Monthly Groceries for Tiny Home Villages: Seattle, WA
In the past few years, young adults and members of the Sri Sathya Sai Centers of Seattle have been actively combating homelessness by building tiny homes in collaboration with Sound Foundations Northwest. These tiny homes, along with shared facilities such as kitchens, create safe and welcoming villages for members of the homeless community.
Inspired by the National Service Retreat in 2023, Sai volunteers sought to expand their service to the residents of these tiny home villages. The team decided to provide monthly groceries to further support the residents in their journey to stability.
Currently, members provide non-perishable groceries and fresh fruits to two tiny home villages each month: Miracle Tiny Home Village in Tukwila, and Maple Leaf Tiny Home Village in North Seattle. Both villages are managed by the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI). The monthly service provides residents with food items - cereals, coffee, oats, vegetables, pasta and sauce, juices, bread, peanut butter and healthy snack bars. Beyond providing groceries, Sai volunteers have also been offering welcome kits with essential items such as pillow towels, personal hygiene items, sewing kits, and dryer sheets.
The Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has expressed deep gratitude for the Sai group's ongoing support, for not only providing safe housing but also ensuring food security for the residents.
Volunteers have shared their experiences and the positive impact of the grocery project, which has made them acutely aware of the ongoing daily needs of the residents, things they take for granted in their own lives. In addition, they feel the project has also been profoundly self-transformational, fostering within them both a sense of compassion and understanding as well as a deep appreciation for the resilience and empathy displayed by the residents.