This page lists some of the charities I currently support, or have supported in the past. If you would like to suggest a link with a focus on hunger or homelessness in the Pacific NW, please email me! 

Real Change
Real Change is one of fifty-five worldwide members of the International Network of Street Papers, and organizes, educates, and builds alliances to create solutions to homelessness and poverty. Real Change News is available from street vendors in Seattle, who derive their income from sales. If you are a Powell's Books customer, access Powell's online through the Real Change website, and Powells will donat 7.5% of your purchase back to Real Change. Lao Hats has also donated 5% of all retail sales to Real Change Networks since 2005.

PetSmart Charities
Save the lives of homeless pets by sending flowers! PetSmart Charities receives 10% of every TeleFlora order when you send flowers through the PetSmart Charities Flower program. Also see my Recycling Links page for their toner cartridge and cell phone recycling program.

Fare Start
At FareStart, food is the tool that empowers lives, nourishes families and builds communities. FareStart provides nutritious meals to those in need and helps homeless and disadvantaged people to create new opportunities for their future through their culinary and barista job training and placement programs. See their website for events and the location of their FareStart Restaurant.

Heroes
Catering with a cause, free delivery in downtown Seattle and Bellevue, $7 for delivery in the surrounding Metro area. Heroes is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides catering services tol businesses and organizations in the Seattle / Bellevue metropolitan area. A subsidiary of Bread of Life Mission, Heroes provides job training, relational skills, accountability, and self-confidence to break the cycle of homelessness.

Northwest Harvest
Northwest Harvest is the only statewide hunger relief agency in Washington. It operates the Cherry Street Food Bank in Downtown Seattle and secures over 16 million pounds of food for distribution to over 300 food banks and meal programs across the state. In an average month, these programs provide approximately one-half million services to people in need. More than half of those served are children and the elderly. Northwest Harvest was the recipient of Lao Hats 5% donation program in 2004.

Senior Gleaners
The mission of Senior Gleaners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food bank, is to alleviate hunger among the poor and elderly and to glean surplus foods, at low or no cost, from every available source, for distribution among the needy members and other charitable organizations in a fair and equitable manner. Senior Gleaners, Inc. is the sixth largest food bank in the nation, and the only all-volunteer food bank.

GOOD
GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. This page lists organizations that help people find free, fresh food in the city. Urban gleening!

Seattle Youth Garden Works
Seattle Youth Garden Works empowers underserved youth through garden-based education and employment. SYGW is a market gardening program for homeless and low-income youth ages 14-22 in the University District and South Park neighborhoods of Seattle. Their goals are to connect youth to housing, health care, education, jobs and community. Garden based jobs (growing, marketing and selling produce) offers youths meaningful work experiences that help them to transition into more traditional work settings.

Northwest Women's Law Center
A non-profit organization advancing social and economic equity for women in Northwest Washington State. Check their website for their legal information and referral hotline.

Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services
ADWAS is committed to providing services to deaf and deaf-blind victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence. It was established in 1986 in Seattle, Washington. The ADWAS model has been replicated in 14 other cities across the United States. Their newest project is building the nation's first transitional housing program, "A Place of Our Own." The organization is committed to providing accessible and safe housing for deaf and deaf-blind women and their children.

Mercy Corps
Among the best world aid organizations I have found for both variety in packages, and percentage of funds going to the needy rather than to their own administrative costs. My favorite package gift is an All Inclusive Mongolian Ger, including furniture based on the needs of the family. They havealso initiated domestic programs in 2006.

Far East Handicrafts
"Creating Hope, Making a Difference" among the impoverished in Nepal. The foundation focuses on partnering with local associations and volunteers to build and furnish schools, and to funding scholarships for children in Nepal. You may make cash donations, or purchase handcrafts through their Far East Handicrafts website. All products on their webiste are made by hand so no two items are alike. They do not import antiques but support the making of new items in traditional and ancient art forms, thus keeping these traditions alive.