Cedar Grove Composting Annual Golf Tournament in support of Banchero Disability Partners

Teeing Up for Change at the Cedar Grove Composting Annual Golf Tournament!

It's more than just a day on the greens, it's your opportunity to enjoy yourself while making a meaningful difference! Every swing contributes to Banchero Disability Partners and their efforts to empower individuals with disabilities. So, whether you’re an experienced golfer or simply joining for the experience, unite with us to transform each putt into a force for positive change!
Date: September 30, 2026
Location: The Golf Club at Newcastle 15500 Six Penny Ln, Newcastle, WA 98059
Time: 11am to 8pm
Register Now
Swing into action and be part of something amazing! It's about driving change and making an impact. Join us, support innovative programs, and help build a brighter, more inclusive future!

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Polaris Tickets Available Now for event to support combination of North Helpline and Hunger Intervention Program

We are excited to come together on Sunday, September 27th for the annual Polaris Benefit!

This year's Polaris will be a celebration of the combination of North Helpline and Hunger Intervention Program, along with introductions of our Co-Executive Directors, Darcy Buendia and Srijan Chakraborty, and the vision for North Seattle Food Connection (NSFC).

Join us on Sunday, September 27th at noon at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture for a Garden Party themed luncheon Polaris event. Together, we'll raise funds for a better future for all of our neighbors and make sure everyone in our community has a roof over their head and a meal on their plate.

Head on over to the event website to purchase individual tickets and table reservations

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Ballinger Thriftway Summer Giving Tree raises funds for Vision House

THANK YOU, COMMUNITY!

 
Because of your generosity and support of our Summer Giving Tree, we are going to donate $1,200 in cash donations + $550 in grocery gift cards to @visionhouseseattle 

Every donation helps support children and families in need, and we are so grateful for everyone who gave!

Thank you for showing what an amazing community we have!

Ballinger Thriftway 20150 Ballinger Way NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

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Shoreline Library Community Resource Fair September 4, 2026 for community members in need of support

Friday, September 4, 2026 from 10am-2pm, the Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th Street, Shoreline WA 98155, 206-362-7550 will hold a free Community Resource Fair for local adults who are in need of support.

Social service providers will be available to help connect attendees with resources such as healthcare, education, legal clinics and more!

Participating agencies may include: 

• Akin, 
• Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC), 
• City of Shoreline, 
• Crisis Connections, 
• Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington, 
• King County Bar Association, 
• King County DCHS SCOPE Team, 
• North Helpline, 
• Northwest Neighbors Network, 
• Seattle King County Public Health - Access & Outreach, 
• Seattle Public Utilities, 
• Seattle Veterinary Outreach, 
• Shoreline Community Care, 
• Shoreline College, 
• Shoreline Fire Department: Mobile Integrated Health Unit, 
• Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center, 
• Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), 
• Washington State Department of Revenue: Working Families Tax Credit, 
• and others.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.

Registration not required.

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The Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter - A True Community Success Story

By Donna Hawkey
Photos submitted by Aurora Oaks Shelter

The Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter, located in the City of Shoreline, “should serve as a model for addressing homelessness. It has many assets and is a major community success,” said Interim Executive Director Sue Bennett. Lake City Partners for Ending Homelessness manages the Aurora Oaks shelter and three other programs.

Entrance

The Aurora Oaks is exceptional for its sleeping rooms, each with a door that provides safety and quiet. Private rooms for couples and the ability to welcome small dogs and cats are also notable. Couple rooms are very scarce in an already highly constrained system, so Lake City Partners prioritized this expansion to support partner stability, according to Thomas Burnside, Director of Client Services.

Double room

A typical room with a door to support healthy sleep and dignity, which every human deserves.

Over the past three years, Aurora Oaks staff has placed 250 clients in permanent housing and expanded its programs and reach. Mr. Burnside said, “Aurora Oaks has increased the number of clients we can help by approximately 15% this year, enabling us to support 33% more service partnerships than in previous years. This growth reflects both strengthened collaboration across our network and expanded capacity.”

This also puts Aurora Oaks among the highest-performers for permanent housing placement in our region!

It’s a drug-free environment that provides instruction and guidance to drive change. Change that will set a client up for success in their life going forward. It’s an expensive model, but data show how powerful it is, how cost-effective it can be for taxpayers in the long run, and that its positive impact on the community is priceless.

