Nonprofit FareStart Makes Meals for Those in Quarantine and Isolation Due to COVID-19
As Seattle continues to deal with repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, one nonprofit in the food scene has shifted resources to address the emergency. Seattle’s FareStart — which offers restaurant service jobs training to people struggling with poverty, addiction, homelessness, or a criminal record — closed down its Downtown restaurant temporarily March 13. But it’s now using that kitchen, as well as three others, to make meals for shelters, quarantine and isolation centers, and facilities housing a population that’s particularly vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, in partnership with King County.
FareStart’s students are still receiving job training and support, but the focus for the organization is in ramping up its other services. Last week, the nonprofit says it provided more than 20,000 meals — almost 2,000 more than the usual weekly volume — to Seattle area shelters and isolation facilities, redeploying students and staff. It also plans to increase this effort in the coming weeks, trying to scale up to 15,000 meals per day.
This week, FareStart is also scheduled to begin providing meals to new childcare sites for youth who are low income or are children of COVID-19 first responders in partnership with Alliance for Education.
In order to comply with CDC and King County health regulations, FareStart tells Eater Seattle that — in addition to increased sanitary measures — it is using its kitchens and part of the now-shuttered restaurant space to provide social distancing for students and chefs. Most of the meals are delivered via drop-off, and are then distributed by the individual facilities and shelters.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/nonprofit-farestart-makes-meals-for-those-in-quarantine-and-isolation-due-to-covid-19/ar-BB11EPv5?ocid=hplocalnews