Chicken Soup Brigade was formed in the early 1980’s by a group of volunteers who were determined to regularly bring good food and a friendly face to people struggling with HIV and AIDS. Nearly 30 years later, the program — now run by Lifelong AIDS Alliance — remains committed to helping meet the nutritional and social needs of people fighting illness and isolation. And guess what?

Yes. It is possible to eat for $7 a day (that’s the maximum food stamp benefit for an individual, by the way). But chances are, if you have really, truly followed the rules of the Hunger Challenge you are starting to worry. You worry that you may not have enough food to get you through the next two days.

The Early Learning team is excited to continue our important work and wanted to update our blog readers on what we are doing!  The Volunteer Reader Program continues to grow and we currently have over 100 volunteers who go out into our local community to read stories to children ages 3 – 5 years old, but we want more volunteers!  In addition to building important pre-reading skills in young children, this program is very rewarding to both the child care sites that host the Volunteer…

The weekend is (almost) here. Woo! Yay! Yippee! The Seattle Neighborhood Bloggers have done an awesome job of sharing info about community events going on this weekend – below are are a few of the highlights for the weekend of February 11th.

From the Wallyhood blog: Solid Ground is needs volunteers to help repackage seeds for distribution at local food banks – this project is family-friendly so bring the little ones. More info on this, and other Wallingford weekend activities here.

From My Green Lake: A group of 8th grade…

Last September, over 2,400 people experiencing homelessness came to the Community Resource Exchange at Qwest Field for a day of hope and help.

View a KOMO 4 News video about the event here.

The demand far exceeded our supplies, and many had to leave empty-handed. We don’t want that to happen again—and with your help, it won’t.

Our next Community Resource Exchange will take place at Qwest Field this April. 

Each year, we ask…

While most people are aware that MLK Day is a Federal holiday in the U.S. and have enjoyed a day off from school or work, what many don’t realize is that in 1994 Congress designated the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service. Each January, people across the country “make it a day on, not a day off” by participating in service activities in their communities. Last year in Philadelphia, more than 70,000 volunteers served on…

It’s that time. . . time to start making promises to better ourselves in the coming year. We set lofty goals like “I’m going to get up and go jogging everyday at 5 am, rain or shine” (unlikely) or “I am going to quit consuming all of the things that are potentially harmful to my health” (what is left to eat?). Alas, only about 46% of resolutions make it past the 6 month mark. When resolutions don’t pan out, we feel like…

To celebrate its grand opening in Bellevue, the Microsoft Store is holding a “Week of Thanks,” and Microsoft will donate up to $280,000 in software grant donations to local organizations. We’re thrilled to be one of the organizations chosen! The best part? YOU will be able to vote to help us reach our goal. Just “Like” the Microsoft Store Facebook Page and cast a vote for United Way. You’ll get a 10% off coupon for Microsoft Store purchases. And share this opportunity…

“Token days are not the ebb and flow of life.  They ease our feelings of regret about the way things have to be for the remainder of the year.  They do not really change the way things are.”–Jonathan Kozol, “The Shame of the Nation”

Last Friday was Day of Caring, my 13th with United Way of King County.  I was among about 300 volunteers (there were over 10,500 total throughout the county) that spent the day at Qwest Field for the Community Resource Exchange.  In…

Last year Microsoft licensing specialist Forrest Marshall participated in United Way of King County’s Day of Caring to give back to his community and to have fun with his co-workers.

He never dreamed a day of volunteering would lead to a free Holland America cruise.

Marshall won the cruise during a prize drawing at the Day of Caring after party. He was enjoying “amazing food, drink and great people” at the event when he heard his named called as the cruise winner.

“I have never…