“The Aurora Oaks is an amazing place. A strong, holistic, collaborative approach that honors health, healing, and dignity, along with the ability to place couples, is all too rare,” Mr. Burnside said.

Green space

Green space and a welcoming entrance for all.

One of its primary successes is due to the “most dedicated, caring, success-oriented, and effective staff I’ve ever seen, who do whatever it takes to properly support a person,” according to Mr. Burnside.

Aurora Oaks staff

Here are the remarkable staff members who operate the Aurora Oaks Shelter, the Community Outreach Street Program, the GLA Day Center, and the Heron Haven Senior Women’s Center.

Mr. Burnside especially admires clients for their incredible hard work in dealing with the traumas that led to homelessness and the traumas of life on the street. The Aurora Oaks staff and its partners build trust with clients so they can envision a different future. “Collaborative, integrated partnerships with the City of Shoreline, staff, police officers, and RCR (Regional Crisis Response Agency) have been a core and valuable component of Aurora Oaks’ success.

Common area for meeting and socializing

Common area for meetings and socializing.

“We know funding is tight, but if we want to truly end homelessness in the most effective way, let’s find ways to buy more nursing homes and hotels and create more enhanced shelters like the Aurora Oaks in as many places as possible,” said Ms Bennett.

Raising money is ongoing to continue to offer a safe and healthy shelter. If you can donate, please do so. 

Current needs are:

• A security camera update to better protect everyone who calls the shelter their home.
• Lyft rides to help people get to critical medical appointments, job interviews, housing meetings, and other essential services.
• Pet crates for shelter participants’ cherished companions. The Oaks is among the few shelters that welcome small dogs and cats.

Donate here

Learn more about the Aurora Oaks shelter and Lake City Partners at this link

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Hunger Intervention Program van stolen, offices burglarized and vandalized

One van was stolen; the other has a broken window

Photos courtesy Hunger Intervention Program HIP

Between Saturday (7/25) afternoon and Sunday (7/26) morning, the office of the Hunger Intervention Program housed at the Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123rd St, Seattle, was broken into.

Windows in the offices and in their van, parked outside, were broken. Desks and cabinets were ransacked.

The burglars stole multiple laptops, van keys, and one of their vans.

The rest of the building appears untouched and unharmed, with no external damage.

Some of their programs were delayed and under-resourced as coordinators tried to work around the damage and stolen vehicle. Nevertheless, they were able to serve meals as usual.

The Seattle Police Department has filed a report and is investigating the missing van.

If you see a white van with HIP decals in a place it doesn’t belong, please contact info@hungerintervention.org or contact the Seattle Police Department (206) 625-5011 or 911.

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Ballinger Thriftway collecting donations for Vision House

Giving Tree for Vision House inside Ballinger Thriftway

Ballinger Thriftway has set up a Summer Giving Treein the store to collect donations for @visionhouseseattle.

Vision House is in need of some help for the summer season. Many families are experiencing difficulties and could use some help from our community.

Simply pick a tag from the giving tree with your desired donation and head to checkout! The donation will be added to your total at checkout. 

Donations go directly to @visionhouseseattle and go straight towards helping families with essential needs like gas, groceries, and more.

Ballinger Thriftway is located in Ballinger Village at 20150 Ballinger Way NE, Shoreline WA 98155

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North Helpline and Hunger Intervention Program combine to form North Seattle Food Connection

Two established social service organizations are combining forces. Both have a focus on addressing food insecurity.

North Helpline (NH) and the Hunger Intervention Program (HIP) will combine to form North Seattle Food Connection. The combined organization will expand access to nutritious food, prepared meals, and daily essentials—creating a more comprehensive, community-centered system of support for neighbors across North Seattle and beyond.

By bringing together complementary services—North Helpline’s food bank, grocery delivery, homelessness prevention, and client services with HIP’s prepared meal programs, nutrition education, food justice advocacy, and meal delivery—the new organization will better address both immediate hunger and long-term household stability.

Together, the organizations aim to make a broader and deeper impact than either could achieve alone.

Darcy Buendia and Srijan Chakraborty, HIP’s Co-Executive Directors, will co-lead the new organization, and the boards of directors of the two organizations will also combine. Over the next few months, more details will be finalized. 

However, we want to emphasize that all services will continue without interruption. Program participants will continue to access food, prepared meals, daily essentials, and support services as they do today, with a focus on maintaining trusted relationships and consistent care.

