🍽️ Eat for a good cause

Three-Course Meals from Star Seattle Chefs

As we roll into 2026, Seattle nonprofit’s restaurant-job-training program FareStart is starting to sell out their fundraiser dinners with some of the area’s best chefs. The organization offers free four-month restaurant-industry training, which also extends help with housing, substance-use recovery support, mental health counseling, and job searching. [Seattle Times]

• Featured chefs include:
  • Melissa Miranda of Musang and Kilig
  • Trey Lamont of Jerk Shack
  • Evan Leichtling of Off Alley
  • Janet Becerra of Pancita
  • Logan Cox of Homer

How To Help People Affected by Floods 🫱🏽‍🫲🏼

Multiple atmospheric rivers in Washington State have led to flooding, landslides, and evacuations in our area. We’ve put together a list of resources for people impacted by the floods and hope you’ll be able to find something helpful here. [City Cast Seattle]

• Cascadia Journal has some additional fantastic suggestions including:
  • In Whatcom county in the north Puget Sound region, the Whatcom Community Foundation provides direct assistance to flood victims. Donate here. Whatcom Strong is organizing relief efforts for flood victims.
  • In Skagit county, where flooding was especially severe, the Skagit Disaster Relief Fund provides emergency relief, assistance with essential needs, and long term recovery. Donate here. Skagit County Volunteer Network has a detailed list of a variety of upcoming volunteer opportunities to assist those impacted by floods.
  • To support the Lummi Nation, whose lands are near the heavily flooded Nooksack River, donate to the Lhaq’temish Foundation.
  • In south King County, Auburn and Pacific were especially hard hit. Auburn Mutual Aid is taking volunteers. Email [email protected] and donate funds at their Venmo: @AuburnMutualAid.
  • Many people affected by floods had to cancel planned blood donations, so supplies are running low. Schedule an appointment to donate at Bloodworks Northwest.

PNW’s Native Agriculture Sector at Risk of Collapsing 🚨

According to a collaboration between Underscore Native News and Report for America, Native CDFIs continue to be underfunded from the U.S. government by nearly $7 million. This combined with rising interest rates for loans from non-Native lenders means Indigenous borrowers are at risk of losing their businesses. [Underscore Native News]