ReachingOut - FINDING JOY - Hopelink
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ReachingOut
The magazine of Hopelink Spring 2022
HOPELINK
DRIVERS: A
PASSION FOR
SERVICE
page 6
_______________
2021 EVENTS &
CAMPAIGNS
page 9
__________________
STAYING THE
COURSE DURING
A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC
page 14
FINDING
JOY
page 11
Donate online at hopelink.org 1
Cover Story
Marian is an upbeat and active mother and grandmother who had
never reached out for assistance before her husband’s sudden
passing. Learn how Hopelink became a part of Marian's story,
beginning on page 11.
In This Issue: Our Vision:
A Community Free of Poverty
4 | Message from the CEO
Join Hopelink's
What's New
4 | Community in Action social network today.
All five Hopelink centers are about to welcome our neighbors
back inside!
6 | Hopelink drivers
Every Hopelink food bank is about to become a “Hopelink
Credits Board of Directors
Market,” providing enhanced customer service and innovation.
8 | Microsoft partnership Kris Betker Penny Sweet Racheal Chhong
Learn more in the next issue of Reaching Out.
Editor Board Chair
Manka Dhingra
Dr. Catherine Cushinberry Nickhath Sheriff
Pearl Leung It’s been two years since Hopelink staff took on a global
Hopelink CEO Board Vice Chair
9 | 2021 events & campaigns Contributor
Drew Magill
Doris McConnell pandemic. Unprecedented demand for services required
Dr. Mark Smutny Past Board Chair Aaron Morrow innovation, flexibility and a total commitment to helping our
Contributor Lynne Robinson
Chris Gehkre
community weather the storm.
11 | Cover story Craig Gundersen Treasurer Tana Senn
Contributor Paul Graves Byron Shutz Learn about Hopelink’s response to a world turned upside
Meryl Alcabes Photography Secretary
Client photos Vandana Slatter down – including what it meant to be an essential worker, how
Cheré Bautista
14 | Pandemic response Corri Blair Lillian Strothers we helped ensure that everyone stayed safe and one staffer’s
Mark Berry
Design Maria Trujilo
Angela Birney connection to Hurricane Harvey – beginning on page 14.
18 | Preventing food insecurity
Reaching Out is a publication of Hopelink. All Rights Reserved.
20 | Equity Matters
Hopelink takes all reasonable steps to ensure the information in
Reaching Out is current and accurate and does not assume any
22 | Government & Business legal liability or responsibility for content.
24 | 2021 donor list
26 | Hopelink Then & Now
2 Donate online at hopelink.org 3
Connected to community Veterans of Foreign Wars in Redmond holds
breakfast fundraiser
Message from the CEO
In December, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Redmond held a “Breakfast with
It’s been a year since I arrived and very real. Santa” event in support of Hopelink. Members made breakfast and invited
in the Pacific Northwest, eager their neighbors to come visit Santa, while also asking for food donations for
We are not alone in this effort.
to begin my service as Hopelink Hopelink’s Redmond center. Their drive was a great success!
We are part of a community
CEO. I knew that with so many
that cares for each other. The
of our neighbors affected by the
kindness and compassion I see
pandemic, nothing was more
every single day – from our
important than being there for
volunteers and staff, and from
them in the months ahead.
our partners, community leaders
Leading the organization
began with grounding myself
and establishing roots in the
and generous supporters – fuel
my spirit and inspire our work. I
am grateful for each of you.
Community The Gymnastics Connection
community – connecting and
learning as much as possible. I
spent time getting to know the
A few months ago, as I was
flying back from a trip and
in Action The Gymnastics Connection in Kirkland held food drives throughout the holiday season to support Hopelink’s Stock the
Shelves campaign. Together with their community of supporters, The Gymnastics Connection collected more than 1,000
pounds of food for Hopelink food banks.
nearing Seattle, I spotted the
organization, staff, community December-March 2021
top of Mount Rainer above the
members and the beautiful
clouds. I was in complete awe.
cultures represented in this area. Silverback Therapeutics
It’s a beautiful sight. As soon as Beach House Greetings
Along the way, I also visited I saw it, I smiled and thought, Local biopharmaceutical company Silverback Therapeutics
parks, local attractions and hiking “I’m home.” There was a sense Beach House Greetings in Shoreline has
held a competition-based online fundraiser for Hopelink
trails – one of which included my of comfort that came with that created an annual holiday ornament since
during the holiday season, raising funds to provide gift
first “bears have been spotted in thought. Seeing “The Mountain” 2014, with 100% of the proceeds going to
cards for Hopelink families. Departments within the
this area” sign! brought about feelings of being a local nonprofit organization. This year,
company were all-in during the effort, together exceeding
where I am supposed to be and Hopelink was fortunate to be chosen as the
their goal multiple times after the bar was raised higher to
Nothing I have learned – bear recipient of the sale’s proceeds.
a sense of connectedness to this challenge their employees.
warnings aside – has been a
community.
surprise. For more than 50
years, Hopelink has been doing Thank you for your warm Kingsgate Skating Club
great and important work in our welcome, and for all you do for
Kingsgate Skating Club has raised funds
FedEx
community, responding to a need the community we share.
for our services that is significant online and held food drives for Hopelink for #FedExCares has been committed to Hopelink’s mission
the past eight years – including the recent for more than 15 years. When the call went out to help
holiday season, when the group held both a Stock the Shelves at Hopelink food banks in December, Jan
food drive and an online fundraiser. Schiffner, FedEx market sales manager for Washington,
Yours in service, Oregon and Minnesota quickly joined the campaign. After
she shared information with her coworkers, the FedEx team
For sponsorship opportunities,
collected more than 800 pounds of food for Hopelink food
please contact: Vasheti Quiros
425.952.3066 | vquiros@hopelink.org banks.
Dr. Catherine Cushinberry
Hopelink CEO For food and fund drives,
please contact: Isabel Hoggatt
425.897.3710 | ihoggatt@hopelink.org
4 Donate online at hopelink.org 5
Hopelink drivers: for Tri-County Cabulance, discovered his passion
for helping people get to and from medical
a passion for service
appointments when family and friends needed
similar services.
“An opportunity to help people in these situations
get the same respect I would want family and
friends to receive makes this more than just a job,”
Donelson says.
Helping people and interacting with clients is also
what drives Cindy Molina, who has been with Medi
Ride, Inc. for 11 years.
Cindy Molina
“I very much enjoy helping people,” Molina said.
“And at the end of my day, I feel good knowing that
I safely transported clients to their appointments. I
feel like I’m doing something of value.”
