HSD Announces Awards for Food Bank Services in SW Seattle

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2021 Geographic Specific - Delridge, Georgetown, South Park - Food Bank Services Request for Proposal (RFP) which closed March 24, 2021.

Four organizations will receive a total of $153,307 in 2021 to support food bank services for low-income individuals and families in the Delridge, Georgetown, and South Park neighborhoods. Agencies interested in funding were asked to demonstrate their community-centered program model and cultural responsivity in providing services.

HSD received four eligible applications for this RFP, requesting a total of $243,048, demonstrating a need in these communities for food bank services. A six-person rating panel composed of subject matter experts, institutional partners, and community members reviewed these applications for cultural responsivity, program model, and quality of services provided. After review, raters recommended that all four applications receive full or partial funding.

Raters expressed appreciation for the community-oriented nature of the applications, their strong grassroots networks, ability to consult with community members, and their provision of vital services to these communities.

The four agencies receiving funding awards are Cultivate South Park, St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle/King County, South Park Senior Citizens, and West Seattle Food Bank. Agencies received award letters on June 4, 2011.

Cultivate South Park, a coalition of South Park residents dedicated to building community through food and public spaces, expressed how essential these funds will be to continuing their 'El Mercadito' program, an outdoor fresh food and produce market in the South Park Neighborhood.

South Park Senior Citizens explained how home deliveries of fresh produce from local farms and hot meals to their clients had proven essential to their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive response from community members for these services encouraged them to focus more on not just providing meals to their clients but including deliveries of fresh food as well. Across the board, agency staff expressed enthusiasm for building new or continued partnerships with HSD.

Contracts for this RFP will begin July 1, 2021. For further information on this RFP, please contact Planning & Development Specialist II, Amaury Ávalos at [email protected].