Kris tells the story of a woman she met at one event who said, “I haven’t had earrings of my own for so long,” and carefully chose a special pair. Minutes later she returned. “I’m so embarrassed,” she said. “It’s Christmas. Can I give these back and take some for someone else?” Kris gave her both.

After 25 years in real estate, Kris knew she needed a career change “when we started taking people out of houses instead of putting people in houses.”

So five years ago, Out on a Limb was born, featuring $5 earrings that make a difference. Kris sells at craft fairs and private parties but finds her greatest reward in events such as Hopelink’s gift rooms, giving women who rarely put themselves first a chance to feel special. 

“This is so rewarding,” she said. “It just feels good.”


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Shoreline Knitters ready to donate to HopeLink

Friday, November 28, 2014

The bin has a permanent location at Shoreline City Hal
in the lobby - 17500 Midvale Ave N
Photo by Sis Polin

The Shoreline Knitters are ready for their annual delivery for HopeLink, coordinated this year by Susan Armstrong.

Shoreline Knitters, a crafty community, collects handmade items for those in need: hats, mittens, gloves, scarves.

The Knitters meet every Thursday from 1:00 to 3:30pm at Café Aroma, 509 N 165 Street, Shoreline, near the Crest Theatre.

They also do personal crafting, share patterns and provide help. They are an open social crafting community group and you are welcome to join us as a “regular” or when you have some extra time.   

They have a year round donation box at City Hall and will continue to find a much needed home for your donated handmade items.    


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Compressor goes out at HopeLink - urgent and immediate need for dairy products

Saturday, September 20, 2014


On Thursday of this week (Sept. 18t) the compressor on Shoreline HopeLink's walk-in cooler went out.

They had it fixed Friday, but had to pitch all of the perishables in the cooler.

They would gladly accept dairy donations from the community if people were so inclined to donate. 

They have two food bank distributions next week (Tuesday the 23rd and Wednesday the 24th) and will be without dairy - yogurt, cottage cheese, and sliced cheeses - for those people because of the loss.

Money is good, too. Donate at their website.

Shoreline HopeLink is located near Marshalls in Aurora Square (Sears) 15809 Westminster Way N, Shoreline 98133. 206-440-7300.


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Symetra Week of Service’ Volunteers give back at Hopelink Food Bank in Shoreline

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Symetra volunteers at Hopelink
Photo by Larry Gill

Nearly 500 employees from Bellevue-based Symetra mobilized around the Puget Sound region — and across the country — in support of local communities during the sixth-annual “Symetra Week of Service,” held July 7-11.

Wearing vivid blue ‘Symetra Volunteer’ T-shirts, employees logged nearly 1,900 hours over five days to help clear trails, landscape, stock foodbanks, assemble emergency preparedness kits, tutor kids, paint, clean and organize on behalf of 34 nonprofit organizations—23 around the Eastside and in the Greater Seattle area.

Photo by Larry Gill at Hopelink

Hopelink’s food bank facility in Shoreline drew an enthusiastic crew of Symetra volunteers. Collectively, five employees contributed 15 hours of manpower on July 10 — helping to clean, sort food donations and stock shelves.
“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is part of the fabric of Symetra and a core value our employees have wholeheartedly embraced,” said Tom Marra, Symetra president and CEO. “This much-anticipated annual tradition gives us a chance to connect with our colleagues, join forces to help our nonprofit partners who do so much good and make a positive impact in our communities through hands-on service.”

Symetra Week of Service began in 2009 with 130 employees in the company’s Bellevue headquarters volunteering at seven area projects. Since the program’s inception, Symetra employees have contributed nearly 8,300 Week of Service hours.

To see more of Symetra’s 2014 Week of Service volunteers in action, visit Facebook. Learn about the company’s community programs here.


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Hopelink campaign to outfit low-income kids with tools for school underway

Saturday, July 12, 2014

One-in-three Shoreline School District kids eligible to receive free supplies

Now that summer has finally arrived in the northwest, back-to-school is probably the last thing on kids’ minds. But for thousands of local children in low-income families – including nearly 2,900 in Shoreline Schools – the carefree summer months will soon give way to another worry: whether they will be able to keep up in school without the tools they need to succeed.

For these youth, whose parents struggle every day to make ends meet, essential school supplies can be vital to ensuring they are on equal footing with their peers when classes begin.

