Renton's Mayor Publishes Weekly Newsletter

Press release from the City of Renton:

September 12, 2020

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Mayor's Newsletter

In my weekly newsletter I cover all that is happening in Renton, including the most current COVID-19 updates and information from state and federal officials and agencies.

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COVID-19 Resources

The city has compiled resources from several city, county, state and federal entities into a comprehensive COVID-19 page.

• City COVID-19 information

Issue: 61 / Friday, September 11, 2020

Honoring the victims of 9/11 on Patriot Day

Volunteers continue to give back to Renton during COVID-19. One example is Sustainable Renton's free grocery store on Mondays at St. Matthews Lutheran Church.

Today is Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor the victims of the 9/11 attack.

In Renton, it's a day we have celebrated by working with volunteers on a series of community projects. Afterward, we would gather at Liberty Park for a barbeque lunch, prepared and served by city staff, and musical entertainment.

COVID-19 may have interrupted those plans in 2020, but it hasn’t affected volunteer efforts, just redirected them.

During the pandemic, residents from across the city have continued to volunteer their time and talents. It might be picking up groceries for a neighbor, delivering a meal, or checking on a friend or relative to see if they are okay. Maybe it was helping a small business reopen or running errands. In all these instances, the sacrifice of one of your most valuable resources—your time—made a difference to someone in need. I applaud you and thank you for your selflessness.

If you’re looking for opportunities to give back, the city’s volunteer coordinator has compiled a list. All activities will follow strict COVID-19 protocols including limited participation, mandatory face coverings, and social distancing.

Sustainable Renton's free grocery store on Mondays disperses around 20,000 pounds of food weekly. All of the food is donated and volunteers collect and distribute.

Sustainable Renton’s free grocery store

Since I’m devoting this issue to volunteerism, I’d like to introduce you to one of the most successful volunteer projects in recent memory: Sustainable Renton’s free grocery store.

Over the last 24 weeks (through Labor Day), Sustainable Renton has handed out over 280,000 pounds of groceries to those affected by the pandemic. About 1/3 of the total has been gleaned from local grocery stores and Costco and the other 2/3 donated.

What started out as distributing around 3,000 pounds per week before COVID-19 has ballooned to 20,000 pounds at St. Matthews Lutheran Church during the pandemic.

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Sustainable Renton is built on "food justice" or the belief food is too valuable a commodity to go to waste. Excess should be collected and used to help our less fortunate.

The driving forces behind Sustainable Renton are current president Steve Randolph and members of the board, both past and present. Scott Kreidermacher is the original mastermind of the smaller grocery store that has turned into what we see now. All admit they're doing it on the fly and adapting daily. It's been an enormous success.

On a typical Monday, they serve almost 150 vehicles in the St. Matthews parking lot. The vehicles pass on either side of long tables filled with staples. Anywhere between 45 to 50 trained volunteers are on hand to fulfill requests. Everyone is wearing a mask, and delivery is contactless. It's not a "one size fits all" store, where everyone is given the same pre-selected items. Shoppers come with lists to make meals for the week. For some, the wait is up to 90 minutes, but the volunteers make sure those waiting have refreshments.

The store is open every Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., but the work to procure the food items goes on all week. Loads are continually brought to the church. Dry goods are stored in the church and perishables in either a refrigerated truck or refrigerated container. The truck was recently purchased through a successful Go Fund Me Campaign. The container was graciously donated by Renton Innovation Zone.

The store would not be this successful without the help of Pastor Kacey Hahn and the members of St. Matthews. When the store messaged in late June that they needed a new location, Pastor Hahn immediately reached out. She wanted to help and saw the store as a perfect fit for the church’s long-standing feeding program.

It’s been said that we’ll never know how we’ll react to a crisis until we’re faced with one. We've been facing an unprecedented global crisis for months. Through the great work of Sustainable Renton, their group of willing volunteers, and the leadership and members of St. Matthews, the reaction has been just what I expected from our community. They stepped up and are making a huge difference.

One-day drive benefits food banks

Kudos to our Community Services Recreation and Neighborhoods Division who teamed up with the Renton Chamber of Commerce for a "Fill the Truck" food drive. The drive benefitted our local food banks and coincided with National Food Bank Day last Friday.

Kudos also to our community. In true Renton fashion, you responded by donating 2,644 pounds of non-perishable food items and $91.00.