"For HIP, our mission has always been about more than meals—it’s about nourishing people and building community through food," said Emily Johnson, President, Hunger Intervention Program Board of Directors.

"By aligning with North Helpline, we can extend that impact and connect more people to the meals, food, advocacy, and essential services they need while also strengthening the fabric of our North Seattle community. We are grateful for the partners, volunteers, and supporters who make this work possible."

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Shoreline KidVantage greatest needs for July

KidVantage updated list of the Shoreline Hub's greatest needs for July!

The Shoreline Hub team prepares orders for an average of 200 children each month in partnership with school districts, early learning centers, housing, early intervention services, emergency services, food banks, maternal and infant health. 

Most of what we provide children is provided by YOU. Your donations of new or quality used clothing, shoes, baby gear, toys, books and more help to fill nearly 200 orders of essentials for children and expectant moms each week.

This list offers donors an idea of how they can help, but the donations KidVantage accepts are not limited to these items.

Information on the items that KidVantage does and does not accept can be found here

Shoreline KidVantage Hub

• Address 17230 12th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
• Phone Number (425) 209-1136
• Email Address infoshoreline@kidvantagenw.org

Donation Hours

• Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. - noon
• Saturdays 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Donation Sign-Ups

• Schedule a time

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North Helpline Block Party July 10, 2026

North Helpline Block Party

Come to our Lake City Food Bank on Friday July 10, 2026 from 12pm - 4pm to enjoy FREE FOOD and LIVE PERFORMANCES while celebrating our Lake City community!
When: Friday, July 10, 2026 12pm-4pm
Where: 12736 33rd Ave NE - Right outside of our Lake City location!
Who: This fun event is for our community: neighbors, kids, volunteers, and supporters are all welcome.

Oh, and did we mention that this party is TOTALLY FREE so spread the word, and come celebrate our community over a shared meal and shared laughter. The Block Party is in partnership with the Neighborhood Matching Fund.

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$550,000 in Grants available for Gesa Credit Union’s Local Heroes Grant Program

Gesa Local Hero program

Gesa, a leading credit union in the Pacific Northwest dedicated to driving meaningful change in the communities it serves, has announced it is now accepting applications for its 2026 Local Heroes Grant Program through July 31, 2026.

Local organizations that support one or more of Gesa’s recognized local heroes groups, including firefighters, healthcare workers, law enforcement, educators and Veterans, are encouraged to apply for individual grants of up to $50,000 to assist their continued service.

“The Local Heroes Grant Program is a great example of how our members join us in supporting meaningful causes throughout the communities we serve,” said Amber Merrill, Community Relations Manager at Gesa Credit Union.

“These local heroes make our communities a better and safer place, and we’re proud to support them in making a difference.”

Funding for the grants comes from Gesa’s Affinity Debit Card Program, which allows members to support their chosen local heroes category with every swipe. Funds generated through the program are collected and awarded annually by the Gesa Community Foundation.

Since 2021, the Local Heroes Grant Program has provided more than $2.2 million in grants to local educators, firefighters, healthcare workers, law enforcement and Veterans. Last year alone, the program distributed more than $528,000 across 52 grants, marking the largest single-year total in program history.

Grant applicants must show proof that the funds will directly benefit at least one of the specified local heroes groups in a Gesa community, newly defined this year as a community where Gesa has field of membership. The grant application period closes July 31, 2026.

For more information on grant eligibility and to apply, visit this page.

Gesa Credit Union is one of Washington's largest credit unions, with $6.7 billion in assets, and is more than 320,000 members strong. Gesa is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and is a full-service financial institution that offers a complete array of consumer, mortgage, and business products and services. 

Headquartered in Richland, Washington, Gesa operates 46 branches, loan centers, full-service student-operated campus branches at Washington State University, and 25 student-operated high school branches across Washington state

The Gesa Community Foundation, established in 2022, further supports Gesa's ongoing commitment to local communities and charitable giving, which includes support for schools, Local Heroes groups, and community organizations through its Affinity Debit Card Program, as well as through its annual youth scholarships, and free financial and educational resources available to members and the general public.

