Volunteer prepares food at Ballard Food Bank.

Photo Credit: Alabastro Photography

The Puget Sound chapter of the Employees Community Fund of Boeing (ECF) has awarded more than $2 million in new grants to 37 nonprofits throughout Washington. The grants support key purchases for the nonprofits such as ADA-accessible vans for the elderly, laptops for a job-training program for immigrant youth, and construction of housing facilities for formerly homeless individuals.

”We are deeply grateful to Boeing Employees Community Fund for their generous support of our future home,” said Jen Muzia, Executive Director of Ballard Food Bank. “This larger facility will enable us to provide food for even more of our neighbors. Plus, we will help prevent homelessness by connecting more people to the resources they need.”

The following local organizations received recent grants from ECF:

Child/Youth recipients: Bike Works Seattle, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Camp Fire Central Puget Sound, Community Youth Services, Coupeville Farm to School, Kindering Center, Parent Trust for Washington Children, WithinReach, and YouthCare.

Food/Hunger recipients: Ballard Food Bank, Lynnwood Food Bank, Minority Veterans of America, Monroe Community Senior Center, and Recovery Café.

Housing/Shelter recipients: Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services, Chief Seattle Club, Interfaith Works, Jewish Family Services, Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness, New Beginnings, Plymouth Housing Group, Puyallup Valley St. Francis House, Solid Ground Washington, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, YWCA of Seattle/King & Snohomish, and Employees Disaster Relief Fund.

Health Services: Cascade Regional Blood Services, Drug Abuse Council of Snohomish County, Entre Hermanos, and Kin On Health Care Center.

Elderly/Special Needs: Alpha Supported Living Services, Bridge Ministries, Community Action of Skagit County, Down Syndrome Community of Puget Sound, Homage Senior Services and Sherwood Community Services.

Community Services/Job Training: Seattle Goodwill Industries and Work Force Development Center.

“The Puget Sound ECF board thanks all of the Boeing community whose generous contributions made our first grant disbursement cycle of 2021 possible,” said John Fueger, President of the Puget Sound chapter of ECF. “We’re very pleased with the number of Health and Human Services nonprofits we were able to assist. Our focus on the direct client benefit for the chapter’s grants helps to ensure member contributions directly benefit those in need.”

By Cathrine Rudolph

Ballard Food back volunteer prepares food for the community.

Photo Credit: Alabastro Photography