For Immediate Release: REINVESTING INTO BIPOC BUSINESSES

Contact:                                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alimentando al Pueblo

Roxana Pardo Garcia

760-239-7443

chisme@alimentandoalpueblo.org

7/26/2022

REINVESTING INTO BIPOC BUSINESSES

*español adjunto*

 

Alimentando al Pueblo Combats Food Insecurity in South King County

 

 

Burien, WA — Alimentando Al Pueblo, the only Latinx food bank in the country, has received $40K from NW Harvest to establish a Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color Summer Grocery Store Gift Card Program.

The Latinx food bank will be investing an initial $20K into three local businesses: Castillos Supermarket, El Tikal, and Hong Kong Market.

The program will follow their current food distribution model where Community can sign up for food assistance. AAP centers the Latinx community in Burien, SeaTac, Normandy Park, Des Moines, Tukwila, and White Center.

Alimentando al Pueblo will have live music and be joined by the three grocery businesses at the inauguration of the program, August 8th at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church starting at 12 PM.

AAP is also currently fundraising $20K for their La Coperacha, (Spanish slang for “cooperating” typically in terms of financial mutual aid) a summer Fundraiser campaign where funds will allow them to expand their services year-round.

More info about the Summer Grocery Store Gift Card Program can be found at on their social media, keyword: Alimentando al Pueblo.

 

About Alimentando al Pueblo: AAP emerged out the pandemic to combat food insecurity in 2020 after they witnessed a critical need in the Community. They continue to be at the forefront of action to be the only food bank in the nation that sources culturally relevant food items from local Latinx owned and operated businesses to offer directly to Community. Visit their website at AlimentandoalPueblo.org.

Martha Molina

Safety Specialist at Boeing Co

Martha is a workplace safety professional and has been in the worker’s compensation arena for over 12 years. Graduating from the University of Washington undocumented, before DACA, she navigated through higher education advocating for herself to remain in school. She’s currently earning her Masters’ in Safety and Health Management from Central Washington University. During her spare time, she mentors Latina students, translates immigration letters for people seeking legal relief and assists in resume/cover letter preparation. She currently resides in Federal Way, WA with her husband Mario of 10 years, their daughter Dahlia and two chihuahuas, Buttercup and Dixie. Martha holds a Master’s of Safety and Health Management from Central Washington University. OSHA Safety Leadership for General Industry Certification.

 

Susana Contreras-Mendez

Senior Associate for Education Strategy Group

Susana Contreras-Mendez joined ESG in 2022 to support its Post-secondary Attainment portfolio. Prior to joining ESG, Susana was an Associate Learning and Impact Officer at Ascendium Education, where she worked in partnership with the philanthropic team to measure its performance and to support collective learning about its strategy and operations. Previously, she was a researcher at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a policy think tank in Washington, D.C. She conducted research on strategies to increase upward mobility for families, with a particular focus on the post-secondary experiences of student parents.

Other professional experiences include interning at Lumina Foundation and directly supporting low-income families through nonprofit and government programs. Outside of ESG, Susana serves on the board of Alimentando al Pueblo, a non-profit working to promote healing through comunidad, comida, and celebración (community, food, and celebration).

As a former Head Start child, first-generation college graduate, and TRiO Alum, Susana has firsthand knowledge of education’s transformational benefits. Susana holds a Master of Higher Education degree with a concentration in Diversity and Social Justice from the University of Michigan and a dual bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Sociology and American Ethnic Studies with a minor in Education, Learning, and Society.