Free School Supplies Programs

Hi. If you or someone you know have school age children and can’t afford to buy school supplies this year, there are a number of free back to school events and programs where kids can get free school supplies.

The following programs require registration; There are also a number of one-day free school supply events with no registration required in mid August, which I will send out next week.

• Hopelink has free school supplies for children attending the Lake Washington, Riverview, Skykomish, Snoqualmie Valley, or Sultan School Districts. Register online here or complete a registration form at any Hopelink Center. Register by August 6^th.
•  Black Diamond Community Center coordinates a one-day event, providing area families with free backpacks and school supplies. Walk in to their main office 31605 3rd Ave. to fill out an application to register by Monday, Aug. 12.
• Center for Human Services helps coordinate a program for Shoreline School District students with free school supplies and clothes. Register by Aug. 13. Call (206) 362-7282.
•  Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank helps children in the Issaquah School District who need extra assistance. Fill out an application before July 31. Pick up date is Aug. 24. Call (425) 392-4123
• Maple Valley Food Bank & Emergency Services provides backpacks filled with school supplies to school-age children living in the city of Covington and the Tahoma School District. Pre-registration will be during food pantry hours from July 29 through Aug. 22 at 21415 Maple Valley Hwy.
• Salvation Army – East King provides school supplies to low-income children of families in East King County. Accepting applications through mid. August. Call (425) 452-7300.
• Salvation Army – Federal Way/ Des Moines offers limited school supplies for children in Federal Way School District and Des Moines, south of 216th. Apply after Aug. 10 call (253) 946-7933.
• Salvation Army – Kent provides school supplies to children in Kent, Auburn, Covington, Algona and Pacific. Call (253) 852-4983 in early August.
• Salvation Army – North Seattle offers limited school supplies for children in North Seattle. Families must be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. Sign-up currently open. Call (206) 783-1226 Ext.13

Take care!

Content courtesy of 2-1-1 Resource Talk

Fresh Bucks 2 for 1 Farmers Market Program

If you or someone you know could use help affording fresh fruits and vegetables this season, I want to let you know about the Fresh Bucks program, which provides matching funds for food stamp users buying fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets.  It supports people on food stamps getting fresh produce instead of packaged foods (which can be easier to access and cheaper, but less healthy) and stretches your food budget, while supporting local farmers. If you use SNAP, here's more info on how to use the program.

The Fresh Bucks program provides up to a $10 bonus match, for a minimum of $10 of EBT benefits redeemed, at participating Seattle-area Farmers Markets:

The program is available at 15 Seattle farmers markets and 2 farm stands including:

Tues	City Hall – Tues, 10am-2pm; 4th Ave between James & Cherry
Wed	Pioneer Square – Wed, 10am-2pm; Occidental Ave S & S Washington St Columbia City – Wed, 3pm-7pm; Edmunds St between 37th Ave & the Alley at 36th Wallingford – Wed, 3:30pm-7pm; Meridian Park, corner of N 50th and Meridian Ave N High Point Farm Stand - Wed, 4pm-7pm; 32nd Ave SW and SW Juneau St
Thu	South Lake Union – Thurs, 10am-2pm; Terry Ave between Republican & Harrison Lake City – Thurs, 2:30pm-7:30pm; NE 125th and 28th Ave NE Queen Anne – Thurs, 3pm-7pm; Queen Anne Ave & West Crockett St
Fri	Phinney – Fri, 3pm-7pm; 67th and Phinney Ave N Madrona – Fri, 3pm-7pm; Madrona Grocery Outlet, MLK & E Union St NewHolly Farm Stand– Fri, 4pm-7pm; 42nd S & S Rockery
Weekend Markets	Pike Place Market – Fri-Sun, 8am-4pm; Farmers Market University District – Sat, 9am-2pm; University Way NE & NE 50th St Magnolia – Sat, 10am-2pm; W McGraw St at 33rd Ave W Ballard – Sun, 10am-3pm; Ballard Ave, between Vernon Pl & 22nd Ave West Seattle – Sun, 10am-2pm; 4th Ave SW & SW Alaska St Broadway – Sun, 11am-3pm; Broadway Ave E & E Pine St

When you swipe your EBT card at the farmers market info booth, you will be given up to a $10 bonus match for a minimum of $10 of EBT you use at the market.  This program started the week of July 8^th and will end October 31.  Last year the city piloted the Fresh Bucks program at 7 farmers markets and it was so popular and successful they expanded the program this year to all 17 farmers markets in the city of Seattle. For low-income individuals, cost is a barrier to eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Fresh Bucks helps reduce that burden while supporting the local economy.

• Find the Fresh Bucks sign at the Market’s Info Tent
• Swipe your benefits card and receive matching funds in Fresh Bucks currency
• Buy more fresh fruits and vegetables

For more information visit wafarmersmarkets.com/freshbucks or email freshbucks@wafarmersmarkets.com.

Poverty Action TANF/SFA Listening Session 7/23 & Advocacy Training 7/24

Have you received TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or State Family Assistance (SFA) anytime during the past three years? If so, do you have ideas of how to improve the program? The Statewide Poverty Action Network would like to invite you to join them for a listening session to share your personal story and ideas on how to improve TANF, child care, and customer service at DSHS. They are an advocacy organization working to improve safety net programs, like TANF, by advocating for policy solutions that help Washingtonians thrive.

The listening session will be held on Tuesday, July 23 from 2:30-4:30pm at the 2100 Building in Seattle’s Central District (2100 24th Ave S). Food, childcare, and a $20 dollar stipend will be provided for participants. Please call Poverty Action toll free to register at 1-866-789-7726.

