Seattle to issue $800 grocery vouchers to 1,000 people impacted by COVID-19 outbreak

The mayor's office this week announced its plans to expand its grocery voucher program to help more people in need with funds from a $1 million donation from Oak View Group and NHL Seattle. Of the $1 million, $800,000 is going to United Way of King County for the city's grocery voucher program and the other $200,000 is going to support artists and cultural organizations. less The mayor's office this week announced its plans to expand its grocery voucher program to help more people in need with funds from a $1 million donation from Oak View Group and NHL Seattle. Of the $1 million, ... more Photo: Kristina Moy Photo: Kristina Moy Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Seattle to issue $800 grocery vouchers to 1,000 people impacted by COVID-19 outbreak 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

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About 1,000 people in Seattle will receive $800 grocery vouchers as part of an effort by the city to provide more relief to workers who have lost their jobs and incomes due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The mayor's office this week announced its plans to expand its grocery voucher program to help more people in need with funds from a $1 million donation from Oak View Group and NHL Seattle. Of the $1 million, $800,000 is going to United Way of King County for the voucher program and the other $200,000 is going to support artists and cultural organizations.

“We know that working people in Seattle are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our region is transitioning from having one of the lowest unemployment rates anywhere, to seeing unemployment claims soar statewide,” Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement. “These grocery vouchers will be critical to helping working families put food on the table."

Durkan said the city has been working to provide various forms of relief to help people who have lost their jobs or had their hours cut due to the crisis -- but it's still not enough.

"For the tens of millions of families struggling right now, we need Congress to provide urgent relief for housing, food, and workers," Durkan said.

The grocery vouchers can be spent at any Safeway store in the state on food and household items. The vouchers will be prioritized for workers who don't have access to many other forms of aid, for reasons such as language barriers or fear of deportation, the city said.

To distribute the vouchers, United Way of King County is teaming up with organizations including Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Ingersoll Gender Center, Providence Regina House, Refugee Women’s Alliance and Villa Comunitaria to identify the households most in need.

“We know the need for food assistance at this time of crisis is great and still growing, and this voucher program puts the purchasing power directly in the hands of people in need," United Way CEO and President Gordon McHenry, Jr. said in a statement. "We hope to continue to provide help to as many people as possible. The number of people we can help is only limited by the donations available in our Community Relief Fund.”

Durkan last month announced the city would issue thousands of grocery vouchers to families participating in city-supported child care programs or food assistance programs.

The coronavirus outbreak continues to impact thousands of workers in the region who are struggling to pay for rent and other basic necessities without a steady income.

Officials have said in recent weeks the social distancing measures put into place appear to be working to slow the spread of the virus. But experts have warned lifting the measures too soon or too quickly could result in another surge in the state of cases and hospitalizations from the virus.

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