Meadowbrook Community CARE (MC2) is involved in many projects centered on community and sustainability. These projects include the following:
THE COMMUNITY SHELTER MEALS - Sustainable NE Seattle (sustainableneseattle.ning.com) and its Community Kitchen Group affiliate, work with church and community residents to put together a monthly meal for shelter residents at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church. LA
KE CITY AFTERSCHOOL PROJECT - After 6 years of providing afterschool tutoring at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Meadowbrook (since 2002) MC2's relationship with World Vision/KidReach morphed into partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation and their two community center sites in Meadowbrook and at Ravenna-Eckstein (2009). Along with these two sites we have secured a $3000 grant from Seattle Parks in 2010 to implement a community intake process to design an afterschool program for the Lake City community. The lack of Seattle Parks resources in the Lake City neighborhood was realized through MC2's community needs assessment at the outset of the organization's formation (2008). Along with the organization's other community commitments (Lake City Holiday Project, Meadowbrook Garden and Orchard and the Meadowbrook Creek Stewardship program) it is our goal to be effective and caring partners. LAKE CITY HOLIDAY PROJECT - The Lake City Holiday Project (LCHP) is a partnership between human service providers, donors and the community. The purpose of the project is to provide gifts to low-income children at holiday time. The project was started 21 years ago by Yolanda Martinez who was the Coordinator of the Lake City Little City Hall. Over the years the project has grown to serve over 600 children. SHARE SHELTER AT MAPLE LEAF - Maple Leaf SHARE Co-ed Shelter operates in the North End of Seattle, along with three other churches. The address of the Maple Leaf SHARE shelter is 10005 32nd Ave NE which is the address of Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Meadowbrook. There is also one church shelter operation in Greenlake, three in Ballard, one in Wallingford, three in the University District, one in the International District and two in the South End of Seattle. The self managed SHARE shelter has been in place at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Meadowbrook since 1996. At that time, Catholic Community Services (CCS) began a major remodel and the SHARE nonprofit requested use of space at the Meadowbrook site. Since that time, year-round operations here have served 20 men and women nightly. Meadowbrook Community CARE (MC2) has been primary sponsor at the Maple Leaf site since 2008. Engaging the larger community in supporting the Maple Leaf site has been the major work of the nonprofit. When openings become available, existing Maple Leaf shelter residents screen interested applicants downtown Seattle in the basement SHARE office at the low income apartment building Josephinum. Access to the office is available in the alley between Second and Third Ave, off Stewart Street. URBAN CROSS TREK - Since 2004, the Urban Cross Trek Program has been a collaborative effort of inviting rural Lutheran church youth communities to visit and reside at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Meadowbrook during the beautiful summer months of Seattle weather. The groups have come from such states as Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington. Providing service opportunities (serving meals to those in need or working outdoors on sustainable projects) along with visiting the sites of the local region are part of the what makes this program succeed. MEADOWBROOK CREEK STEWARDSHIP PROJECT - MC2 partners with MCGO and Seattle Parks to facilitate care, upkeep and improvement of Meadowbrook Creek located directly behind the Meadowbrook Community Center. The creek empties into the Thornton Creek, running parallel to the community center's parking lot before dumping into the larger creek tributary. Eventually Thornton Creek accesses Lake Washington at Matthews Beach/Seattle Parks. Beginning in 2004, local provider Ryther Child Center's Outdoor Leadership Program spent summers improving creek trails at Meadowbrook. New spall, gravel and trail timbers were installed to improve safe navigation. Local and out of state college groups also have provided yearly volunteer time to this community trail. Urban Cross Trek has also spent yearly visits offering their time and effort. MC2 advocated, organized and help facilitate yearly visits. MEADOWBROOK COMMUNITY GARDEN AND ORCHARD (MCGO) - In partnership with Sustainable NE Seattle, Seattle Parks and City Fruit, MC2 has supported the building of the Meadowbrook Community Garden (2011) at Meadowbrook Park. It is located west of the tennis courts and Nathan Hale High School. MC2 also helps facilitate the expansion, maintenance and improvement of the Meadowbrook Orchard which borders NE 105th. Most funding for both projects come from the Meadowbrook Community Center Advisory Council. All construction, maintenance and care at both sites is provided by volunteers. Portions of past, present and future harvests from both sites are donated to the Community Shelter Meal when available. Cooking classes at the Meadowbrook Community Center and Lake City Food Bank are also beneficiaries of this community effort.
