Better Together Service Day with BECU
April 26, 2026
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
4333 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA
Help fight food insecurity with the UWAA and BECU.
The UWAA, BECU and the U District Partnership are uniting for a volunteer service day in the University District. Join the pack as we give back to our community.
Gather at 9 a.m. to meet your fellow Husky volunteers over a cup of coffee and a bagel, then get to work supporting U District nonprofits.
Projects
Cleaning up the U District with Teen Feed and the U District Partnership
Clean windows at local shops, pick up trash and report graffiti on the Find It Fix It app with the U District Partnership; clean up around the Teen Feed Office, the University District Youth Center and University Congregational United Church of Christ. Activities will take place outside and require walking around, bending, lifting and cleaning. Activity level: Moderate
- Since 1984, Teen Feed works with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with houseless and food insecure youth as they meet their futures off the streets. Teen Feed serves a hot, nutritious meal every single night of the year.
- The U District Partnership serves all who work in, live in, and visit Seattle’s University District. We work to foster and sustain a vibrant, diverse, and healthy neighborhood for the common good.
Serving food with the People’s Breakfast
Help serve a hot breakfast to individuals and families at University Heights Community Center. Activities will take place outdoors, and involve walking (to University Heights at 50th Street & University Way, a six-minute stroll), standing and social interaction. Activity level: Moderate
- Seattle Mutual Aid Coalition is an action-oriented group that provides free breakfast, every single Sunday, for all who need it.
Preparing and organizing food with the University District Food Bank
Support behind-the-scenes prep and organization at the University District Food Bank. Activities will take place indoors, and involve walking (to the food bank at 50th Street & Roosevelt Way, a ten-minute stroll), bending, packing, lifting and cleaning. Activity level: Moderate
- The University District Food Bank has a mission is to support people experiencing food insecurity in Northeast Seattle by providing high quality, culturally familiar food and connecting them with vital resources.
Supporting UW Food Pantry and Friday Feast
Wrap up cutlery for Friday Feast and pack toiletry kits for distribution at the UW Food Pantry. Activities will take place indoors at Washington Commons (no walking required!) and involve repetitive actions like writing, packing small items and wrapping napkins around cutlery. This work can be done standing or sitting. Activity level: Low
- Friday Feast is one of Seattle’s longest running community meals. Every Friday, for nearly 30 years, Church on the Ave staff has worked with dedicated volunteers to turn donated food and supplies into a restaurant-quality meal for our neighbors in need.
- UW Food Pantry provides food to students, staff and faculty who may be experiencing short-term food insecurity. If folks are making a choice between the food they need for a healthy life and other pressing priorities, they are here to relieve some of the stress of that experience.
Sign up
- Registration is required. Volunteers are asked to select the project area they are most interested in.
- Participants must be at least 16 years old.
- Non-profit partners might ask volunteers to sign a waiver prior to participation.
- UW students, alumni, staff, faculty and retirees are welcome to join the event.
UWAA events and programs are open to everyone regardless of race, sex or other identity.
Donate food and supplies
In addition to our day of service, the UWAA is accepting donations of food and requested supplies to help support our participating community partners as they help our U District community (please, no cash donations).
Donation bins will be set up throughout April at select UWAA events and in the Washington Commons lobby, just off the courtyard immediately south of UW Tower. Washington Commons is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Registered volunteers may bring in-kind donations with them on the event date.
Unopened, shelf-stable, and unexpired foods
- Canned Meats
- Dried & Canned Fruit
- Canned Soup
- Cooking oil
- Peanut butter
- Dry Cereals
- Rice
- Flour
- Pasta
- Boxes of mac and cheese
- Instant oatmeal, granola
- Pre-Ground Coffee
- Hot Cocoa Packets
Personal Hygiene Products
- Menstrual products
- Baby Diapers (Sizes 5 and 6)
- Toilet Paper
- Sunscreen
- Travel toothpaste & toothbrushes
Tableware
- 9” x 6” Compostable Serving Trays
- 12oz Hot Cups
- Plastic Forks
Know before you go
- Volunteers will begin their shift at the Washington Commons lobby at 9 a.m.
- Parking is free, but limited on Sunday. Consider public transport.
- Dress in layers for inclement weather.
- In-kind donations will be collected onsite.
Special thanks to our partners
Additional thanks to our community organization partners:
University District Food Bank | The UW Food Pantry
Seattle Mutual Aid Coalition | Friday Feast | Teen Feed