Molina says she also loves to drive, which isn’t a
bad thing for someone who averages about 1,200
miles per week.
Throughout the pandemic, all three drivers have
continued to transport passengers, while taking
extra steps to keep everyone safe – including
Karla Ferreira making sure their vehicles are clean and sanitized
and ensuring that they and their passengers are
always properly masked.
One crisp winter morning, Karla
Ferreira started her day in Auburn,
years of a global pandemic changed
only the process, not the service.
they stepped up. “You just need to be cautious and protect yourself
drove clients to Seattle Children’s, Among the most essential of essential The drivers are true and others at all times,” Molina said.
drove back to Auburn, and then
north again to the Seattle Cancer Care
workers, the drivers kept going.
heroes,” Wooley Donelson agrees.
Wayne Donelson
Alliance Proton Therapy Center at
Hopelink’s Bill Wooley, who serves as said. “I make every effort to keep myself, family and
Contracts Specialist for NEMT, didn’t clients safe, while also respecting everyone’s strong
Northwest Hospital … all before noon.
know what to expect when the Ferreira loves her job, and it shows.
opinions on the need for masks, vaccinations and
A typical day? Sometimes. As one of pandemic hit in early 2020. Even masked, her smile is infectious.
social distancing,” he said.
nearly 400 drivers for Hopelink’s Non- A long-time driver who has worked
Emergency Medical Transportation “For the first for Northwest Transport in Kent since Despite the challenges brought by a global
August 2020, she enjoys helping pandemic, Donelson said he is proud that he’s been
(NEMT) brokerage service – which
provides rides in Snohomish and King
48 hours, we others, as well as interacting with her able to serve his community.
Counties for medical services covered wondered: ‘Will passengers.
“This is a great service that is very much
by Medicaid – Ferreira rarely knows
exactly where she will be during any
drivers still want “The thing I enjoy most about my job appreciated,” he said. “It’s an honor to be able to
given day. When one trip ends, she to do this, with the is getting to help others and getting
to know the clients, and – hopefully –
assist in these efforts.”
gets her next assignment – much like
potential risks?’ bringing some joy to their day.”
Hopelink’s NEMT drivers are contracted to provide
rideshare services Uber and Lyft. service through the state Health Care Authority. For
But they did … Wayne Donelson, an eight-year driver more information or to schedule a ride, visit
Picture
For description
Ferreira and the other drivers, two
goes here hopelink.org/medicaid-transportation.
6 Bill Wooley Donate online at hopelink.org 7
Hopelink partnership with Hopelink's 2021 Events & Campaigns
Microsoft spans decades
Hopelink and Microsoft have a few affordability issue likely hit the Liu says Microsoft provided
things in common. Both got their employees of partners such as additional unrestricted funds early
start locally in the 1970s – Microsoft Hopelink too. on given Hopelink’s reach into the
settling in Bellevue in 1979, and community and breadth of programs.
In response, Microsoft not only
Hopelink setting up shop in Bothell in
invested in a revolving loan fund to “Hopelink is such an anchor in
1971. Both have grown significantly
over the years; Microsoft becoming
develop affordable housing, they the community, and a hub with Farm Fresh Feast Reaching Out Luncheon Turkey Trot
also have been actively working multiple essential spokes,” Liu said.
one of the world’s leading technology In 2021, a total of 171 Farm Fresh Hopelink’s 26th annual Reaching In November, a total of 379
with local cities to address barriers. “Hopelink is one of the foundational
companies, and Hopelink expanding Feasters enjoyed wine, a multicourse Out Luncheon featured a virtual participants from all over the country
In addition to partnering with organizations serving our community
to serve about 65,000 people dinner prepared by local celebrity discussion with writer, comedian and joined Hopelink’s virtual Turkey Trot
Hopelink on their Affordable Housing on the Eastside.”
annually throughout north and east chef John Howie and a lively auction host of Netflix's “Patriot Act” Hasan 5K family fun run & walk in 2021,
Initiative, Microsoft is a member of
King County.* In addition, Microsoft encourages at Hopelink’s first-ever hybrid event. Minhaj. Minhaj and Hopelink CEO logging their Ks over the course of a
the Eastside Housing Roundtable,
their employees to support Guests attending the 8th annual event Dr. Catherine Cushinberry tackled week. In addition to Washington state,
In addition, both are committed to a group comprised of a cross-
nonprofits throughout the year – in person at Columbia Winery or issues that disproportionately affect runners and walkers also represented
building a stronger community; one section of developers, for-profit and
– particularly during their month- from their homes – raised $208,029 marginalized communities, and California, Indiana, Missouri, North
that works for everyone. nonprofit businesses, all dedicated
long Give Campaign in October, for Hopelink services. discussed some of the ways in which Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee and
to increasing the development of
For Amy Liu, Microsoft’s Director and through annual holiday giving we can all help build a stronger, more Wisconsin – among others! The 5K
affordable housing throughout east
of Human Services and Affordable trees on the Microsoft campus every equitable community. A total of 509 raised $49,165 to help provide vital
King County.
Housing Initiatives in Washington December (during non-pandemic guests raised $735,369 to provide services to Hopelink clients during the
state, that pledge makes perfect Liu says that taking steps to increase times). Hopelink services. challenging winter months.
sense. the availability of middle-income
And Microsoft employees are
housing also syncs with Hopelink
“This is our home,” Liu said. “Our generous with their time and
programs that are geared toward
headquarters are on the Eastside, talents, volunteering in Hopelink
helping people exit poverty, by
and we are investing to ensure that
providing a next-step option from
food banks, tutoring during adult End Family Hunger
this remains a great place to live education classes, working with the In 2021, Hopelink’s End Family Hunger campaign provided additional food to
low-income housing.
and work. For so many folks in our employment program, gleaning with help ensure that families affected by the coronavirus pandemic would have
community, for teachers, firefighters, Microsoft’s housing initiatives are Hopelink Harvest, leading training enough to eat during the summer months. And in the fall, Hopelink provided
folks at nonprofits … there’s a huge only part of their commitment to sessions on Office 365 – even backpacks filled with school supplies to 2,493 children.
swath of our community and our the work Hopelink is doing in the spreading bark at Hopelink housing
neighbors who often can't afford to community. sites.
live near where they work.”
