Hunger Intervention Program

At HIP, we believe now more than ever that it's on us to end hunger in our communities. 

Mission

The mission of Hunger Intervention Program (HIP) is to increase food security for underserved populations in North King County through nutritious meals, educational programs, and advocacy.

Description

HIP's vision is nutritious, culturally relevant food for all people. We serve thousands of fresh, delicious, and nutritious meals each week to seniors, families with children, and people experiencing homelessness. HIP also runs cooking and nutrition education classes and food justice workshops to empower community members to lead healthy lives and advocate for their food rights. We actively engage with local, statewide, and national coalitions of food justice organizations to advocate for policy-level changes to address the root causes of hunger. 

HIP recognizes the role that racism plays in food access disparities and serves communities most at risk of food insecurity. The Washington State Food Security Survey (WAFOOD5), released in February 2024, found that food insecurity disproportionately affects families with children and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. HIP is located in one of Seattle's most diverse and low-income neighborhoods. Most of the families that HIP serves are from BIPOC and low-income communities.

HIP’s direct service meal programs include:

1. Summer Eats, a meal program that supplements school-run nutrition programs for children in the summer when schools are closed;
2. Healthy HIP Packs, which provide food for children during the weekend when school meals are not available;
3. A community meal program for seniors, four days per week, with one of those days specifically for East African elders;
4. Daily meals at two full-service shelters for people seeking stable, long-term housing; and
5. Afterschool meals, offered three days a week at a local library for children seeking tutoring and homework help.

HIP's educational programs include:

1. Cooking & Nutrition Classes for seniors, children, and families through our community partners;
2. Food Justice Classes to help build community power around food;
3. Gardening Classes at our local P-Patch to show children how to grow their own food.

Here are some highlights from HIP's most recently completed fiscal year:

To learn more about us and our work, visit our website and check out our most recent Strategic Plan.

HIP is committed to providing meals during this period of great uncertainty. Donating now will help families struggling to put meals on the table due to cuts to federal programs, tariffs, and the closure of the Lake City Fred Meyer. Together, we can ensure nobody goes hungry.