The Pike Place Market Foundation recently launched the Power of Pike Place, a new $3.5 million response and recovery program which will triple the Market Foundation’s investment in the social services, small businesses and the people of Pike Place Market, all of which are experiencing extraordinary hardships as a result of COVID-19. From the 450 small businesses shuttered, to senior residents sheltering-in-place and the Foundation’s network of social services facing the pandemic from the frontlines, the Market, now more than ever, needs support from the local community.
“The Pike Place Market has faced some tremendous challenges throughout its 113 year history, but this community has always banded together in times of need. Together, we can protect the values of Pike Place Market and support its recovery from COVID-19 to sustain its future for generations ahead,” said Patricia Gray, community relations manager of Pike Place Market Foundation. “Our network of social services is a model for public health, and today they are on the frontlines providing critical support to our downtown neighbors while our community safety net provides emergency grants to Market workers and residents in need of emergency relief. We also launched a new Small Business Recovery Fund to provide immediate and long-term support for rebuilding Market businesses in this challenging environment. However, the needs far exceed our current resources, and this campaign will triple our investment in the Market community and provide vital financial help during these challenging times.”
The Power of Pike Place Response and Recovery Fund will support three critical areas of the mission of Pike Place Market:
- Small Business Recovery Fund: As a result of COVID-19, more than 90 percent of the 500 businesses in the Market were forced to close or greatly reduce business operations for an indefinite period of time. In an effort to provide quick, flexible and critical gap funding to support commercial tenants, daystall permit holders and farmers, the Foundation created its Small Business Recovery Fund to invest $500,000 into the variety of Market businesses. As a vital tool to rebuilding the Market, it will greatly impact businesses, workers and the region’s economic recovery. For those looking to bring the vibrancy back into Pike Place Market and learn more, visit here.
- Market Community Safety Net: Since the pandemic hit the Seattle area, the need for individual financial support within the Market community skyrocketed. Available for those working, living or accessing community services at Pike Place Market who are now burdened by a financial crisis, the Foundation created the Market Community Safety Net to provide support for those individuals in order to regain stability in the short- and long-term. In 2019, the Safety Net served 103 people and in the past six months, it has already served 99 individuals. The Foundation anticipates the need for such resources will only increase while fighting the virus. For those interested in supporting the Market community and learning more, visit here.
- Social Service Response: The community partners working in Pike Place Market’s medical clinic, food bank, senior center, senior housing, preschool and assisted living facility serve and support thousands while on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Market closed, these services remained open to deploy emergency programs including food distribution and COVID-19 testing for downtown Seattle neighbors in addition to shelter-in-place mandates for more than 500 seniors living at the Market. For those looking to support the various social services at the Market and learn more, visit here.
- Pike Market Senior Center is open seven days a week, for free breakfast, lunch and to-go meal service to ensure any senior in and near the Market can find a nourishing meal.
- Pike Market Food Bank provides fresh produce and shelf-ready foods for Market families and downtown neighbors, setting up a takeaway window Tuesday – Thursday.
- Neighborcare Health at the Market is a community health clinic serving downtown patients that is now on the frontlines by providing COVID-19 testing in shelters and low-income housing buildings and working with community partners to address emerging issues for those experiencing homelessness.
- Heritage House at the Market serves seniors in need of assisted living, while going into lockdown during the pandemic to keep its tenants happy, healthy and COVID-19 free.
- Pike Market Preschool & Child Care recently reopened to provide early learning care for families during the pandemic, supporting working families in and around the Market community.
- The Market Commons operates during this time by helping community members with Market Community Safety Net requests, reaching out to residents living in isolation and organizing access to healthy food, all with its doors temporarily closed so it can ensure the safety of the community.
The Pike Place Market Foundation is also offering the following opportunities to support the Market’s recovery efforts this summer:
- Rachel the Piggy Bank Starbucks® Tumbler: Available only at the original Starbucks® location in Pike Place Market, the Foundation created the Rachel the Piggy Bank tumbler in partnership with the Seattle-based coffee company to benefit the Market and its community. Two dollars from every tumber purchase benefits the Pike Place Market recovery program. Shoppers can visit the original Starbucks located at 1912 Pike Pl. to purchase the tumbler.
- Sunset Supper’s Dine & Donate: As Sunset Supper is postponed to 2021, take the pledge between Friday, Aug. 14 to Aug. 21 to dine locally at Market and Sunset Supper partner restaurants and/or dedicate the value of an event ticket to the Power of Pike Place Recovery Fund. Hungry for more? Visit here to take the pledge.
- Cooking with Class: Join three iconic Seattle chefs for an evening of culinary exploration with recipes and wine pairing suggestions and a food-lovers’ auction. On Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m., stream the 19th annual Cooking with Class on the Foundation’s Facebook and YouTube channel to either make along with the chefs or watch and try out later. Café Campagne Owner and Head Executive Chef Daisley Gordon, Columbia Hospitality Executive Chef Peter Levine and Eden Hill Executive Chef Maximillian Petty will come to the homes of viewers with this virtual event to benefit the senior housing and services in the Market by the Foundation. For more information and to prep the kitchen, visit here.
To date, the Market Foundation’s Power of Pike Place response and recovery program has raised nearly $1.5 million from 1,500 donors, but at least $2 million more is needed to reach the goal of this program in an effort to bring Pike Place Market back to full health and vibrancy. Its community health model is an internationally recognized method that has proven itself exceptionally necessary to community health, and is needed now more than ever during the COVID-19 crisis.
For more information or to join the Market Foundation in supporting the recovery of Pike Place Market, visit the Power of Pike Place website. Stay in touch with the Market Foundation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and follow #PowerOfPikePlace on social media to learn more about the impact of this campaign.
About Pike Place Market Foundation
Pike Place Market Foundation nurtures a thriving Market community so that everyone within it has the opportunity to live their best life possible. Established in 1982 to uplift the charter of Pike Place Market, the Market Foundation partners with, as well as operates and sustains, a network of programs and services to support low-income residents, workers, families and neighbors of the Market. Over the past 38 years, the Market Foundation has granted $36 million to support more than 500 units of low-income housing, community health care, access to healthy food, high-quality preschool and community supports as well as funding essential capital needs within the historic district. The Market Foundation supports a healthy community model that allows a diverse community to live and thrive at Seattle’s historic Market. Learn more: pikeplacemarketfoundation.org.
