In collaboration with Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation, Teen Feed is expanding its meal program to serve youth and young adults in need in South Seattle, starting with a meal on Thursday, June 27, from 7 to 8 p.m. at South Shore K-8 School, 4800 S. Henderson St. (This is also the temporary location of Rainier Beach Community Center Teen Programs while the new community center is under construction.)
Teen Feed will provide warm meals and resources to youth and young adults ages 13 to 25 at South Shore K-8 School between 7 and 8 p.m. every Thursday evening during Seattle Parks and Recreation Summer Late Night Program. The Teen Feed meal will provide opportunities for Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation’s violence prevention programs to build relationships with the youth and young adults they serve, connecting them with valuable resources and critical support to help them make positive choices.
Teen Feed serves warm meals and support to between 50 and 80 young people every night of the year in Seattle’s University District. Building on the demonstrated success of its programs supporting homeless and street-involved youth in the University District, Teen Feed launched a strategic plan to bring the Teen Feed meal and supportive connections to more youth in need in King County. In June 2012, Teen Feed successfully expanded its meal program to serve 20 to 30 youth in need the Auburn area every Friday evening.
Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation are working together in support of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI), which intends to prevent victims of violence and their friends and relatives from continuing the cycle of violence. In support of SYVPI, Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation have teamed up to support youth affected by violence in the South Seattle community by offering prevention programs at South Shore K-8 School.
Programs include life skills classes, extramural physical activities and mental health support programs. Atlantic Street Center’s mental health program offers case management, mentoring and youth employment to young people ages 13 to 25. Last year Atlantic Street Center served more than 300 young people, most of whom are homeless and youth of color who do not have stable housing.
To serve the youth in need through SYVPI, Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation have established a common connection point to introduce youth to the services available and build stronger relationships with youth they currently support. Until now, there has been no consistent meal program designed to meet the needs of these young people in South Seattle.
To learn more about Teen Feed, visit www.teenfeed.org.
