START/END DATE: 6/23/2025 - 8/24/2025

Mercy Housing Northwest and United Way of King County are partnering together and seeking a team of full-time Summer Meals Service Members to end hunger in King County. This team will help families and youth access nutritious food during the summer months.  

Mercy Housing Northwest: Mercy Housing is redefining affordable, low-income housing. We’re a national nonprofit organization that is working to build a more humane world where communities are healthy, and all people can develop their full potential. 

Mercy Housing is one of the nation’s largest affordable housing organizations. We participate in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country. We acquire and renovate existing housing, as well as develop new affordable rental properties. 

United Way of King County: UWKC is working side by side with communities to build an equitable future for everyone by ensuring that everyone has access to resources, quality education, enough to eat, and a safe place to call home. Under our priority of breaking the cycle of poverty, we are committed to ensuring that all families have access to nutritious food. 

About Free Summer Meals: Access to good food and supportive relationships shouldn’t end when school is out. In King County, 100,000 low-income students have access to free meals during the school year, but less than 1 in 5 access free meals served during the summer. 

The Free Summer Meals Program is a critical resource to ensure that children continue to have access to summer nutrition support, by serving meals in the places where kids live, learn, and play. National studies show that summer meals programs increase food security and mitigate summer learning loss – but less than 15% of low-income youth in our region access Free Summer Meals programs each year. This is due to preventable barriers – including too few sites, lack of awareness about the program, and a lack of activities and incentives to engage kids and teens. 

Your Role: As a Summer Meals Service Member, you will be part of a passionate cohort of 60 total direct service AmeriCorps members working across King County in partnership with food banks and community-based organizations to connect families with the food they need. Training will be provided in site management, outreach, youth engagement, de-escalation, and data tracking – these skills will make your summer work influential AND they will look good on your résumé.    

Here at Mercy Housing Northwest, you will join four other members in this work to support food security during the summer months in your local area. Our participating locations are in North Seattle: Mercy Magnuson Place and Cedar Crossing, South Seattle: Mercy Othello Plaza and Gardner House, and Kent: Appian Way Apartments.  

Our members will target the barriers to Free Summer Meals through their service. They will work to implement creative solutions that increase access to the Free Summer Meals program by increasing the days, hours, and frequency of meal site operations, while also facilitating hands-on educational activities to engage youth. Additional duties include conducting grassroots community outreach to get the word out about available food resources, which is imperative in breaking down barriers.  

At Mercy Housing Northwest we also provide a robust summer programming experience for all school aged youth. You will be working with staff on-site to plan activities, recruit participants, and facilitate summer programming opportunities.  Your service will aid in protecting participation and access to the Summer Meals program and help ensure that our community is able to achieve a just and equitable economic recovery from the pandemic.  

Desired Qualifications:   

• Self-starters who are passionate about supporting their community and public service   

• Experience working with children in high-energy environments  

• Resourceful and adaptable 

• Ability to build relationships and effectively communicate information to a broad audience, including conducting outreach to parents, youth and other community members 

• Experience working with diverse populations and an ability to apply a racial equity lens towards anti-hunger work 

• Strong verbal communication and outreach to parents, youth and other community members  

• Ability to create a fun environment while following site and food service rules  

• Ability to travel to meal sites, either using public transportation or personal vehicle.  Most sites are easily accessible via public transportation, with the exception of Appian Way in Kent. 

AmeriCorps Eligibility:   

• Must work full-time, 40 hours/week from June 23, 2025 to August 24, 2025. 

• Be at least 18 years old upon start date. There is no upper age limit.  

• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien.  

• Members will need to provide ID documents in order to enroll (social security card, plus a US passport, enhanced state ID, or green card. If you only have a regular state ID, you will need to provide a US birth certificate or certificate of naturalization). 

• Not be listed in the National Sex Offender Registry database as having been convicted of sex-related crimes; and not be convicted of murder  

• Be willing to undergo a criminal history background check, including fingerprints. AmeriCorps assesses criminal history on a case-by-case basis when determining applicant eligibility.  

• To be eligible for the Segal Education Award, candidates must have a high school diploma/equivalent or be working toward completing one during the service year  

• AmeriCorps members may have additional employment outside of AmeriCorps, but this employment should not interfere with service hours.  

   Benefits and Compensation:   

• Living allowance stipend of $1,385.18, every two weeks (pre-tax)  

• ACA compliant healthcare   

• Unlimited public transportation card  

• Paid time off: 2 personal days, 2 sick days, 1 federal holidays  

• Eligible to receive Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($1,565.08 pre-tax) after successful completion of your service year.   

• Childcare assistance (will not cover entire cost)  

• Member Assistance Program: mental health counseling, and access to personal and professional life resources  

• Loan forbearance and interest accrual repayment on qualified government student loans  

• Unique cohort experience, including a 3-day orientation  

Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote and limited in-person operations. As such, be prepared to participate in interviews remotely. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out

To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal or click here: https://fightpoverty.formstack.com/forms/2025_summer_service_member_application

• No resume or cover letter is required.
• The application process moves quickly, please expect a response within 1-2 days.
• Please contact unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org with any questions.