Wesley Age 12

My first time at F.E.E.S.T.

So this is my first time to F.E.E.S.T., and I had a blast! But in particular, one thing stood out in my mind… everyone there.
When I started helping everyone cook, I noticed how tightly knit everyone was. It was kind of amazing, since I go to a school where people are very independent and competitive. It was almost magical to me how everyone was working together, and everyone was smiling and they were having a blast! I was kind of shy at first, but as their good mood started catching on, I felt more and more comfortable and made lots of new friends.
When I started cutting the potatoes, somebody called Eli was really nice and started helping me. After we were done cutting potatoes, more and more people kept coming in, and I made a LOT of friends today.
And the food- omigosh WOW! It smelled and tasted soooooooo good, it seemed like I was in a dream! I was so amazed how about 15 people- most had no cooking experience whatsoever- made about 10-12 dishes (the soup was GREAT!) by pure confidence and unity in about 1hr and 30min!
Another thing that was great was that I met Will Allen! You know, the guy that made the composting idea? No? Oh well. Unfortunately he had to leave early so I couldn’t really talk to him, but I already made tons of friends today and, well, it was a great day.
After dinner I played piano and it was really fun. And really, when you make about 20 friends, and you had a great dinner, and you had a great day, what could be better to a 12 year old than that? I mean, it would have been nice to know what F.E.E.S.T. meant but really, it was a good day. I wouldn’t have changed this day for anything!
Hey wait, just before I go, DOES anybody know what F.E.E.S.T. mean?

Abdulaziz 17

hello everyone, my name is Abdulaziz(Azooz) and am here to talk about my experience with FEEST. i would like to start with the food, it was really amazing. i learned little bit how to cook food. i like how the people share their feeling with each other. we talked to each other, we knew more about the person that setting next us. we meet new people every time. the most good thing with FEEST that everyone help the other. am really thankful to be here in Youngstown and for all the people are here. thank you, and i wish everyone will have a great time.

Healthy Corner Store on KOMO

This is one thing our FEEST Leaders have been working on!!!!

Healthy Corner Stores on KOMO 4 News
The United Way of King County has been an important supporter of the Healthy Corner Store Project that DNDA is organizing with partners the King County Food and Fitness Initiative and the Seattle Good Food Project. The United Way brought KOMO 4’s Elisa Jaffe out to Delridge this morning to take a look at our work and talk to a couple of neighbors.

Many thanks to Mr. Singh, Joseph Munnerlyn, and Jose Lopez, who agreed to go on camera; and to Marie Reyes and Phillippia Goldsmith, who did a terrific job rounding folks up and prepping them!

See the video here.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/82448887.html?tab=video

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SEATTLE — The number of people relying on food stamps in Washington state has more than doubled in the last two years.

To help meet the growing demand, the United Way of King County is taking on hunger and health at the corner store.

Joseph Munnerlyn is a connoisseur of corner store meals.

“I’m hungry. I’m trying to get something fast, grab me a bag of chips,” he said. “Oh, I love it all — the wings, breasts, burritos, jo jos.”

Munnerlyn picks fast and fried over fresh fruit.

“I know it’s not healthy, but hard for me to pick up an apple when I only got two bucks and I’ve got to feed myself for the rest of the day,” he said.

The United Way is helping one convenience store in West Seattle fill the nutritious needs of strapped neighbors. There’s no grocery store within easy reach for the home-bound or folks without cars. Now, a new refrigeration unit at the store offers space for healthy choices.

“You’ve got lettuce, limes, lemons, and cucumbers — stuff that a family can go home and make a salad and a fresh meal for their family,” said Lauren McGowan of United Way.

Jose Lopez also buys meals at mini marts.

“No steady work and I don’t have no home,” said

Lopez says it’s not easy eating healthy when he calls a van home.

“I like to have these fruits, but they don’t take your food stamps,” he said.

To help people like Lopez, the United Way is trying something new, working with the Delridge community in West Seattle to get food stamps accepted in 22 convenience stores over the next few years. The owner of one store says half of his customers ask to use food stamps.

