Rain, Wind, or Snow – Hopelink is Here

Online donations will support families recovering from bomb cyclone damage

As howling winds from this week’s bomb cyclone swept across the Cascade foothills, damage to powerlines left over 640,000 households across western Washington in the dark on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 20. Hopelink’s service area of north and east King County saw some of the most significant storm damage. As hours passed, refrigerators and freezers grew warmer, and people were forced to toss away spoiled perishable goods.  

Losing food and going without heat for days puts a strain on everyone. But for low-income families already struggling with food insecurity, this loss is more than just an inconvenience – it’s a setback that can take weeks to recover from. As a result, many are turning to Hopelink for help. But, we need your support to meet this increased demand during an already busy holiday season. 

“Weather events, like this bomb cyclone, highlight the resiliency of our community and also the huge risks for people without enough,” said Meghan Altimore, Hopelink Interim CEO. “On Thursday, as power came back on, it was joyous to watch shoppers leave our Food Markets with full carts to replace the food that went bad. But there are tens of thousands of households still in our community without power who will not have the resources to replace all that they lost.”

Additionally, with schools closed, many parents stayed home from work to take care of their children. For workers without paid time off, this meant sacrificing a day’s – or several days – of pay. 

“Support from agencies like Hopelink will be more important than ever in coming weeks as families work to recover from lost food and wages,” Meghan continued. 

On Wednesday morning, Hopelink staff members sprang into action to support families through the power outage, including by protecting thousands of pounds of food in Hopelink’s food warehouse. 

“That food is like gold and we’ve got to protect it at all costs,” said Jodi Peña, Hopelink Food Program Manager.  

Cold foods were loaded into Hopelink’s refrigerated vehicles and transported to Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and Charlie’s Produce for temporary storage. Grocery rescue operations were spread out across Hopelink’s Redmond and Bellevue locations so there would be additional food items available when the Food Markets reopened on Thursday. 

As the lights came back on and Hopelink Food Markets reopened on Thursday, the residents at the Housing program’s seven sites were still without power. Next door to Avondale Park, Meadowbrook Church helped make sure residents had a hot meal by stopping by with a generous delivery of fresh pizza. 

As his Seattle neighborhood received little storm damage, Hopelink Director of Communications Cade Schmidt scavenged area stores and filled his car with flashlights, batteries, HotHands packs, Cups of Noodles, and hot water while Food Assistance program staff assembled meal bags. Navigating dark stoplights and debris-filled roadways, Schmidt and Housing program staff couriered supplies to the various sites. 

“While we were unloading my car at Kenmore Place, the lights came on and we could hear families in their units cheering all the way down the hall,” said Schmidt. 

Sadly, the lights flickered and went dim again shortly after. As of Friday afternoon, residents at Kenmore Place are still without power. Residents have been provided extra blankets and directed to nearby warming shelters. After she regained power at her own home on Thursday night, Hopelink Vice President of Development, Marketing, & Communications Melissa Pederson dropped by Kenmore Place Friday night with hot pizza and breakfast for Saturday morning.

“This week, as many of us sought refuge from cold homes in restaurants or movie theaters, drove to a friend’s house for a warm shower, or made a trip to the grocery store to replace the food we lost – we can’t forget about our neighbors who don’t have these options,” said Malory Gustave, Hopelink Vice President of Community Services. “Without our community’s support in providing food, flashlights, hot water, snacks, and pizzas, many of our neighbors would have lacked these necessities. November and December are already the busiest months of the year for many of our programs, as utility costs increase, and the holiday season puts additional strain on families. Hopelink is dedicated to assisting everyone in need during the winter, but we rely on the support of our community to make this possible.”

As families recover, online donations will provide a critical infusion for the Hopelink programs our neighbors depend on. With an online donation of any amount, Food Assistance program staff can make grocery store runs to replenish Food Market shelves, Facilities staff can ensure each unit remains warm and cozy, and people who lost wages may apply for Financial Assistance so they can make their next rent payment.  

Rain, wind, or snow, Hopelink will always be here for our neighbors – and that’s thanks to a community that continually shows up for us.