For more than 30 years, Microsoft has Liu refers to Hopelink as a “trusted
Microsoft Philanthropies is a leader donated millions of dollars in grants, partner” in their commitment to Lend a Hoping Hand
in driving change within local cities employee giving and volunteer hours community. Clearly that relationship Although Hopelink was again unable to host traditional holiday gift rooms due
to make affordable housing easier matches, capital campaign donations goes both ways. to the pandemic, that didn’t stop a generous community from making sure local
to build. When Microsoft recognized and special initiatives. They were the kids had a happier holiday season! As part of Hopelink’s annual Lend a Hoping
*The 65,000 per-year total is the most
that many people working in the first business to make a significant recent pre-pandemic annual average. Hand campaign, 2,960 families received a total of $203,000 in holiday gift cards.
community were not able to live additional donation to Hopelink when
nearby, they realized that the the pandemic hit in March 2020.
8 Donate online at hopelink.org 9
Finding joy
A spirited grandmother lights up the world
Marian Henderson Sheffield is a proud but in a good way.
mom of two grown sons, and a doting
grandmother. She also is a bit of a “It was just flooring
Renaissance woman: artist, dancer, former
model, teacher, nanny and basketball
to me,” she said. “I
coach. And she is an eternal optimist who didn’t even know how
radiates sheer joy.
to accept it, because
“I don’t have any reason to be sad,” Marian I’d never done that
said, “because I think that as long as
Hopelink is there and I have a good head before. But just being
on my shoulders, I’ll be OK.” at Hopelink gave me
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, where she a sense of gratitude,
still has family, Marian says she is also a
woman of faith who has been attending
and brought out my
church ever since she was a young girl. energy, because I’d
Marian married in 1971 and gave birth to a never had so much
son. Three years later, the brutal Pittsburgh help before – I never
winters prompted her husband to suggest
the family relocate to the west coast. They needed anything
lived in California for 11 years, where when my husband
Marian worked as a substitute teacher and
the couple’s second son was born.
was alive.”
Over time, as Marian navigated her way
When her sons were aged 6 and 12, the
through grief and loss, she turned to dance
high cost of California living brought the
to express herself, performing African
family to Seattle. Marian enrolled in Renton
dance in the 12-member Rhythms & Rituals
Technical College and worked at a variety
troupe throughout the Puget Sound area.
of jobs. Twelve years later, her husband
Marian loved that experience, and she
suffered a fatal heart attack.
misses it to this day.
“That kind of destroyed my world,” she
And she continued to paint; a skill she
said.
developed as a teenager when a neighbor
A friend suggested that Marian reach out helped guide her natural talent. Along with
to Hopelink, where she signed up for the dance, painting has been Marian’s passion,
food bank and later energy assistance. She but one that faded into the background
was a bit overwhelmed by the experience – during the pandemic. She is quick to point
10 Donate online at hopelink.org 11
out that it wasn’t sadness, but less kids,” she said. “It was such a joy to where he would read the bible to the
energy that held her back, and she’s give back.” younger kids in Sunday school.
eager to break out the paints and
Marian remains close with her two Her journey may not have followed
brushes now that the outside world is
grown sons and is clearly proud of exactly the path she expected, but she
beginning to open up again.
grandson Kyree Sheffield, who’s a high still finds a way to capture joy in every
During the pandemic, Marian took school senior basketball standout. new twist and turn.
great care to stay safe, but still found a Staying home during the pandemic
As a little girl, Marian dreamed of
way to not only connect with other gave her a chance to help him apply to
going to Hollywood, and pursuing an
people but find joy in that journey as colleges, and with great success: Kyree
acting career. Years later, she easily
well. has a job now and will begin college
recast that dream into another source
soon.
“I’m used to being around people and of joy.
I have a lot of friends –
they call me and check “I never quite made
up on me, and we talk
on the phone,” Marian
it to Hollywood,”
said. “And just to talk she said. “But I
on the phone to one of
my friends – that brings
danced in front of
me joy.” more than 3,000
She is eager to return people. And it was
to in-person food so great to look out
bank visits and again
there and see all of
GIVE FAMILIES
interact with Hopelink
staff and other clients. them … that gave
Not surprisingly,
she’s always quick to
me a sense of ‘my
dream is fulfilled
introduce herself – even
learning to communicate
... I’m doing OK.’
A REASON TO SMILE.
with non-English-
speaking families she Because I didn’t
meets in line. Marian
considers Hopelink
get to Hollywood,
GiveBIG is a statewide fundraising campaign that brings together individuals and organizations
family, and in fact but I got to dance committed to investing in our communities. Last year, generous donors helped raise a total of more than
hadn’t been a client for
in front of a lot of $17 million for nearly 1,700 nonprofit organizations, including Hopelink. When you support Hopelink
long when she began by making a donation during this year’s GiveBIG campaign, you will help provide food, shelter, heat and
looking for a way to give people.” hope for local families and individuals.
back.
“I live for God, my grandson and my Hopelink has helped ensure that
Volunteering at a Hopelink food bank two sons,” she said. “That’s all I really Marian has regular access to food,
and later a holiday gift room, Marian focus on, and that makes me happy.” warmth and a safe, welcoming space to
interact with her neighbors. The sheer
helped parents and grandparents
Marian’s sons both became active in
joy she finds in every moment? That’s
TINYURL.COM/HOPELINK-GIVEBIG
select toys and gifts for the children in
the church at a young age, and when
their lives. She loved that experience. her gift to the rest of us.
Kyree was young, Marian would take
“I was so grateful to be able to help him to church nearly every Sunday,
12 Donate online at hopelink.org 13
they would pay the rent, keep the heat
on, buy groceries.
“That was always Programs continue to adapt
the marker,” Pyeatt In 2021, Hopelink began seeing
Responding to demand additional clients who had never
said, “of being the before asked for assistance; after
Not surprisingly, demand for
assistance increased almost
most challenging a year of getting by on savings or
experience of my
other funds, many had exhausted
immediately. In the first four months,
their resources. Meanwhile, Hopelink
calls to Hopelink for financial
assistance increased fivefold over
career. But COVID programs that had adapted quickly in
previous years. And while the state’s was equal to that. I 2020 continued to respond and adjust
throughout the following year.
eviction moratorium enabled renters
to stay in their homes even if they
think I worked more
The Adult Education Program
were unable to pay the rent, the during Hurricane continued to offer online classes. A
amount owed continued to grow.
