Newsletter: Winter 2019

22 Jan

Spring and Summer Camp Sign-Ups Open

Sign-ups are now open for spring and summer camps! We have a limited number of slots open for each camp and they filled VERY quickly last year, so be sure to sign up as soon as possible. To sign up for camp follow this link and select the camp you would like to sign up for: http://greenplatespecial.org/sign-up/

MLK Day-Of-Giving Inspires Hope

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., Green Plate Special youth supported our community by cooking four gallons of hearty chili for two of Seattle’s youth homeless shelters. So many of the youth we serve wanted to donate their time and energy to give a meal to young people experiencing homeless. We had quite the waitlist! The vegan and meat chili, as well as letters and cards created by our participating youth, were delivered to PSKS (Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets) and ROOTS (Rising Out of the Shadows).

This special session left many of our youth feeling reflective, wondering what else they can do to help those in need. We admire their passion to address social inequity and we encourage their interest in finding other ways to get involved! For many, this was a first experience in directly giving and impacting a local shelter. We know it won’t be their last!

New Garden Coordinator’s Familiar Face

Alex (far left) smiles with GPS volunteers after shucking corn and sorting beans!

Please join us in congratulating Alex Moni-Sauri on her transition from part-time program educator to full-time garden coordinator! Alex will stay heavily involved as an educator which will strengthen and deepen how the garden integrates equally with the work we do in the kitchen classroom. While she collaborates with and closely supports our education team, she will focus the rest of her attention toward the garden and others (including volunteers) who work in it. Her new primary responsibilities include garden planning, seed ordering, garden curriculum design, and general garden upkeep. She has big, big plans for Green Plate Special and we can’t wait to see her creative concepts reflected in our space!

The Little Chicken That Could

We want to give a quick shout-out to Lightning, who has produced BY FAR the most eggs this season out of the whole flock. Thank you, Lightning, for providing nearly all the (teeny tiny) GPS eggs this season.

Lightning is a silkie, a breed of chicken named for its luxurious soft plumage. Aside from their fabulous appearance they are well-known for their friendly, docile temperament. Silkie hens are also exceptionally broody, making them great for hatching eggs from other chicken breeds or even other species!

Incoming Camp Fairs

It’s camp fair time! Come visit and talk to us about some new upcoming programs, our 2019 spring and summer camps and other youth opportunities. Keep your eyes open for the Green Plate Special booth at the following camp fairs next month…

St. Thomas Camp Fair
- Saturday, February 2nd
- 10:00am – 2:00pm
- St. Thomas School, 8300 NE 12th St, Medina, WA 98039
Seattle Camp Fair
- Saturday, February 23rd
- 10:00am – 1:00pm
- Magnuson Park Hangar 30, 6310 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115

We will also have a spot at the Peace, Justice & Human Services Career Fair/Mega Meet-Up (a sort of hybrid career fair and networking event) at Seattle Pacific University on February 6th to discuss employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities for college students and young adults.

Now Recruiting: Board Members

We are seeking committed and energetic candidates to join our Board of Directors. We promote diversity, equity and inclusion in our recruitment efforts and consider all interested candidates. Experience in any of the following fields is particularly beneficial: Development/Non-profit Fundraising, Human Resources, Finance, Technology, Social Media/Marketing, Education, Nonprofit Leadership, and/or Community Networking. You can find profiles for our current board members on our Team page.