First Place Partners with Love Center Fellowship

This year, First Place partnered with Love Center Fellowship to distribute much needed warm winter gear to those in need.

The Love Center Fellowship, is a Community based organization run by Mr. Paul Mason. With their organization based in downtown Seattle they have direct contact and impact with our most vulnerable citizens. Mr. Mason has been a long time volunteer and supporter of First Place and our mission; along with being an active and engaged parent of students who have attend First Place schools.

This Winter, the Zumiez Foundation delivered several cases of warm winter gear, including coats, socks, hats, and blankets to First Place. The expectation from the Foundation was that we partner with other organizations who can help us get the items distributed to those who would benefit most. We reached out to Mr. Mason and the Love Center Fellowship, who gratefully accepted the challenge and had the clothing and blankets distributed in short order.

We'd like to thank Mr. Mason and the Love Center Fellowship for partnering with First Place again to help us continue the work on our shared mission of supporting those in our community who have the most need, and those who continue to face the hardships of housing instability. We would also like to thank Zumiez Foundation for their continued partnership and support of First Place.

Thank you, Seattle-Techs!

Seattle-Techs is a local company and longtime supporter of First Place. Seattle-Techs has worked with First Place over many years to ensure that we have the technology we need to operate effectively, and that our staff has the IT support they need.

Last month, like many businesses, to ensure the health and safety of our staff, we made the decision to have everyone start working from home. Because we’re a small organization, First Place does not operate with in-house IT support. When I reached out to Seattle-Techs to let them know our plan for working remotely, they made sure we had the solutions and equipment we needed to be able to accomplish this with little impact to our clients and families.

We want to recognize Seattle-Techs, and especially Ryan and Joe, as part of the First Place team. They are essential to our business of supporting children and families in need.

Thank you, Seattle-Techs, for all your help and support to get our entire staff working as effectively as possible from home!

Thank you East Madison Safeway

On November 16th, the East Madison Safeway presented First Place with a gift of $5000.

This gift was presented during a community event at the E. Madison Safeway to thank the community and their customers for supporting them through a recent remodel.

First Place was brought to attention of this Safeway, and the Safeway Foundation, by Jocelyn Love. Jocelyn is one of the employees at this Safeway location, and also a client of the First Place Family Transitional Housing Program.

Our transitional housing program provides affordable housing to families who are experiencing homelessness. The families can live in our transitional housing units for up to two years. During the two years, case management services are provided by First Place Housing Program Manager, Tina Mapelli. Tina works closely with the families during this time to help them move towards achieving their goal of permanent, stable housing in the Seattle area. Among other support services, Tina helps the clients learn how to look for employment, education opportunities, and permanent housing and subsidy programs.

Jocelyn is close to moving from the First Place transitional housing into permanent housing. Having Safeway as a local neighborhood employer has been a major factor in helping Jocelyn, along with other previous First Place clients, achieve this goal

First Place will continue to partner with Safeway when possible to help bring support and assistance to those in the neighborhood who need it most.

Thanks again, Safeway!

Tina Mapelli, First Place Housing Program Manager. Tina attended the Safeway community event to accept this gift, along with Dawn Mason (Board Member) and Maryam Mason (Managing Director). Tina Manages all of the First Place housing programs, and provides case management services to families and clients.

Exciting Changes @ First Place Preschool

Over the summer First Place has made some exciting changes and updates to the Preschool facility. 

New and returning students were greeted on the first day of school with an upgraded preshchool site.   Included in the upgrades:

• A 3rd classroom to expand capacity for enrollment
• An additional indoor play area
• A new outdoor play area in the front of the building, surrounded by a fun kid friendly fence
• Upgrades to the existing outdoor play area in the back, including storage for toys and equipment
• Updated staff kitchen and offices

First Place was able to make these changes in the short period of time that school was closed for summer, thanks to much assistance from a grant from the City of Seattle, and coordination from Arc Architecture.

Stay tuned for more details for a grand opening celebration to introduce these wonderful changes to students, staff, and suppporters of First Place. 

Breakfast At The Beach W/Russell Wilson

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courtesy of Seattle Magazine

A Healthy Living Celebration with Russell Wilson and Luvo, Inc. 

The Need is Real: In Washington State one in 5 kids live in households that struggle to put food on the table. Breakfast on the Beach with Russell Wilson and Luvo, Inc. celebrated the belief that every family should have access to convenient, healthy, and affordable food. 
 

All funds raised went to support First Place students and families. First Place provides “whole child” support to students experiencing trauma. That support includes providing three free, nutritious meals daily.

Guests enjoyed a healthy breakfast and full program featuring the accomplishments and successes of First Place children and families. Luvo Ambassador Russell Wilson & CEO Christine Day championed healthy living and their commitment to nutritious meals for everyone.