If you missed the event and would like to help Sustainable Renton or any other food bank or need assistance, here's our most current information:

• City of Renton Human Services Resources Guide.
• Salvation Army Food Bank (206 S. Tobin St., Renton 425-255-5969) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday. New clients should bring the following on their first visit: picture identification for person applying and for all members over the age of 18 living in their home (copies or a picture of household member ID’s works); Proof of address for all members 18 years of age living in the household; and birth certificate or other legal guardianship paperwork for all minors living in the household.
• Renton Community Meals (Salvation Army, 720 S. Tobin St.), Monday–Thursday, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• Renton Community Meals (Salvation Army 300 Rainier Ave. N.) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 5:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, 8–10 a.m.
• Sustainable Renton Free Grocery Store, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (1700 Edmonds Ave NE, Renton 98056), Mondays, 5:30–7 p.m.
• Margie Williams Helping Hands Center (973 Chelan Ave. NE) Saturdays, 8–11 a.m.
• 211.org: access point for homeless shelters, food and other related resources.
• REACH Center of Hope and Meal Coalition.
• Doug Baldwin has organized food deliveries through his familyfirstrenton.org.
• Renton Regional Community Foundation has launched a COVID-19 Response Fund.
• South King County Food Fighters.
• Donations to WA Food Fund provide financial assistance to three organizations that supply every food bank in Washington: Second Harvest, Food Lifeline and Northwest Harvest. Donations will fund food, materials, and personal protective equipment, as well as delivery and distribution.
• King County: Emergency food access resources.
• COVID-19 Seattle-area Emergency Food Resources
• United Way of King County is providing free food boxes to South King County community members who have been affected by COVID-19. Sign up.

ALERT Renton provides emergency updates

We've seen the horrible devastation caused by the wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and California. Our thoughts are always with those affected and the firefighters working to contain the blazes.

Fortunately, we have been spared in Renton, but that does not mean we are not continually monitoring the situation. Our emergency management division has been working with Renton police and Renton Regional Fire Authority to develop contingency plans.

In addition to following the city, police and fire on social media, you should also sign up for ALERT Renton. ALERT Renton is part of ALERT King County, a county-wide notification system. No matter where you live or work in the county, you can receive emergency messages specific to your location.

To receive help with registration, contact our emergency management staff em@rentonwa.gov.

I’ve included these helpful links as we deal with severe air quality issues.

• National Weather Service - issues air quality alert through Monday (Sept. 14) morning
• King County Fire Marshal issues a Stage 2 Burn Ban. - All recreational fires are not allowed.
• Air Quality Monitoring Network (State Department of Ecology)
• Washington Smoke Information
• Recreate Responsibly
• Wildfire smoke preparedness during COVID-19 (multiple languages) (Public Health - Seattle & King County)

Business Plan for 2021-2026 adopted

Last month the city council reviewed and passed the city’s Business Plan for 2021-2026.

The plan guides the decisions we make every day through a clearly stated vision and core mission statements. The final copy is sent to each employee and hung in all city hall meeting rooms.
We’re proud of how the plan represents the City of Renton, and I hope you'll take the time to read it.

City receives $100,000 flood control grant from county

We have been awarded $100,000 for our Monroe Avenue NE storm improvement project from the King County Flood Control District. The project will install a permanent stormwater infiltration facility to address flood protection, enhance stormwater management, and maintain our water quality commitment.

My thanks to King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and his office for their work in partnering with the city and assisting us.

COVID-19 Quicklinks

• COVID-19 - resources and information from city, county, state, federal and private entities.
• Statewide requirement to wear face coverings
• Public Health - Seattle King County COVID-19 Dashboard
• Renton COVID-19 Testing Site
• Get tested if you have any of these symptoms
• Washington State Coronavirus Information

Deadline Items

Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program

Today at 5 p.m. is the deadline is the final day to register for the Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program. Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program provides assistance to eligible families with children in remote learning.

Washington state families with K-12 students who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive help.

Renton will waive late fees and penalties and will not shut off water service, in accordance with the governor's Proclamation 20-23.7, until the termination of the COVID-19 State of Emergency or after October 15, 2020, whichever comes first (July 31, 2020)

Puget Sound Energy Foundation launches new competitive grants to aid in response and recovery of COVID-19 pandemic (deadline is October 1)

Mayors Census Challenge ends September 30.

This press release was produced by the City of Renton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.