Harvey relief, but pandemic-driven decline in student
enrollments continued into 2021, with
Thousands of individuals and families not by much.” enrollment in English for Work classes
Staying the course during a global pandemic
faced potentially insurmountable debt
finally beginning to rebound last
when the moratorium ended, likely Pyeatt said she found herself
September.
facing eviction and making it more frequently drawing from that
difficult to find another place to live. experience. In addition to virtual sessions of
Looking back on two unprecedented years In addition, some renters said they one-on-one job coaching, Hopelink’s
“It was comparable in that there was
felt pressured by landlords to either Employment Program staff responded
a lot of work at the beginning – it
The early guidance was simple: Wash limited to take-out service. Workers kitchen tables and figuring out how to continue to pay, or self-evict. to skyrocketing job losses with a
required going all out for several
your hands. Cover coughs and sneezes. were laid off – in part because people navigate virtual meetings. service targeted to those affected by
By year’s end, the program had months,” Pyeatt said. “My team
Disinfect surfaces. Stay home if you’re were increasingly afraid to go out. the pandemic: a remote resume review
In offices, coffee cups sat half-filled. distributed a total of nearly $1,460,000 probably got tired of hearing me
sick. At first, the novel coronavirus service that offered a one-time virtual
On March 24, everything changed. Desk calendars froze in time. Plants in rental assistance; nearly $1 million reference Harvey, but for all of the
wasn’t expected to be much of a session.
were left on window ledges. In a more than in 2019. ebbs and flows of what recovery
community health risk. Gov. Inslee’s “Stay home, Stay Healthy”
couple of weeks, everyone would be means, that (knowledge) was Hopelink’s Financial Capabilities
order required that all “non-essential” In addition, during a time of year when something we applied often in the
Yet almost immediately – with back. Program also adapted quickly;
workers stay home, except for trips to energy usage typically begins to taper initial scramble.”
the nation’s first reported case of
the grocery store, pharmacy or medical The fallout off, new applications for assistance
COVID-19 in Washington state just
visits. Theatres, gyms, hair salons all increased about 20 percent between Pyeatt remembers hearing a local
days earlier on January 21 – Hopelink Lucy Pyeatt
In April 2020, Washington state mid-March and July. community leader in Houston say that
closed. Funerals and weddings were
staff began to respond: Disinfectant lost a half-million jobs, driving the
prohibited. every stage of a disaster brings both
wipes in all public areas. Mapped-out unemployment rate to more than 15 Taking on a different storm grief and gratitude in equal measure
schedules for sanitizing surfaces. The order was expected to last two percent. Hardest hit were workers who – the pain of loss tempered by relief
A limit on the number of people in For Houston-born Lucy Pyeatt,
weeks. were already earning a lower wage, for what remains. She also maintained
conference rooms. Hopelink’s energy and financial
often employed part time and non- that those on the front lines are best
At Hopelink – an essential service assistance director, the first few
white. Black workers lost their jobs at equipped to respond. Pyeatt found
On March 3, Hopelink formed a under the governor’s order – finding months of the pandemic felt like a
twice the rate of whites. similarities in that view as well.
Coronavirus Response Team to a way to safely continue to provide storm she’d weathered before.
monitor and respond to CDC updates. all services took priority. Meanwhile, As jobs disappeared, those living “She would say, 'people wait for the
The group began meeting daily. Pyeatt worked in rental assistance
as center buildings physically closed paycheck-to-paycheck because their experts, but the community members
and disaster relief during Hurricane
their doors to the public, staff who jobs don’t pay a living wage realized are the experts,'” Pyeatt said. “We
In mid-March, schools started to close. Harvey, which made landfall in Texas
were able to telecommute relocated they had a week – maybe two – to know what we know. And we need to
Gatherings of more than 50 people in August 2017.
immediately, setting up laptops at figure out how they would get by; how hold onto that.”
were prohibited. Restaurants were
14 Donate online at hopelink.org 15
providing not only ongoing financial
coaching, but one-time consultations
“Yet we still had to uncertainty, and taking care of loved
ones who were sick.
a partnership with Door Dash and
United Way, delivering more than 200
he said. “It’s been available to anyone who requested it.
to address immediate needs. Demand feed people – our boxes of food biweekly to clients who exhausting in every They provided not only support to
“So many people were new to us weather a devastating economic storm,
increased significantly in 2020, with
requests skewing heavily toward one-
regular clients, and during the pandemic – there were so
couldn’t make it to a food bank.
way. And it’s been but also tools to help those affected by
time consultations. The following year, countless others many new faces every day. And I’m And the Hopelink Mobile Market the most rewarding the pandemic emerge even stronger.
grateful we’ve been there for them.” continued to visit eight to 10 locations While much of the past two years
enrollment held steady.
who had never every week, providing both fresh and thing I’ve ever focused on stability, ensuring that
In the housing program, Hopelink needed us before,” And there were COVID-19-specific
concerns as well, as CDC guidance
shelf-stable food. In 2021, Hopelink done.” clients would be able to build a path
early on offered rent forgiveness for distributed 6.5 million pounds of out of poverty after the pandemic
every family living at housing sites,
Campbell said. changed frequently. To ensure that
food – an increase of nearly a million A community responds never wavered.
all food provided was safe – and at a
and later recalibrated household rent Overnight, staff became not just pounds over 2020.
time when it wasn’t certain how long Through it all, the Hopelink Looking ahead
for all families. essential workers, but innovators.
the virus might remain on canned Over the past two years, the community stepped up to help their
Within 48 hours, they had totally neighbors like never before. Volunteers Today, as a world turned upside
Hopelink’s Non-Emergency Medical goods and even cardboard – Hopelink combination of rapidly shifting CDC
changed the way Hopelink distributes packed boxes, delivered food, donated down finally begins to right itself,
Transportation (NEMT) program stopped accepting food donations; a guidelines and the logistical challenges
food. Instead of inviting clients into masks and tutored students online. both challenge and opportunity
initially saw a reduction in trip commitment that added more than of turning an entire program on its
Hopelink’s grocery store-style food A food bank visitor returned the next remain. We know that the pandemic
volume, while trips needed to provide $350,000 to the food program budget head felt like a bit of an obstacle
banks – a point of pride for the food day to empty his pockets of one-dollar disproportionately affected minorities.
life-sustaining appointments such in the first few months. course. But despite supply chain
program -- pre-packed boxes of food bills to say thank you. Others asked We know that childcare was a bigger
as dialysis continued. Safety and issues, staff and volunteer shortages,
would be safely distributed at outside When Hopelink began holding no- if they could volunteer. Hopelink issue for those whose jobs didn’t allow
distancing protocols continued fluctuating safety protocols and even
entrances. contact drive-through food drives in supporters – many new, some longtime them to telecommute, and that women
throughout 2021, while travel to at one point, a shortage of 15-ounce
the spring, donations were set aside – reached out to offer unprecedented dropped out of the workforce at a
COVID-19 testing sites was augmented Volunteers helped create a conveyer cans, Campbell and his team prevailed.
