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

The YMCA of Greater Seattle 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.  

YMCA of Greater Seattle: The YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) nurtures the development of children and teens, equips, and encourages people to improve their health and well-being, and mobilizes volunteers and community partners to address critical social needs. YGS understands that many of our community members have trouble getting access to food. We aim to address this through a variety of Food Access programs that span across the entirety of King County.  

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.    

Join the YMCA of Greater Seattle’s Food Access Department as a Summer Meals Service Member and help ensure food security across Issaquah/Sammamish, Auburn, SeaTac, Redmond, Kent, and Shoreline. Your primary focus will be the daily operation of Summer Meal sites, increasing access by expanding meal service days, hours, and frequency. You’ll also engage youth with hands-on daily activities, conduct grassroots outreach to spread awareness of food resources, support local food access programs, and assist with administrative tasks for program compliance. Your service will play a key role in breaking down barriers to food access and supporting an equitable recovery in our community. 

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  

• Comfort with addressing and reporting situations and/ or conditions that compromise safety or wellbeing of program participants, volunteers, and/or staff 

• Access to reliable transportation is needed to travel to different job sites across King County 

• Knowledge of a secondary language, other than English, is a plus but not a requirement 

Members will frequently move or lift boxes weighing up to 30 pounds. This position will frequently involve service in outdoor weather conditions, and may involve standing, walking, or moving around the service location for the duration of a shift. This position frequently communicates with staff and community members and must be able to exchange accurate information comfortably. 

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.