To make sure participants have an opportunity to speak out to their lawmakers, they’ll also be holding a free advocacy training and lawmaker meeting the following day, Wednesday, July 24 from 2:30-4:30 pm at the 2100 Building in Seattle’s Central District. This training is open to anyone who would like to speak out to their lawmakers and share their ideas of how to improve safety net programs. Please call Poverty Action toll free for more information at 1-866-789-7726 or email info@povertyaction.org.

TANF/SFA Listening Session 

Tues. 7/23

2:30-4:30 pm

2100 24th Ave S

Seattle, WA 98144

Advocacy Training

2:30-4:30 pm

2100 24th Ave S

Seattle, WA 98144

Metro buses 48, 7, 9, and 4 will get you there

Free Tenant's Rights Workshop 7/23

Want to know more about your rights as a renter? Wondering how to get your deposit back or request a repair? Would you like to know how the new changes in the laws impact renters? Solid Ground Tenant Counselors are hosting a FREE Rent Smart Workshop for the community next Tuesday, July 23rd, 5-7pm, at Bellevue City Hall.

At this tenant’s rights workshop, they will provide information about the landlord-tenant laws in Washington State and discuss the laws and ordinances that apply throughout the housing search process, move-in, during tenancy, move-out and eviction. Bring your questions!

Since there is no agency that enforces the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act in our state, it is largely up to tenants to understand the laws and know their rights in order to take appropriate action to effectively enforce them. They will talk about some tips and best practices for renters to help you assert your rights and have a successful tenancy – whether you are signing a rental agreement, requesting repairs or have questions about your privacy rights.

Especially with recent changes and additions to the laws, challenging situations can arise for tenants. For example, the laws around tenant screening changed in 2012 and 2013, requiring landlords to provide written notice of their screening criteria before they screen a tenant that has applied for housing (see their Tenant Tip from March 2012 for more information). If a tenant is unaware of this law or the changes, they could be unfairly denied housing without knowing why. There are remedies available to tenants if a landlord is not complying with the laws, but tenants have to know those remedies are available in order to use them. Knowing the laws and what steps to take, tenants can take action to correct the problem.

If you would to attend the workshop, please RSVP to the Solid Ground Tenant Services Workshop & Advocacy Line at 206.694.6748 or email tenantwa@solid-ground.org.

Free Rent Smart Workshop
Tuesday, July 23rd
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Bellevue City Hall
Room 1E-108
450 110th Ave. NE,
Bellevue, WA 98009
Metro Buses 226, 232, 234, 235, 237, 240, 241, 243, 246, 249, 271, 280, 342, 532, 535, 560, 555, 566, 567, 887, and RapidRide B Line will take you there.

For more information, visit the website www.solid-ground.org/Tenant or call 206.694.6767.

Baby Boost Info Fair 7/18

If you or someone you know are pregnant or have children under age 5, I want to let you know about the free Baby Boost Info Fair next Thursday July 18th at West Seattle Food Bank from 930 to 1130.

This FREE event is especially for parents on a limited income!

At this Baby Boost Information Fair, you can…

• Learn about health and nutrition resources for you and your children.

• Connect with important parenting programs and social service agencies.

• Get free items for infants & toddlers (including feeding and hygiene products).

Baby Boost Information Fairs provide low-income parents with important nutritional and health information and one-on-one connections to service providers and community resources. Families coming to Baby Boost Fairs receive free useful items like diapers, baby bottles, food grinders, sippy cups, and baby hygiene products.

Typical Baby Boost presenters include:

• WIC (Women, Infants & Children)

• Child Care Resources

• Head Start

• NISSA –SIDS - (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

• Connect Up

• Financial Fitness

• Public Health

• Amerigroup

• Parent Trust

• Lettuce Link – seed distribution


To register for the event, please call Mary at 206.694.6755.


South West Seattle Baby Boost Info Fair

West Seattle Food Bank,

3419 SW Morgan St, Seattle, 98126

Metro Bus routes 21 and 128 will get you there

Thursday, July 18th

9:30am – 11:30am

Take care!

Diversity Employment Day Career Fair 7/9

If you or someone you know are looking for work, I want to let you know about the Diveristy Employment Career Fair next Tuesday July 9th at the Showare Center in Kent from 11 to 3.

Top Seattle, Kent, King County and Washington companies will be participating in the 13th annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair, on Tuesday July 9th at the ShoWare Center.

Participating companies include: CDG A Boeing Company, Fred Meyer, Liberty Mutual, Seattle Children’s Hospital, King County Department, of Transportation, Holland America Line, Esterline/Korry Electronics, Comcast Cable, Allstate Insurance Company, B&T Group, City of Bellevue, Howard S. Wright, King County Housing Authority, Washington State Employees Credit Union, Prudential, Radio Disney, Sleep Train Inc., University of Washington, True Blue & Labor Ready, US Coast Guard, Turner Construction Company, Bellevue College, Bonneville Seattle, Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, Pierce College, Entercom Seattle, KCPQ/KZJO, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Radio Disney, Salem Communications and more.

Participants can pre-schedule their interviews prior to attending and not have to wait in line. Select a company from the website and send a resume to fasttrack@citycareerfair.com with "WA" in the subject line. Admission to the event is free, but business attire and resumes are required.

Diversity Employment Day Career Fair

Tuesday, July 9,

11am – 3pm

ShoWare Center
625 W James St
Kent, WA 98032

Metro bus routes 150, 158, 159, 166, 180, 183, 566, 913, 914 & 916 go there.

Good luck!