FareStart

We continued to operate an expanded prepared meals program as well as a mobile community market to help decrease food insecurity in our communities, which had grown as a result of the pandemic. More than 1.5 million meals were prepared and delivered. Primary partner sites receiving hunger relief meals included downtown emergency service center, plymouth housing, schools, and free and reduced lunch distribution locations. Additionally, we distribute meals to clients of the seattle housing authority and king county housing authority.

Farestart provides consulting, training and resources to other nonprofit organizations across the country and technical assistance and training for workforce development nonprofit organizations across the country. In 2022, 250 organizations were supported and 233 communities were served.

Our food-based social enterprises serve as classrooms, where students gain valuable employment and self-empowerment skills that provide pathways into various culinary and food-based careers. Students learn and hone these skills in real-world situations while being in a supportive environment that includes wraparound social services such as housing, mental health support, transportation and more. In 2022, 254 youth and adult students enrolled in Farestart job training programs; 167 students graduated; and 88 job placements and promotions were facilitated. Throughout the covid pandemic, we have continued to evolve our job training programs to better meet the needs of our students and create pathways for personal stability and economic mobility. Most of the programming remained virtual throughout the year, but we also started welcoming back students onsite with the launch of our new food pathways program. 1)online learning program, which is a continuation of the virtual program that we developed early in the pandemic. The program provides adults 18+ years of age up to six weeks of virtual learning that is focused on transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of different industries. In 2022, 94 students enrolled. 2)food pathways program, an evolution of our former adult culinary program, provides adults 18+ years of age with up to six months of training. Students learn self-empowerment skills, financial literacy and other life skills while learning on-the-job skills within our food security programs that will prepare students for careers in culinary and other food-based industries. In 2022, 23 students enrolled. 3)barista & customer service program, which promotes education advancement and job readiness for young adults age 15 - 24 years of age. Students receive up to seven weeks of training working with expert baristas. In 2022, this program remained fully virtual. We partnered with seattle public schools' interagency academy and nova high school, y social impact center and gifts of hope. In 2022, 134 students enrolled.