PSLA Covid-19 response
The following is the latest information from the Puget Sound Labor Agency regarding program changes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of Washington State's shelter-in-place orders, the underlying intention of the PSLA staff has been to continue serving our food-insecure community members, while prioritizing their health, along with the health and well-being of PSLA's staff and essential volunteers. Every decision since March, 2020 has been made with this in mind.
Food Bank - Mon/Wed 10 am - 12:30 pm
The distribution of grocery and hygiene products from the food bank in our new location in Georgetown has become PSLA's priority in order to address the changing climate of food distribution and the broad needs of our clientele. To keep things simple, PSLA's hours of distribution remain the same as they were prior to shelter-in-place orders. Everyone attending the food bank, whether it be as a staff member, volunteer, client, or visitor, is now required to wear a protective mask and physically distance from one another when possible - staff and volunteers are required to wear gloves as well. Thanks to the procurement power of the city of Seattle and the office of County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Wells, PSLA Staff and volunteers have full access to sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, as well as additional gloves and masks.
PSLA continues to work with Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and grocery rescue partners to provide a wide selection of groceries including protein dense options (chicken, pork, beef, fish, as well as tofu, eggs & other meat alternatives), dairy products (butter, yogurt, cheese, and milk, including soy, oat, and nut based milks), a wide range of both fruit and vegetable produce options, and dry goods from cereals to grains, oats, canned goods and anything else we can source. Non-cook bags remain available for anyone who doesn't have regular access to means of cooking or storing food.
PSLA has benefitted from the federal CARES act though the establishment of a partnership with Pacific Coast Fruit which, in addition to partners mentioned above, contributes additional protein, produce, and diary products.
The CARES act has also allowed PSLA to purchase four commercial refrigerators and three commercial freezers, which have replaced outdated units and expanded the food bank's total cooler and freezer capacity. Other CARES funds have gone towards items such as collapsible tents, and tables, rubber mats, and space heaters to continue outdoor distribution through Seattle's rainy season. Sustained support from the CARES act and PSLA's community networks will allow our staff and volunteers to stay ahead of challenges while maintaining a safe food bank as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
ANEW Pre-Apprenticeship Partnership
Thanks to the hard work of the ANEW organization, pre-apprenticeship cohorts resumed this summer after a pause to re-structure the program around shelter-in-place orders. PSLA made a priority of continuing it's commitment to ANEW and their pre-apprenticeship students. In addition to contributing food to eat during class and take home to their families, PSLA made sure PPE was available to ANEW cohorts. Then to extend the relationship, PSLA staff made food bank volunteer shifts available for ANEW students to fulfill their community service program requirements. PSLA will continue to support ANEW cohorts with food and resources as the Covid-19 pandemic persists.
RAMP
PSLA's Regional Access Mobility Program has been put on hiatus until further notice. RAMP's journeyman carpenter, Richard, has been taking well deserved time off as he makes plans for the programs return.
Please email us at PSLA@Pugetsoundlaboragency.org with the subject line "Covid-19 Response" if you have questions regarding program specifics or anything left unaddressed. Thank you!
Food Bank - Mon/Wed 10 am - 12:30 pm
The distribution of grocery and hygiene products from the food bank in our new location in Georgetown has become PSLA's priority in order to address the changing climate of food distribution and the broad needs of our clientele. To keep things simple, PSLA's hours of distribution remain the same as they were prior to shelter-in-place orders. Everyone attending the food bank, whether it be as a staff member, volunteer, client, or visitor, is now required to wear a protective mask and physically distance from one another when possible - staff and volunteers are required to wear gloves as well. Thanks to the procurement power of the city of Seattle and the office of County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Wells, PSLA Staff and volunteers have full access to sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, as well as additional gloves and masks.
PSLA continues to work with Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and grocery rescue partners to provide a wide selection of groceries including protein dense options (chicken, pork, beef, fish, as well as tofu, eggs & other meat alternatives), dairy products (butter, yogurt, cheese, and milk, including soy, oat, and nut based milks), a wide range of both fruit and vegetable produce options, and dry goods from cereals to grains, oats, canned goods and anything else we can source. Non-cook bags remain available for anyone who doesn't have regular access to means of cooking or storing food.
PSLA has benefitted from the federal CARES act though the establishment of a partnership with Pacific Coast Fruit which, in addition to partners mentioned above, contributes additional protein, produce, and diary products.
The CARES act has also allowed PSLA to purchase four commercial refrigerators and three commercial freezers, which have replaced outdated units and expanded the food bank's total cooler and freezer capacity. Other CARES funds have gone towards items such as collapsible tents, and tables, rubber mats, and space heaters to continue outdoor distribution through Seattle's rainy season. Sustained support from the CARES act and PSLA's community networks will allow our staff and volunteers to stay ahead of challenges while maintaining a safe food bank as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
ANEW Pre-Apprenticeship Partnership
Thanks to the hard work of the ANEW organization, pre-apprenticeship cohorts resumed this summer after a pause to re-structure the program around shelter-in-place orders. PSLA made a priority of continuing it's commitment to ANEW and their pre-apprenticeship students. In addition to contributing food to eat during class and take home to their families, PSLA made sure PPE was available to ANEW cohorts. Then to extend the relationship, PSLA staff made food bank volunteer shifts available for ANEW students to fulfill their community service program requirements. PSLA will continue to support ANEW cohorts with food and resources as the Covid-19 pandemic persists.
RAMP
PSLA's Regional Access Mobility Program has been put on hiatus until further notice. RAMP's journeyman carpenter, Richard, has been taking well deserved time off as he makes plans for the programs return.
Please email us at PSLA@Pugetsoundlaboragency.org with the subject line "Covid-19 Response" if you have questions regarding program specifics or anything left unaddressed. Thank you!