Hello Teen Feed Supporters –

Take a look at this article about homeless youth in Denver:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/07/08/denver.homeless.youth/index.html?hpt=C1

Teen Feed has been working with the United Way’s Volunteer Improvement Program to more effectively use our tremendous volunteers.  Take a look at the article about VIP and Teen Feed in the Puget Sound Business Journal.

If you’re interested in joining our Teen Feed volunteer team, email jaime@teenfeed.org!

Here at Teen Feed, we say all the time that our work with youth on the streets would not be possible without the hundreds of dedicated community members who volunteer, donate, cook food, send encouragement, and spread the word about homeless youth. 

Without our newest partner, the UW Hillel, we would not be able to serve meals to youth seven nights a week.  Period.  So it is with tremendous appreciation that we introduce the great folks at the Hillel to Teen Feed!

http://www.hilleluw.org/

Several months ago, the staff and students of  Hillel agreed to host the seventh night of Teen Feed.  Every Sunday night, Hillel opens up their exceptional kitchen and warm dining hall to the homeless youth and young adults in the University District.  The dining hall is bright and welcoming – with walls of windows on two sides and lovely landscaping bordering the building.  The kitchen is certified Kosher, and Hillel has graciously provided a representative from the Vaad to ensure Teen Feed Volunteers are following all the kosher requirements.  It is our newest partnership with a faith community site, and we could not be more thrilled!

Thank you Hillel!

On June 5th, Teen Feed served homeless youth a healthy and safe dinner for the first time on a Saturday!  We now offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets every night of the week.

Great appreciation to our Meal Teams, our Advocate Volunteers, and all the community members and donors who help make it possible.  Here are a few photos from this historic night:

Teen Feed 1st Saturday Banner

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Starting this Saturday, Teen Feed will begin serving healthy dinners to homeless youth every single night of the year. 

For many years, Teen Feed has served homeless youth every Sunday through Thursday night.  In January of 2010, we added Friday nights.  Only six months later, on June 5^th, we will expand yet again to create a seamless continuum of care for youth on the streets.

On any given night, Teen Feed serves 35 – 70 homeless youth a healthy dinner in a safe environment.  This effort is only possible because of the :

• Over 400 volunteers who serve as meal teams – purchasing, cooking, serving and cleaning up a meal for 60 youth,
• Five faith community spaces who host us – offering up their kitchens and their hearts,
• Foundations, Trusts, Companies and individuals who give money – believing in the futures of our young people,
• Advocates and Weeklies who give their time in conversation with youth over dinner,
• Partner agencies in the University District who shelter and support youth on the streets, working in tandem to ensure the needs are met, and
• Community members who spread the word.

What this broad community of support communicates to youth on the streets, in so many small ways, is that their life is valuable.  It might just be mac and cheese, steamed broccoli, and brownies – but the difference it makes is profound.

Click here for the Teen Feed Location Map.  Thank you for joining the effort to offer, build, and ally – and stay tuned for news from our newest night of Teen Feed!

University Street Ministry is now Teen Feed.  We’ve changed our name!

Over the last 20 years, we have worked with hundreds of volunteers, faith communities, and most importantly – homeless youth – who have come to know and trust us as University Street Ministry. But we decided that it is time to move on, to grow, and to change.

Why change our name?

Put simply, we wanted a name that better reflects who we are now and the work we do today. Our work began in 1986 when nurses from the University of Washington noticed that homeless youth were entering the emergency room severely malnourished.  These nurses teamed up with community members and churches in the University District, and Teen Feed was born. 

Over the years, what began as one night of food for hungry youth has blossomed into seven nights of healthy dinners, every week of the year.  We’ve added Support Coordination and Street Outreach to help homeless youth at Teen Feed find their path from the streets.  And we’ve built a strong network of community around youth who have otherwise been forgotten – nurses, church congregations, synagogues, schools, and so many individuals who care deeply and are moved to act.

On a matter-of-fact level, University Street Ministry has been somewhat of a challenging name.  While we work in close tandem with volunteers who are people of faith, our work with youth on the streets has no religious or proselytizing component.  Youth over the years have been understandably wary (until they get to know us!) that we may have some ulterior motive.  Community members have asked us what church we are associated with. 

And then some people just called us Teen Feed already!

We put a lot of thought into it.

The name Teen Feed places the volunteers and homeless youth at the center of what we do – because Teen Feed, the name of our largest program, is what youth and volunteers have called us for years.  Teen Feed is clear, sharp, and easy to say.  Teen Feed has tremendous community recognition.

The name Teen Feed reflects our history and our future.  The community began Teen Feed, starting with just one night of meals and adding nights as they were able. It was after this that University Street Ministry was formed as a nonprofit to support the meal program.  To place all of our work – Street Outreach, Support Coordination, and Meals – under the name Teen Feed is an exciting and cohesive way to approach the work ahead.

Teen Feed has an instant connotation.  You have at least one picture of the work we do, and your your heart is captured to hear more, to do more.      

Teen Feed

Teen Feed is what the youth and community call us, and it is where the vast majority of these stakeholders connect with us first.  We’ll continue to do the work that offers support to meet basic needs, builds strong relationships, and allies with homeless youth as they meet their future off the street.  And although University Street Ministry still slips out from time to time, we already feel at home in our new name.

Teen Feed:  Offer.  Build.  Ally.

For full view of the images used as the wallpaper background for our site, view this gallery:

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These photos were provided to us courtesy of Chris Unten.  http://www.christineunten.com/

Click to view the PDF of the Teen Feed Times: Winter 2009 Issue.

Click to view the PDF of the Teen Feed Times: Summer 2009 Issue.

Click to view the PDF of the Teen Feed Times: Fall 2008 Issue.