FareStart

Barak Obama challenged us to a day of service. So how does a food blog help to heed the call to serve our community? Simple - by highlighting FareStart, one of my favorite programs here in Seattle. I was honored when I had the opportunity to be a volunteer server at one of their Guest Chef nights.

FareStart is a job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. It offers two programs; one for youth focusing on barista skills and one for adults. The adult program is an intensive training program combining hands-on food-service training with classroom instruction, individual case management and job placement services.

A special feature for this training is Guest Chef Night. A weekly highlight on Thursdays, Guest Chefs work with the students to prepare a three-course meal which has been haled as "Seattle's best food lover’s event." For just $24.95 it's also one of the city’s best values!

Students work and train alongside staff of chefs from notable Seattle restaurants like BOKA Kitchen & Bar, Purple Cafe & Wine bar, Serafina and Oceanaire just to name a few.

So here's how you can get involved: they NEED you to be a volunteer server. Community volunteers serve the guests who enjoy great food in support of FareStart and the students. What's more, 100 percent of the proceeds and gratuities from Guest Chef Night go back into the program and fund student services and training.

For FareStart students, it is an opportunity to work with Seattle's premier chefs. For you, it's a great opportunity to enjoy an excellent meal, learn more about the program and volunteer. To volunteer, please contact volunteer@farestart.org.