What we do
Our Work
Collaborative Monthly Meetings
Food & Supply Sourcing
Food Safety
MPC hosts an online meeting at 1:30pm on the second Monday of each month. For more information, and to get the meeting link, send us an email [link to contact form]. These meetings are open to meal providers and partners including food producers and distributors, city, county, and state agencies and coalitions, and organizations working to address the root causes of food insecurity and hunger.
MPC connects meal providers with publicly-funded bulk food programs through Food Lifeline and the City of Seattle. MPC also secures private and public funding for food and supply purchases to supplement each member’s food recovery, partnerships, and purchasing budgets. MPC leverages strong relationships with regional producers and vendors to source food and supplies in bulk at the best possible unit price and then redistributes products to meal providers.
MPC staff work directly with Seattle/King County Public Health to support meal providers in developing knowledge and best practices for safe food handling and preparation. Many of the communities served by meal providers are more vulnerable to food-borne illness due to pre-existing health concerns, limited access to healthcare, or lack of shelter and food. MPC can help your meal program get Food Handler cards and Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certifications for free.
Food Storage & Transportation
Connection to Regional Coalitions
Operations Support
MPC member OSL provides dry, cold, and frozen storage space as well as food and supply transportation for meal providers. MPC transports and safely stores food and supplies for members with limited food storage space or without transportation infrastructure and refrigerated vehicles.
MPC staff and a committee of members represent meal providers in several regional coalitions, including Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) and the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC). We keep members informed about policy and budget advocacy, trainings, and other coalition resources.
MPC staff work directly with meal providers to support any operational challenges. MPC also connects meal providers with other meal providers to share resources like transportation, kitchen and storage space, and food and supply redistribution.
Funding
Trainings & Workshops
Advocacy to Funders & Gov't
Many traditional public and private funders investing in food security and anti-hunger efforts focus solely on food banks and food pantries. MPC staff work directly with funders to ensure that more opportunities are made available to meal providers and the communities they serve through unrestricted and targeted funding. MPC staff also monitor funding announcements and share opportunities directly with our members.
MPC coordinates with partner organizations specializing in food sourcing and preparation, de-escalation and conflict resolution, navigating public benefit systems, anti-racism, or other skills and topics to provide educational opportunities for meal provider staff and volunteers. If your organization offers trainings or workshops in areas relevant to food insecurity and hunger or community support, please let us know [“let us know” is link to contact form].
MPC staff and members work together to advocate for meal providers and communities experiencing food insecurity and hunger in discussion with private funders and Seattle, King County, and Washington lawmakers and agencies including the WSDA, Seattle/King County Public Health, and Seattle Human Services Department.