for two weeks. financial support, faster pace in areas where students
by rides to vaccination sites. system to quickly pack boxes and were
Hopelink distributes record soon averaging about 2,500 boxes In 2021, food distribution continued “The past two When Hopelink held its first-ever
were learning from home. And we
know that working paycheck-to-
amount of food during pandemic every week. Each box provided enough to evolve, always with a goal of safely
years have been drive-through food drive in 2020, cars paycheck at minimum wage can be a
food for more than 20 meals and feeding as many people as possible
Not surprisingly, demand for food also included canned fruit and vegetables, as efficiently as possible. Volunteers unlike anything lined up for a mile. Donors dropped
off 24,000 pounds of food in four
consistent and fundamental threat to
stability.
increased dramatically. For Matt proteins and grains. Over time, other continued to pre-pack boxes of shelf- any of us could hours – one hundred pounds every
Campbell, Hopelink’s former director foods were added – including fresh stable food, adding pre-packed bags We also know that as the post-
of food programs, March 2020 hit like fruits and vegetables, dairy/deli and of fresh produce. Hopelink began
have expected,” minute.
pandemic economy continues to
a freight train. A situation he had meat products, and – thanks to the The Community Loaves project – which evolve, creating a more inclusive U.S.
expected would disappear quickly Community Loaves program – home- Matt Campbell got its start early in the pandemic economic recovery must be a priority.
turned into a once-in-a-lifetime baked bread. when five home bakers donated 19
loaves of bread to Hopelink’s Kirkland As Hopelink staff begin to return
pandemic – one without a playbook.
For Campbell, serving on the front food bank – has grown to nearly 1,000 to offices and virtual interaction
“There was no one to turn to for lines of a community in crisis was bakers providing fresh bread to more gives way to in-person collaboration,
guidance … we couldn’t look up the overwhelming at times. than 30 food banks in three states. the path ahead is clear: Building an
solution on the internet,” Campbell equitable community, free of poverty,
said. “Nothing had prepared us for
“I struggle to describe what that felt Staff step up is not only the vision that guides
like – the physical and emotional toll,”
what was happening all over the Hopelink every day, it is our collective
Campbell said. For more than two years, Hopelink
world.” responsibility going forward.
staff have been relentless in finding
“Trying to support my staff and a way to serve a community in crisis.
Physically closing Hopelink centers What will a post-pandemic world look
volunteers and balancing that with a Making decisions on the fly. Adapting.
to the public meant that all five food like? That’s up to us.
family at home ... and we would hear Innovating. Providing the same
banks – as well as the mobile food
stories of what people have been services, but in different ways. Feeding
bank – were no longer accessible to
going through – with job loss, and as many as possible as quickly as
clients.
possible. Making sure that food was
16 Donate online at hopelink.org 17
Congress funded economic relief
and stimulus packages that
assistance to at
supplemented the incomes of least 60 million
millions of Americans.
Americans in
For some households, these 2020. This was
measures meant their income
was higher than it was before a 50% increase
the COVID-19 pandemic. As a from 2019.
consequence, these families
had enough money to pay for a It isn’t all good news, though.
food-secure diet. Meanwhile, the The food insecurity gap between
U.S. Department of Agriculture white- and Black-led households
provided the maximum widened from 2019 to 2020. In
Supplemental Nutrition 2019, the rates were 7.9% of
Assistance Program (SNAP) white-led households and 19.1%
benefit for all recipients on a of Black-led households; in 2020,
temporary basis. This policy they were 7.1% and 21.7%. That
change represented a huge means Black Americans are
increase for many families – up around three times more likely
to roughly $620 a month for a to be food-insecure than white
family of four. people.
And the agricultural supply But everything would have been
chain was enormously successful much, much worse both during
in the face of a global pandemic. the COVID-19 pandemic and
Government and charitable actions likely
This success meant there were before the pandemic were it
few shortages of food and only not for the existence of SNAP.
small increases in prices. This nutrition program has
kept millions of Americans out of food
been shown to alleviate food
The importance of charitable insecurity in study after study.
food assistance also can’t be
As the government’s response
insecurity during the pandemic
overstated.
to the COVID-19 pandemic
Food banks and has demonstrated, the United
States can, I believe, assure a
By Craig Gundersen, Professor of Economics, Baylor University food pantries “right to food” in the United
responded States through government
Despite the profound impact of the main reasons. Second, the fact that the overall rate interventions, especially through
COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable did not increase despite a serious
nimbly and expansions in benefits and SNAP
in the United States, the percentage
First, food insecurity – the state of
being unable to adequately provide
economic downturn underscores quickly to an eligibility.
of Americans in food-insecure
households held steady in 2020 at
food for yourself or your family – has
the importance of government
intervention when it comes to getting
unprecedented Originally published by The
10.5%, figures released on Sept. 8,
become one of the leading, if not the
leading, indicator of well-being for
food to Americans who need it. increase in Conversation on September
8, 2021. Learn more at
2021, show.
vulnerable Americans. And with 38.3 That food insecurity stayed stable was demand and TheConversation.com.
Although unchanged from 2019, the million food-insecure Americans, the due to various government actions.
provided
new numbers are important for two number of people affected is still high. The Trump administration and
18 Donate online at hopelink.org 19Equity Matters
Building inclusion and
engagement into organizational life
by Mark Smutny
It was 1962 in early September at south side of Rock Creek Canyon. The when too many continue to experience
Bickel Elementary: the first day of chasm physically and psychologically systemic racism and hate crimes, I Presented by:
school, the first recess, the first time separated people with brown skin teach, write and consult on how to
I saw bigotry and injustice slash at from people with white skin. The kids build inclusive practices into the
human dignity. I was six years old. from South Park attended Bickel. meetings where we spend so much
Morning recess began with games of our organizational life. My hope
By every measure I am a person of
of marbles breaking out all over the is when all of us work together for
privilege. My skin is white. I graduated
asphalt covered playground. Groups justice and equity, the times will be
from an Ivy League school. I am
of kids lined up to shoot marbles. “No redeemed.
straight, male, and married to the
Mexicans!” one white boy declared.
same woman for four decades. I have As Dr. Martin Luther King declared
“No Mexicans!” snarled another group.