As part of its annual “Kids Need School Supplies” drive during the summer months, Hopelink is collecting school supplies to distribute to schoolchildren in low-income families to help ensure they come to school ready to learn.

Local donors – including businesses, service organizations, churches and individuals – are banding together to collect monetary donations as well as a wide range of school supplies that will be distributed to eligible families in north and east King County.

In the Shoreline School District, one-in-three students (33.2 percent) qualify for their school’s free- and reduced-cost lunch programs, which means nearly 2,900 Shoreline students will likely qualify to receive school supplies as well.

The Shoreline school supply drive is coordinated by the Back to School Consortium; a partnership that includes Hopelink, the City of Shoreline, Ronald United Methodist Church, The Works of Shoreline PTA Council, Shoreline School District, Shoreline Community Care, Center for Human Services, Turning Point, and the Dale Turner YMCA.


Supplies particularly needed this year:
  • Lined paper – wide and college ruled 
  • Spiral notebooks 
  • 3-ring binders 
  • Composition books 
  • Folders 
  • Colored pencils 
  • Markers 
  • Glue/glue sticks 
  • Scissors 
  • Rulers 
  • Red correcting pencils 
  • Fine-tipped Sharpies 
  • Printer/copy paper 
  • 3 x 5 note cards 
  • Protractors 
  • Graph paper 

For more information about making a donation of supplies or cash to purchase supplies, contact Emily DeWitt at 425-897-3710. Donations also can be dropped off at the Hopelink Shoreline Center through Aug. 20. The center is located at 15809 Westminster Way N. and is open Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

Shoreline families in need of school supplies must register by Aug. 15 with the Back to School Consortium  or contact the Hopelink Shoreline Center for assistance. School supplies will be distributed Aug. 23 at North City Elementary.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County. Hopelink promotes self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helps people make lasting change by addressing their need for food, shelter, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425-869-6000 or visit the webpage.


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Neighborhood Hygiene Drive collects eight crates of goods for HopeLink

Thursday, July 3, 2014

BALNA volunteers at Walgreen's in North City
Photo by Alice Lawson

Last Saturday, June 28, the Ballinger Neighborhood Association (BALNA) held a ‘hygiene drive’ at the North City Walgreens at 17518 15th NE. The event resulted in eight full crates of much needed non-food items (diapers, baby wipes, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.) collected for Shoreline’s HopeLink food bank.

Eight crates of donated goods for the Hopelink food bank
Photo by Alice Lawson

BALNA thanks Walgreens, neighborhood volunteers and especially the many local shoppers who generously bought extra items to donate. The donations will help stock HopeLink’s shelves, where homeless and low income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities can come for assistance.


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Two neighborhoods to conduct sundries drive for HopeLink on Saturday June 28

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Ballinger and North City neighborhoods are teaming up to host a sundries drive at the 175th and 15th Walgreens. The event will be held June 28 from 11:00am-3:00pm. The goods gathered will be donated to the Hopelink food bank here in Shoreline! 

If you are interested in volunteering for the drive, contact Tamara.

What a great way to bring together two Shoreline neighborhoods to collect donations for the homeless members of our community. Walgreens has been a great partner in helping promote community within Shoreline. Thank you to them for letting us have this drive at their store!

More information on the neighborhoods, and Hopelink below:


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Hopelink names Lauren Thomas as its CEO

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Lauren Thomas named as CEO of Hopelink
Redmond-based Hopelink has named Lauren Thomas as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Thomas will lead the largest nonprofit organization serving North and East King County, which helps 60,000 homeless and low-income families and individuals every year through a network of social services, including a major site location in Shoreline.

Thomas has served as Hopelink President and Interim CEO since Oct. 31, when Marilyn Mason-Plunkett retired due to health reasons. Prior to her interim role, Thomas guided daily internal operations as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer at Hopelink since 2010.

She has more than 25 years of leadership experience, strategy development, business operations and mission delivery focusing on the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining Hopelink, Thomas was COO for eight years at Wellspring Family Services, a Seattle agency addressing homelessness and providing domestic violence intervention, counseling, and children’s emotional development services.

Thomas started her not-for-profit career at the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Professional in Human Resources. 

Thomas said the position will enable her to combine her passion for the organization’s mission with a commitment to implementing best practices in serving the community.

