Readers Care Fund: FareStart aims to 'transform the lives of homeless'

Each week, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer profiles an organization that needs support. Today, we hear from Megan Karch, executive director of FareStart, a local charity that operates a 16-week program in which disadvantaged adults learn to prepare, cook, package and deliver 2,500 meals a day to local homeless shelters and low-income child care centers. The charity is one of five being helped by the P-I's 2005 Readers Care Fund drive. Athima Chansanchai's interview with Karch originally appeared Nov. 25.

What were FareStart's origins and its primary mission?

"FareStart (formerly called Common Meals) was originally founded by a chef, David Lee. His original intention was to provide nutritious, quality meals to those in need. He began providing meals out of a church basement and delivering them in his pickup truck. A few years later, he 'got smart' and realized that while providing meals to those in need was important, perhaps it was more important to provide a way out.

"Our training and job-placement program was developed from there, and we began as a non-profit in 1992. The first year, we served 10 individuals and provided over 60,000 meals to those in need. Last year, we served over 300 individuals and provided over 600,000 meals to those in need."

How has it evolved to what it is now? How is it distinct from other non-profits?

"FareStart has evolved into a highly successful socio-entrepreneurial non-profit generating close to 50 percent of its revenue from its business operations and providing over 300 individuals the opportunity to transform their lives.

"The adult training program began with designing an entry-level, back-of-the-house culinary training program. It evolved into a comprehensive program designed to transform the lives of those who are homeless. In addition to culinary training, we provide social services including case management, housing, transportation, counseling, life skills and job placement."

Where do FareStart graduates begin, and where do they end up?

"Typical place that our students begin? Rock bottom. They usually come into FareStart 'broken.' They have lost everything -- family, friends, employment and housing. Students at FareStart are given an opportunity to rebuild.

"Typical place that our students end up? Working in the hospitality industry in an entry-level-type prep cook or wait-staff position, living in stable housing and planning for 'what next.' "

FareStart is at the tail end of an $8 million capital campaign. Why do you need new digs?

"We need the new digs because we have simply run out of room! We have gone to two shifts to increase capacity. We have partnered with other organizations. We have converted storage rooms to training rooms and closets to offices."

-- Athima Chansanchai