FOOD IS ESSENTIAL.
never been unemployed for more than when I was in second grade at Bickel,
That afternoon, when the yellow two weeks. No one has banned me “Injustice anywhere is a threat to
school bus puffing black diesel smoke from anything. Nevertheless, a burr justice everywhere. We are caught in
left me at the driveway of our farm in irritates my skin and troubles my an inescapable network of mutuality,
rural Southern Idaho, I found mom in heart. tied in a single garment of destiny. For kids who receive free and reduced-price meals at school, summer means no
the kitchen. “Why?” I asked. “What’s Whatever affects one directly affects longer knowing for sure that you will have breakfast or lunch. Hopelink’s End Summer
wrong with Mexicans?” “Why did those I don’t walk away all indirectly.” Hunger campaign raises funds to help bridge the gap in access to regular, healthy
meals for thousands of local kids and families. Your support will help ensure that no
kids ban Mexicans?” She said, “We are
not like that. Never use those words.”
from pain and child in our community goes hungry this summer.
injustice. I believe
Bickel was the designated school in
my hometown for farm kids and the the quest for
children of agricultural workers from equity and justice
Mexico. One third of the students were
Latinx. The other elementary schools should fuel every
in town had green grass playgrounds, organization’s For more information about how to host a
nets on the basketball hoops and
freshly built classrooms. Not Bickel.
mission. About the author: food or fund drive, contact Isabel Hoggatt
at 425.897.3710 or ihoggatt@hopelink.org,
We had asphalt, netless basketball Much like I detested the hateful taunts Mark Smutny is the Founder of Civic or visit our website and download the End
hoops and old classrooms. Years later, on a blacktop playground six decades Reinventions, Inc. He helps nonprofits Summer Hunger Food and Fund Drive kit.
I learned why. ago, today I seek to build inclusion thrive in an increasingly diverse world.
and engagement in my life and work. His book Thrive: The Facilitator’s Guide
Real estate redlining and structural
racism relegated families whose skin I am no anti-racism expert. I do
to Radically Inclusive Meetings, 2nd ed. hopelink.org/ESH
was brown to live in the “Mexican” recently won a Gold Winner Book Award
know something about how to build
designated neighborhood. Known from the Nonfiction Authors Association.
inclusion and engagement into the Lead sponsor: Media sponsor:
as South Park, the neighborhood He may be reached at mark.smutny@
fabric of organizational life. At a time
was packed with tiny houses, on the civicreinventions.com. Pacific Medical
20 Donate online at hopelink.org 212021 Funding The Business Alliance
GOVERNMENT FUNDING SOURCES We would like to take this opportunity to thank our featured business and corporate partners who gave $1,000 or more in 2021.
Every effort has been made to list your name correctly, but if you find an error, please contact Pam Cabrera at 425.897.3718.
We are equally grateful to the many businesses not listed that have also generously supported Hopelink through cash and/or
Federal Government | State of Washington | King County in-kind donations.
Local Governments: $50,000 + $5,000 + $2,500 + $1,000+
City of Bellevue City of Issaquah City of Kirkland City of Sammamish Amazon Accents et cetera AMD Architectural Werks
City of Bothell City of Kenmore City of Redmond City of Shoreline Microsoft Alaska USA Federal Credit Union Banner Bank BAE Systems
Nintendo of North America Aleutian Proteins BentallGreenOak BECU
Puget Sound Energy Alliance Nursing Clark Construction Group Bergelectric Corp
The Seattle Times Axelerate CustomInk Chuck Olson Chevrolet Kia
Carillon Properties Enterprise Holdings Foundation City Center of Bellevue
CORPORATE AND PRIVATE FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS Columbia Bank Evergreen Salads Continental Garage
$20,000 + Davis Wright Tremaine Gee Automotive EBD Services
First Tech Federal Credit Union Durrell5 HomeStreet Bank Envestnet
$100,000+ Safeway Foundation Kroger Co. Zero Hunger Zero Waste The Stocker Foundation
Foundry10 LLC Essex Property Trust Lee Insurance Services Epic Games
Foundation
The Bradley Family Foundation Washington Federal Foundation
Aldarra Foundation Gates Ventures Evergreen Sun Enterprises Pacific Medical Centers Foster Garvey
Praise for Today Foundation
The Seattle Foundation Healthcare Management Perkins Coie - Bellevue Frame Wright Picture Framing
Connie and Steve Ballmer Meta
The Norcliffe Foundation
Puget Sound Energy Foundation $1,000+ Nintendo of North America Administrators Pinewood Village Limited Partnership G&W Commercial Flooring
Sammamish Rotary Foundation iWorkWise Prime Electric Gold J&D LLC
$50,000+ Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop Overlake Medical Center & Clinics
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
The Gibson Family Foundation SCS Engineers Graham Contracting
$10,000+ Ernest R. and Audrey M. Turner Sterling Realty Organization
Nordstrom
Aven Foundation Shoreline Rotary Foundation Foundation Terra Associates Snap Hallmark Realty
Medina Foundation Bellevue Rotary Foundation The Boeing Company PAC Worldwide Swedish Medical Center HDR
The Swinerton Foundation Frederick Stearns Foundation
Byron and Alice Lockwood T-Mobile Pacific Market International WaFd Investment Development Corp
The Albertsons Companies The TJX Foundation, Inc. Matson Foundation
Foundation Seattle Children's Hospital Windermere Real Estate - Bellevue Kleinschmidt Associates
Foundation
Tulalip Tribes Charitable Redmond Rotary Foundation Sky Nursery Zetron Lake & Co Real Estate
The Lookout Foundation Liberty Mutual Foundation
Contributions
Rotary Club of Mercer Island $10,000 + StixToGo Lake Washington Physical Therapy
United Way of King County Muckleshoot Charitable Fund
StockCharts.com OpenText
Rotary Club of Snoqualmie Valley Brian Kearney Incorporated
RealNetworks Foundation
Wockner Foundation
$2,500+ Starbucks Foundation Clementine
Symetra Financial Orca Running
Tableau Software Foundation USI Otak
Deacon Charitable Foundation The Charles Maxfield Parrish & Expeditors International of
Vulcan
$20,000+ The Foster Foundation
Gloria F. Parrish Foundation Washington Protea Dental Studio
First Financial Northwest Foundation Wells Fargo Protingent Staffing
Windermere Foundation FedEx
Bank of America Charitable The Eureka Foundation, Inc.