“I am committed to the vision of a community free from poverty,” she said. “As a business person, I also know we must be good stewards of the support we have been so fortunate to receive in this generous community. As the Hopelink CEO, I will be able to share my passion – share our mission – while pursuing innovative approaches to reducing poverty and helping more people become self-sufficient. 
“And I can’t underestimate the good fortune of working with an amazing and dedicated staff and volunteers. Hopelink is truly poised to take on all of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Thomas will begin her new position March 29.


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Three Shoreline businesses compete in Hopelink Can Madness Food Drive

Friday, February 28, 2014

Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy joined by Sky Nursery and Sport Clips

Shoreline’s Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy is hoping the third time is the charm in Hopelink Can Madness, the annual competitive food drive to stock the agency’s food banks. In the past two years, the Shoreline business has made a strong showing but fallen short of the final round.

This year, a full slate of 32 teams representing Shoreline, Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland includes two newcomers from Shoreline: Sky Nursery and Sport Clips will compete in addition to Toni&Guy. Now in its fifth year, the competition is aimed at stocking Hopelink food banks during the post-holiday season, when donations slow down.

The drive is patterned after the famous national spring college basketball tournament, matching businesses in weekly competitions to see which can bring in the most food. Each week, the winning business in every bracket will advance to the following week. To ensure that businesses of all sizes are able to compete on a level playing field, the competition uses a unique scoring system that divides the number of pounds of food collected each Friday by a denominator that reflects the size of the business. 

Last year, 25 competitors in Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Shoreline and Seattle collected more than 27,000 pounds of food for Hopelink food banks. The first weigh-in is set for March 7, and a winner will be named April 4.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County by promoting self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helping people make lasting change. Hopelink assists people with meeting their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425-869-6000 or visit Hopelink online.

  

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HopeLink collecting school supplies for kids from low-income families

Saturday, August 10, 2013



Helping kids from low-income families start the school year on equal footing with their peers is the goal of Hopelink’s annual “Kids Need School Supplies” drive. This year, Hopelink aims to provide 3,000 youth with the tools they need to succeed when school begins in the fall – including backpacks and such crucial supplies as notebooks, paper, pens and pencils, markers and folders. 

For more information on making a donation of supplies or cash to purchase supplies, contact the Hopelink Shoreline Center at 206-440-7300. Donations also can be made in person at the Center, 15809 Westminster Way N, Shoreline 98133, between 8:30am and 5pm Monday-Friday.


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Volunteer at HopeLink food bank on Saturday

Thursday, July 18, 2013



Looking for a fun (and rewarding) family activity this Saturday?
Volunteer together at the Hopelink Shoreline Food Bank!

Space is still available for the first of a series of Hopelink Family Saturdays, which kick off Saturday, July 20, in Shoreline from 1-4 pm. Hopelink Family Saturdays are a great way to volunteer together as a family, learn new skills, meet new people, and work together as a team.

You know what they say: “The family that volunteers in a food bank together…  has a great time while helping others.” Join us!

Hopelink Shoreline Center is located at 15809 Westminster Way N, Shoreline 98133, 206-440-7300.

Contact Janelle by 5pm Friday, 425-897-3721.


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Hopelink launches annual End Summer Hunger campaign to feed local kids

Friday, May 10, 2013

The face of poverty
2,456 Shoreline / Lake Forest Park children without enough to eat this summer


2,456 Kids in Shoreline School District currently enrolled in Free / Reduced Price Lunch Program

For more than 16,000 children in north and east King County, summer vacation means something other than a chance to spend the day outside playing with friends: it means no longer knowing for sure that you will have breakfast or lunch.

End Summer Hunger – running through August – is Hopelink’s annual grassroots campaign aimed at ensuring that local kids in low-income families have enough to eat while they’re on summer break. The fundraising drive brings together local businesses, organizations, schools and individuals to help provide food for kids who receive free and reduced-fee breakfasts and lunches during the school year. Over the next several months, Hopelink is encouraging groups and individuals alike to get involved with the campaign.

The proceeds from End Summer Hunger will stock the agency’s five food banks for the high-demand summer months when kids are not in school and the subsidized school programs are not available. In 2012, the End Summer Hunger campaign served nearly 5,000 children in 2,300 homes. 

