Director's Note – June 2023

In April, Governor Jay Inslee signed three gun-safety measures into law. Collectively, the new laws will prohibit the sale and distribution of assault weapons, require safety training and a 10-day waiting period to purchase a firearm, and hold firearms retailers and manufacturers accountable for the harm their weapons can cause. These important steps will help to reduce gun violence in Washington state.

“Every day, more than 110 Americans are killed by gun violence, alongside more than 200 who are shot and wounded, and on average there are nearly 16,000 gun homicides in America every year.” That’s the first line in a Gun Violence Awareness Day proclamation from Mayor Harrell and the Seattle City Council, declaring June 2^nd to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day. I encourage you to read the whole document on the Council website.

June 18 is Father’s Day and I wish everyone who is a father or serves as a father figure all the best. In honor of Father’s Day, it’s my privilege to highlight two HSD-funded organizations that support healthy family relationships. FAST (Fathers and Sons Together) works to empower fathers to support healthy development for their sons. DADS (Divine Alternatives for Dads Services) is working to eradicate fatherlessness. Please take a moment to read more on their websites. Thank you for all you do!

June 19 is Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and issued an executive order freeing “all persons held as slaves” on January 1, 1863; however, the news of this order didn’t reach Galveston, Texas, on what was then the country’s western front, until June 19, 1865. One of our community partners—Creative Justice NW—is encouraging non-Black community members to join the “A Days Wage” campaign by donating the amount you earn on Juneteenth, as a paid holiday, to their organization or another Black-led organization. Actions like this support economic and racial justice.

Finally, June is also LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. The City of Seattle will celebrate our lesbian, gay, trans, and queer colleagues, friends, family, and community members by marching once again in the annual Pride Parade through Downtown Seattle. On Sunday, June 25, I will be walking with a large group of HSD and other City colleagues. Look for us handing out stickers! Get parade info and learn about other events happening all month long.

Best,

Tanya Kim

HSD Announces 2023 Launch of Summer Food Service Program

During the school year, thousands of Seattle Public Schools students receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch each day. However, when school lets out, many of these children face a higher risk for hunger, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Thanks to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), thousands of Seattle children ages 1 through 18 will enjoy FREE, nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks this season. This program is a critical part of the fight against hunger and our efforts to make sure children have a fun, safe, and healthy summer.

This summer we're making a big push to get the word out to kids, teens, and families because the program is still under-utilized even though the meals for kids are free and located at sites all over the community. These include designated community centers, parks, schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and YWCAs, and other community places throughout Seattle and parts of King County. The more parents, children, and teenagers who know about where sites are located, the more children will come to eat.

Summer meal service is just around the corner! In Seattle, the program runs from Wednesday, July 5 through Friday, August 25, 2023 due to the extended school year; but sites outside of City limits may open sooner. Check back later in June, when the map and phone hotlines will be updated with new 2023 sites!

Text “FOOD” or "COMIDA" to 304-304 or call the USDA Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY/1-877-8-HAMBRE to find a site near you anywhere in the country or visit www.FreeSummerMeals.org to find a map and information in 10 languages.

To learn more about HSD’s role or to become a future site, visit: http://seattle.gov/summerfood or http://www.summerfood.usda.gov/.

On Saturday, May 20, the community came together with City of Seattle Government for the second #OneSeattle Day of Service.

We want to thank the 15+ current and former contracted providers and Seattle Human Services staff (like HSD’s Andrea Yip and Andrea LaFazia-Geraghty, pictured at left) who turned out to host events or volunteer to keep Seattle clean and beautiful, including:

• African Community Housing & Development
• Children’s Home Society of Washington
• El Centro de la Raza
• FareStart
• Food Lifeline
• InterIm Community Development Association
• Mary’s Place Family Diversion Center
• North Helpline
• Operation Sack Lunch
• Rainier Beach Action Coalition
• Rainier Valley Food Bank
• SeaMar Health Center
• Solid Ground
• Sound Foundations NW
• Tilth Alliance
• White Center Food Bank

Learn how to get involved throughout the year at: http://seattle.gov/get-involved