SEATTLE — Not only does Food Lifeline feed the community by distributing food to 300 partner organizations in western Washington, but it also has several programs actively working to end hunger including one that just launched in 2024 specifically for teens.
“Getting to be with like-minded people, getting a community to grow and move onto the future and college was super helpful,” said Kaila Korosec, volunteer coordinator with Food Lifeline.
Korosec grew up giving back to her community and she wants to make sure teens have the same opportunity she had.
“I think it’s really important to get teens involved in our community,” said Korosec. “It’s a great place to come here and gather and learn about food insecurity, as well as helping others.”
Korosec is one of the volunteer coordinators for Food Lifeline’s Teen Leadership Program, a program that just started last summer for youth ages 14 to 18. The program includes in-person volunteering, education workshops, and leadership opportunities. Teens learn about food justice, environmentalism, and advocacy.
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“We know that teens are our future leaders. They’re our future voters, our future teachers. There’s no better time than the present to involve them in what we’re doing to try to solve hunger,” said Madison Barbee, Food Lifeline volunteer coordinator.
Like Korosec, Barbee knows the importance of giving back.
“I was involved in a similar program growing up and it really just changed my whole trajectory,” said Barbee. “I had a passion instilled in me for environmentalism and community service, so I know these kinds of opportunities can be that pivot point for teens and that’s what we want to create.”
They hope to grow the Teen Leadership Program in the years to come. Food Lifeline will host the summer program again this summer. But before that, they’re hosting a Teen Leadership Summit, a one-day event on Wednesday, February 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The summit includes workshops and six hours of community service at the warehouse. Spots are still available.
Click here to learn more about Food Lifeline and how to volunteer.
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