Last Sunday, a father and daughter from the UUC Meal Team, Jason and Clara Evans, shared more about their experiences and the importance of engaging in the wider community. Their testimonials provide a window into understanding Teen Feed's mission and how these meals our Meal Team prepare are foundational to moving teens off the streets.

From Jason:

About 1,000 youth and young adults are homeless on any given night in King County. Most have experienced trauma, and don't have trusting relationships with adults. Forty percent are LGBTQ+. Teen Feed's mission is to meet these young people where they are—offering a hot meal, building relationships, and when they're ready, helping them find their way off the streets.

When we joined the church two years ago, I signed up right away—partly because I wanted to spend time with my daughter doing something meaningful. But also because I wanted to belong here. I think one of the fastest ways into any community comes from working alongside people with a common purpose...One meal at a time; one Sunday a month. These are small acts, but meaningful ones for our family.

From Clara:

My experience at Teen Feed has been both uplifting and eye-opening. It's heartbreaking to see so many teens (kids my age) who experience food insecurity—who don’t have what they need to thrive. I know why Teen Feed is meaningful to me. I’ve seen firsthand the many youth struggle just to access basic necessities—there are so many out there who depend on organizations like Teen Feed. If I can help those teens by being part of the Meal Team, by making food and washing dishes, then I can do that. As Jana Stanfield said, “I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do."