Kirkland Firefighters Benevolent Intellectual Ventures RPM Partners
Foundation Association The Summit Family Foundation Kiewit-Hoffman Simplicity Consulting
Cooper-MacGrath Foundation $5,000+ Lake Forest Park Rotary Charitable Ten Gun Design
Lakeside Industries
Employees Community Fund of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Foundation Metropolitan Market Washington Commercial Painters
Boeing Puget Sound Moccasin Lake Foundation Whole Foods Market
Edwards Mother Earth Foundation PCC
Glaser Foundation
Fred & Gretel Biel Charitable MUFG Union Bank Foundation THANK YOU Premera Blue Cross
Joshua Green Foundation Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Sierra Construction Co.
Trustee
Northwest Farm Credit Services for your support! The Partners Group
PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. The Jones Family Foundation
Horizons Foundation Waste Management
Safeco Insurance Fund The Rotary Foundation of Duvall
22 Donate online at hopelink.org 23$5,000+ Michele Freed Mohamed and May Mansour Chris and Jaon Starling
Thank you to our generous donors! William Adams and Debra
Horowski
Stan and Cindy Freimuth
Friends of Penny Sweet
Joan McBride and Margaret
Meister
Terry McCarthy
David and Karen Steeb
Shari Stewart
Tom Alberg and Judi Beck Damien and Hayete Gallot Sue-Erin Stone
Mary Kay McCaw
Annie and Ed Averett John Gamble Kerry and Paula Strand
David Hargrove Ruth Eilers-Grassie Ron and Paula Pessner
Lyn McCoy and Rick Szeliski
Maryam and Reza Baghai Carlene Gaudette Suncoast West Foundation
Brooks Hoffecker Hal and Carolynn Ferris David and Lindsay Price
Andy and Jill McGovern
David and Leigh Bangs Wendy Gelbart Steve and DeYonne Tegman
Local Independent Charities of Kathe and Gregory Fowler Betty J. Proctor
Marla Mellies and Peter Delaney
America Constance Baring-Gould Martha and Andrew Graham Michael and Judith Tembreull
Debbie Girdler and David Cutler Brady Quist
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church
Jeff Mash Cynthia Bartok and Jonathan Olson Mark and Linda Greenlaw The Kasin Family Foundation
The Cornerstone recognizes June Girolami James Ramsdell
Beth Mickelson
a group of philanthropic David and Sherri Nichols Dawn and David Beauparlant Deanna and Jeff Gregory The Overlake School
Marc and Gina Gonchar Ben and Nancy Remak
individuals and families who Kassi Mitchell
The Thacher Family Philanthropy Robert and Marilee Beckes Kathryn Grindeland Eric and Terry Thorsos
lead the way in supporting Darin Green Teresa Revelle and David Litwack
Fund Marty and Norma Morris
Hopelink programs and Randy and Stefanie Beighle Betty and Paul Haack Elizabeth Tidyman
Cheryl and Dave Hadley Kaitlin and Dean Rieck
services through their Edward Weber Laurie and Greg Nelson
Nancy Bick and Dwight Krossa Jeff and Lucia Hagander Yoko Tilley
generous financial gifts. Harvest Against Hunger Donn and Pat Roberts
Anonymous (2) Tony and Julee Neupert
Alice and Robert Bishop Jane Hamada Trinity Presbyterian Church
Andrew and Freeman Held Valerie Robinson
If you’d like more information Donald and Karen Neustadt
Arden and Rebecca Blackledge Susan Hanser Elona Tuomi
on how to be a part of the Jessica Hitchcock Dianne and Patrick Schultheis
Cornerstone, please contact
$10,000+ Boeschoten Foundation Tim Harahan
Lionel Ng and Chi-Chuen Chan
Matthew Van Gundy
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church Klaus and Marion Schutz
Sara Sherrard at Justin and Yini Nordin
Alice Lawrence Foundation, Inc. Justin Bouska Roger and Joan Harbin David and Romayne Watt
SSherrard@hopelink.org. Hot Chocolate Charitable Fund Jennifer and Jonathon Schwegler
Mark and Colleen Olleman
Megan and Chris Anderson Jeremiah Braunstein Alice and York Harris WEA Cascade Uniserv Council
Jennifer Hu Randy Schweickart and Michelle
Sandra O'Shea
Linda Andrews Heng Andrew and Jennifer Brown Buffi Hebert Anne Weltner
Dick and Jeanne Johnson
John and Mary Pat Osterhaus
$50,000+ Melinda Andrews Kathy Kincannon
Barry and Colleen Scovel Kevin and Teresa Brown Randi Hedin and Andrew Gardner Joe and Gail Wenaweser
Peggy and Rick Ostrander
Aurora Church of the Nazarene Ed and Christy Scripps Joe and Mary Bundrant Michael Hopcroft and Starr Niego Charles Westergard
Stephen and Rita Anderson Keith and Julie Kruger
Brett Palmiero
Mark and Lark Barnum Cynthia and David Shurtleff Joseph R. Carroll Tami Hurwitz Kevin R. Whinihan
Michael and Meredith Dodd Stuart and Liz Kwan
Eric and Andrea Peoples
Mitch and Barbara Boss Janet and James Sinegal Grant and Emilie Castle Diane and Scott Johnson Stephen Winslow
Donald Lane Margaret and Tony Laliberte
Ann Pierson
Raymond Bowen Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Perry and Valarie Cole Orlay Johnson and Shirley Jared Wood
Lily Pointe Family Foundation Jeff and Suzanne Lane
Kronheim Susan and Jim Powell
Martin and Joan Brashem William and Maria Skilton Bobbie Conti and Jeff Hayford Neal and Nancy Wood
Estate of Betty Eleanor Lockwood Carol Lewis and Andrew Pearson
Jon and Becky Jung Kenneth J. Raedeke, Ph.D.
Lynn and Jim Briody Randolph and Barbara Smith Stephen Coy Richard and Joan Zucker
Leo and Kathy Notenboom Andy and Chelsea Lientz
Jay and Cindy Kasin Michael Rainwater and Carol Ross
Eric and Carrie Browne St. Andrew's Lutheran Church Donald Delisi Anonymous (16)
Vince and Jacqui Orgovan Joe and Cathy Jo Linn
Len Kawell and Mary Ellen Heinen Caryl and Bill Reese
Jim and Bet Schuler Doug Burger Hugh and Cheryl Ann Stewart Robert Devine and Karen Edgerton
Drew and Kari Magill
Katherine and Ryan Kearny Thomas and Jan Ringo
Tim Burner and Camille Gearhart John and Sherry Stilin Marge Dippie This publication of our leadership
Peter and Carol Stewart Shawn and Monique Magraw
Tim and Katherine Kehrli E. Johanna Roalkvam donors recognizes recent gifts with
The Biella Foundation Fred and Joan Burnstead Henry and Victoria Tappen Todd and Stacy Dunlap
Joshua and Kira Maloof cash contributions totaling more
Doreen and David Keyes Richard Robinson
Brian and Julene Wright Calvin Presbyterian Church Jennifer and Brad Thompson Loren Dunn and Erin Sheridan than $5,000. Every effort has been
Joe and Elizabeth Michaels
Robert and Kim Kleewein Susan Robinson made to correctly list contributors.