Next week, the United Way of King County kicks off Hunger Action Week to raise hunger awareness. One idea: try to eat 3 healthy meals for $7 a day, the maximum food stamp benefit.

Charisse B, 18

“I am thankful for welcoming people and community.”

I’ve been to YOUNGSTOWN before, but only for shows and events, little did I know that this small building is the home of multiple non profit organizations. I went into FEEST, thinking I’d just be getting free food. But I got to meet a lot of down to earth welcoming people. I was shy, but it didn’t take long for me to start having conversations with the common people. I loved meeting the new people, and getting schooled on how everything YOUNGSTOWN has to offer. I appreciated all the welcoming arms and people. They acted as a family, and I mostly appreciated the willingness to get to know me. I hope to come back to meet new people, and especially meet new people like me to welcome them with opening arms.

Tammy Do, 16

Fun FEEST with a lot new faces

FEEST, is a time for me to escape from school and enjoy being around dope people. Today was an extra fun day because today All Access had a orentation and after the orentation many youths stayed around for FEEST. It was really fun seeing new faces and meeting more people.
The almond soup today was outstanding with bread. For the meat lovers, there was chicken marsala. There was also a sweet potato for desert. Oh and my personal favorite, carrots!
I very much enjoyed seeing new faces at FEEST and hope to see them again next time.

Healthy Corner Stores in Delridge!!!

Our FEEST Leaders have been working with DNDA and the Food and Fitness Initiative to develop healthy corner stores. This one is about the Super 24 on Delridge Way.

Here is a radio interview about the work:

http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=19159

Erin-18

Taking Chances

My friend Justine invited me to FEEST by saying “hey, wanna come eat vegetarian and vegan food with cool, weird people?” I have become a “yes woman,” so I came! After dinner I had a hopeful, warm feeling inside that didn’t just come from delicious fruits and vegetables. Here were people coming together, making food, sharing what they were thankful for and…there wasn’t a catch. No one was trying to sell anything and nothing was asked in return for a meal and a great evening. I love being active and involved, but because I am shy I have a hard time being social. The environment was so comfortable and friendly that I didn’t feel hesitation talking to new people. I would definitely come back even if the food was bad..which it wasn’t…

Jonathan

Jonathan

FEEST is the illest. The marriage of community organization and cooking, eating, and cleaning is a beautiful beautiful thing. I’m digesting this soup and kale and love feeling entirely too grateful for this grouping of pure souls.

Big love to Henry Luke and Roberto Ascalon for turning me on to this joint.

Quixote 16

hey,
I would like to start off by saying that i’m quite new youngstown, and being that i’ve only gone twice, and knew just a couple people, i felt extraordinarily welcome, I couldn’t believe it! I just moved in with my dad from a place called kent. It wasn’t that bad, but even after living there for years, I never felt the same sense of community that I got from youngstown on just my second day.

I had originally went to see if I could join in some kind of music class, but much to my chagrin the semester was over, so no music class =(. However, unbeknownst to me I would soon be put to work in the kitchen, helping to make dinner! I have almost no experience cooking food, so I was a little hesitant being entrusted with the fate of many other peoples dinners. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded because the other cooks there were willing to teach me everything i needed to know. Preparing the dinner was a joy, we used fresh fruits and vegetables, and made dishes from around the world. We made everything on the table, from the dressing to the drinks.

After some very fun, not to mention extremely educational, time in the kitchen we were able to sit down with everyone else, and enjoy sharing and eating the literal fruits of our labor. Dinner it self was a wonderful experience. First everyone went around the table and said their names and something they were thankful for, then the cooks shared their thoughts behind the dishes they made, and finally the eating commenced! The food was delicious! I haven’t eaten that well in a while. With everyone eating around one big table having a great time, it really felt like I was part of a big family.

Over all, feest was an amazing experience, it really shows the benefits of community, and eating good healthy food. Thank you to everyone who made me feel so welcome! I’ll be back next wednesday for sure =)