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Calvin Presbyterian Free Community Advocacy Dinner features NUHSA on May 18, 2026

Calvin Presbyterian Church is hosting another Community Advocacy Dinner on May 18, 2026 at 6pm. We will be joined by NUHSA, the North Urban Human Services Alliance, and hear more about what they do and how we might get involved in the work they are doing here in Shoreline and beyond. 

That evening's menu will include BBQ ribs and chicken, pasta salad, and a special dessert.

Come learn how you can help make Shoreline a better place for all those who call it home. 

Our dinners will take a break for the Summer but return in September.

Calvin Presbyterian Church 18826 3rd Ave NW, Shoreline WA 98177

RSVP to norm@calvinpc.org

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Support Shoreline nonprofits during GiveBIG 2026 campaign

Calling all residents, neighbors, and local supporters to come together in support of Shoreline-area nonprofits during the 2026 GiveBIG Campaign. 

This statewide day of giving provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting organizations that serve, connect, and uplift the Shoreline community every day.

Here’s a list of Shoreline nonprofits participating in GiveBIG 2026 and links to donate:

Shoreline Famers Market
Building community through fresh, local food while supporting farmers, small businesses, and food access for all.

Shoreline Historical Museum
Preserving and sharing Shoreline’s stories to connect past, present, and future generations.

Seattle Area Feline Rescue
Saving and improving the lives of cats through rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption programs.

Shoreline Community College Foundation
Empowering students through scholarships and resources that create pathways to education and opportunity.

Friends of the Shoreline Public Library
Supporting programs, resources, and experiences that keep our library a vibrant hub for learning and connection.

KidVantage
Helping children thrive by providing essential items like clothing, diapers, and gear to families in need.

Hopelink
Fighting poverty and building stability through food, housing, and vital support services for our neighbors.

Community members are encouraged to participate by donating directly to these organizations, sharing their missions, and helping amplify their impact throughout the GiveBIG campaign. Every contribution—no matter the size—helps strengthen the fabric of our community. Supporting local nonprofits is one of the most direct ways we can invest in our local community.

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Pack the Park and the Pantries May 9, 2026

By Rob Oxford

Children seldom realize how difficult it can be for parents to feed their families. Especially a single parent on a tight budget. It’s hardly a topic discussed openly at the dinner table and never on the playground. It's definitely not something of which a parent is particularly proud. Instead, a parent suffers in silence. Worrying about where their child’s next meal will come from.

With food prices constantly on the rise and income barely keeping pace with inflation, “Food Insecurity” is of real concern to many in our community. Affecting 13.7% of U.S. Households in 2024.

Driven by poverty, unemployment and high living costs, Food Insecurity causes severe health issues and as indicated above, mental strain. Given the current socio economic climate in our country, now is an extremely difficult time for many.

However, now is also the perfect time to help.

Coming up May 9, 2026 join your fellow Super Heroes at Animal Acres Park for “Pack the Park”. A 5K Fun Run and Walk.

Pack The Park 5k/Fun Run 2026

For the past 10 years, “Pack the Park” has raised nearly $35,000 to help fight food insecurity in the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park Communities. 

It supports programs such as The Shoreline School District's “Angel Fund” which helps pay negative meal balances for students in need and the Third Place Commons Farmers Market Bucks.

LFP Farmers Market.
Photo by Rob Oxford

The LFP Farmers Market has been a vibrant part of the local community for nearly two decades. 

It opens each year on Mother’s Day in the Town Center parking lot adjacent to the Lake Forest Park City Hall at 17425 Ballinger Way NE.

The Market offers farm-fresh produce, seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, pasta, baked goods, wine and hard cider, hot foods, sweet treats and savory snacks.

Their “Market Bucks” offers the opportunity for our neighbors who need it most to benefit from the fresh, healthy foods available from the Market's many vendors. 

The hours of operation are 10am – 2pm each Sunday through October and this writer suggests getting there early for the best selection.

Farmers Market - Third Place Commons

Whether you choose to run, walk or like me prefer a more stationary approach to living, lace up your running shoes or grab a camping chair and join us May 9th for "Pack the Park." You WILL make a difference.

2025 Pack the Park

Volunteers are always needed and there can be no better way to meet or reconnect with like-minded neighbors concerned with the betterment of our community.

A portion of every registration and 100% of all donations go to support the programs mentioned above.

Let's "Pack the Park".

Donate directly to the Shoreline Angel Fund: 

• email nutrition.services@ssd412.org or 
• call Food Services at 206-393-4209.

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