Anonymous (2) Tony and Barbara Catania Justin and Heather Uberti Ann Dykstra
William and Judith Moritz If we have your name wrong, or
Jon and Diane Knoll Allan and Barbara Rumpf
James and Deanna Claypool Tom and Jane Vimont David Edery and Eve Crevoshay you want to make a change,
Larry and Kimberly Morris
Aaron Knopf Kya Sainsbury-Carter please contact Kenny Fox at
Guhan Viswanathan and Vidya
$25,000+ Jesse Collins Don Munsil and Sarah Stone
Guhan
Malinda and Jean-Emile Elien
Ross Kukulinski Joe and Judy Sambataro KFox@hopelink.org.
Edward and Amy Conti Mette and David Naness Larry Engel and Kate Battuello
Jocelyn and Rick Asher Thomas and Katherine Walker Timothy and Sarah Kurtzman Robert and Joan Sample To see more of our donor
Pat and Pamela Cooney Dwayne and Denise Need Mark and Sally Esser community, please visit: www.
Katherine Binder Larry and Elisabeth Walton Larson Family Foundation Ben Sanders hopelink.org/about-us/whos-
David and T. Jane Cottrell Helen and Michael Nelsen Richard and Susan Fade
Ward and Judy Bushnell Alex Wenger and Matt Lambek Lemson Family Fund Schultz Family Foundation helping-hopelink
Ellen and Darryn Dieken Kimm and Michael Nesteroff David Fandel and Heather Sherman
Suzan and Kurt DelBene Kelly and Brant Weyer Michael and Kate Lipe Susan Schwasnick We are equally grateful to the
Joanie Dolsen Sally A. Nordstrom Jan Feely many individuals, businesses and
Laura Dillaway Douglas Winslow Joseph and Mary Beth Long Shoreline Council PTA organizations not listed who have
David and Kristen Dorwin James and Karen Orr Niels and Denise Ferguson
Lynn and Bruce Gibson Robert and Ruth Wright Matt and Gretchen Loschen Michael and Suzanne Sievert also given cash and/or in-kind
Helen Dragovich Anne Otten and James Adcock First Congregational Church of contributions to Hopelink over the
Linda B. Glenicki Jason and Marjorie Zander Bellevue Terence and Ann Lukens Roger and April Smith
Oris and Sylvia Dunham past year.
Sarah and Bill Ovens
Richard Grubb Suzanne and Benjamin Zorn Craig Fisher Lynn R. & Karl E. Prickett Fund Larry Springer and Penny Sweet
Oda Egeland Lou and Cheri Perazzoli
David and Cathy Habib Anonymous (16) Pauline and Will Fox Luann and Raif Majeed Philippa Stairs
Kathy Eggers Tiffany Perle and Joe Walowski
James and Amanda Franck Arty and Bella Makagon Steve Starcevich
24 Donate online at hopelink.org 25Hopelink Programs
Below is an overview of Hopelink programs and a list of our service centers. If you know anyone who may
need our help, please share this information and encourage them to contact us at their nearest center.
FOOD ENERGY FAMILY
ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE DEVELOPMENT
Contact your Call 425.658.2592 Call 425.883.4755
nearest center
FINANCIAL FINANCIAL EMPLOYMENT
CAPABILITIES ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Call 425.250.3003 Contact your Call 425.250.3030
Then & Now: Hopelink Transportation
nearest center
TRANSPORTATION ADULT HOUSING
SERVICES EDUCATION SERVICES
In the early comprehensive program that today Management program, which provides Metro DART: 866.261.3278 English for Work: Eastside:
Medicaid: 800.923.7433 425.250.3007 206.328.5900
1970s, the provides more than one million rides education and resources through
Mobility Line: 425.943.6760 GED Classes: North King County:
laid-off every year. three travel training programs in King 425.457.9685 206.934.6160
workers who County. Hopelink also began providing
In 1985, the organization became a
set up shop rides for the seasonal Trailhead Direct
King County Metro subcontractor to
at Bothell service, as well as servicing the Water
operate what would become Dial-A-
City Hall to Taxi Shuttle in West Seattle.
Ride Transit (DART), using minibuses
Hopelink Centers
help their
that can go off regular routes to pick In 2019, Hopelink’s Community Van
neighbors
1984 transportation up and drop off passengers. program – a partnership with King
find jobs
dispatcher County Metro – began providing
learned In 1990, Hopelink became the first
shared rides using volunteer drivers.
quickly that losing a source of income Medicaid transportation brokerage
brought other needs – including rides serving King County. Three years later, Access to safe, reliable transportation
to medical and other appointments. the organization’s transportation – whether for medical appointments,
department moved to Bellevue and childcare and other support services,
Transportation service began as an
expanded to serve more than 25,000 or for education and employment –
ad hoc volunteer effort, but in 1976
people every year. plays a key role in ensuring stability
gained traction with the purchase of a
and helping people attain the tools REDMOND SHORELINE BELLEVUE SNO-VALLEY KRIKLAND/NORTHSHORE
12-passenger van to serve older adults Today, Hopelink’s Non-Emergency
needed to exit poverty. Today, 8990 154th Ave. NE 17837 Aurora Ave. N 14812 Main St. 31957 E Commercial St. 11011 120th Ave. NE
in the Northshore area. For years, the Medical Transportation (NEMT)
more than 50 years after a modest Redmond, WA 98052 Shoreline, WA 98133 Bellevue, WA 98007 Carnation, WA 98014 Kirkland, WA 98033
“Van-Go” service provided special program provides rides in King and
needs transportation, reaching beyond
beginning, the program remains 425.869.6000 206.440.7300 425.943.7555 425.333.4163 425.889.7880
Snohomish counties for medical
essential to the Hopelink mission.
Kirkland into the Bothell, Bellevue and services covered by Medicaid. In 2021,
Shoreline areas. the program served 37,147 clients.
That was the beginning of what would In recent years, Hopelink
Hopelink.org | 425.869.6000
become Hopelink transportation: a transportation added a Mobility
26 Donate online at hopelink.org 27
DART busYou can also read
