Edible Hope – Seattle, Washington  

For more than 30 years, Edible Hope has been serving hot breakfasts to anyone who needs it out of a church basement in Seattle. Karla, a 26-year partner and shift supervisor, has volunteered almost every Monday for the past nine years, cooking impromptu meals with whatever supplies have been donated that week. “The need is there. People want a safe place to come in and have a warm meal and feel safe for an hour or two. It might be their only hot warm meal of the day. You can’t solve the whole problem yourself, but I can go in for a couple hours a week and make sure people eat a hot meal on Monday.”  

She works alongside Emilie Han, Edible Hope’s kitchen manager, who says the Neighborhood Grant will help fund the organization’s move into a new space that requires a remodeled kitchen. “Working with Karla is such a joy. She is funny, cares a lot about what she does and is an awesome cook, so creative in the kitchen which is important when your food supply is unpredictable. Our guests have come back and told me that Edible Hope saved their lives. That alone makes the job worth it to me. But also, I love the people. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”