Hopelink President and CEO Marilyn Mason-Plunkett said End Summer Hunger helps families continue to move toward self-sufficiency by ensuring they have enough to eat and are able to focus their energies on getting back on their feet.

“Food is essential. It is a building block. When families are hungry, stability is impossible,” Mason-Plunkett said. 
“We know that consistent access to nutritious food enables our low-income families to direct their limited resources toward other basic needs – such as heat, transportation, and childcare – without worrying about whether their children have enough to eat,” she said. “And we know that having nutritious food and enough to eat is essential to helping kids learn, thrive and grow into healthy adults.”

In 2012, Hopelink’s five food banks provided nearly 2.7 million pounds of food to more than 15,000 people in the community. The End Summer Hunger program provides additional healthy breakfast and lunch-type foods to current food bank clients with school-aged children; including fresh fruit and fruit juices, peanut butter, cereal, ramen and snacks.

“Hopelink’s proven formula for addressing gaps in food security impacts thousands of families in Seattle, but hunger doesn’t take a summer break—it’s always in session,” said Bob Peters Seattle and Washington state president, Bank of America.  “The End Summer Hunger campaign reminds us that many families continue to struggle in this recovering economy, and that we can do something to improve the lives of those in our community, even if our own pantry is full.”

Bank of America is the presenting sponsor for End Summer Hunger 2013. In addition to Signature Sponsor First Tech Credit Union, Lead Sponsors are Labor Ready and Lakeside Industries. Major Sponsors are Concur Technologies, Central Market and AvalonBay Communities, and Supporting Sponsors are Bookey Consulting, BECU and Winshuttle.

Schools that support the End Summer Hunger program encourage children in classrooms to collect coins, while businesses, organizations and civic or community clubs hold food drives, fund drives, or both.

For more information on how to get involved in Hopelink’s End Summer Hunger campaign, contact Emily DeWitt.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County by promoting self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helping people make lasting change. Hopelink assists people with meeting their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. 

More information on Hopelink and its services, 425-869-6000.

Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work.


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Shoreline business competing in Hopelink Can Madness Food Drive

Wednesday, March 6, 2013


Toni / Guy Hairdressing Academy Back for a Second Year

Toni / Guy Hairdressing Academy of Shoreline is among 25 businesses competing in Hopelink’s fourth annual Can Madness competitive food drive to help stock the agency’s five food banks. The first weigh-in will take place Friday, March 8 and the competition will continue until the winner is crowned April 5.

The drive is patterned after the famous national spring college basketball tournament, matching businesses in weekly competitions to see which one can bring in the most food. Each week, the winning business in every bracket will advance to the following week. Last year, Toni / Guy Hairdressing Academy made it to the final four, before being defeated by Guild Mortgage of Kirkland. This year, the Shoreline business is taking on Kirkland’s Hallmark Realty in week one of the competition.

In 2012, a total of 32 businesses collected 23,535 pounds of food and more than $3,000 in cash donations to help feed local families who are working to get back on their feet. Three-time tournament winner Hancock’s Bakery in Redmond brought in a total of 7,590 pounds during the competition.

To ensure that businesses of all sizes are able to compete on a level playing field, the competition uses a unique scoring system: the total pounds of food donated by a business are divided by the total number of employees, resulting in a competitive “score.”

Teams are bracketed together in pairs and one winner from each 2-member bracket will advance to the following week.

Toni / Guy is the only business from the Shoreline / Lake Forest Park / Kenmore area in the competition.

The competition is in its fourth year and was the brainchild of Lake Washington Physical Therapy’s Ben Wobker as a way for local businesses to help stock Hopelink’s five food banks during the time when holiday donations traditionally taper off.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County by promoting self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helping people make lasting change. Hopelink assists people with meeting their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425.869.6000 or visit the webpage.


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Free adult ESL classes begin on March 7 in Shoreline

Tuesday, February 26, 2013




The spring session of Hopelink’s Free adult ESL classes in Shoreline will begin on Thursday, March 7. These classes focus on helping adults develop English communication skills to use in daily life in our community, to prepare for work, and to get ready for community college or training programs.

New student registration will be held at 6:20pm on Thursday, March 7 at Briarcrest Elementary School, 2715 NE 158th St, Shoreline 98155.

Questions? 425-250-3007 (English)


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