Amazon donates $350K to vendors impacted by Bite of Seattle shooting

Amazon is donating $350,000 in aid for local food vendors and anyone impacted by the Bite of Seattle shooting at the Seattle Center.

Amazon’s senior manager of community affairs, Taylor Hoang, said that a majority of the funds will be directed toward assisting and reimbursing 130 vendors and artists who were on site during the three-day festival in July, according to The Seattle Times.

Only Washington-based vendors are eligible to receive the grant money.

Vendors who fled Bite of Seattle shooting stand to recover thousands in losses

Rob Johnson, executive director of the Seattle Center Foundation, noted that many of the food vendors who took on financial hardship when equipment and cash were stolen from their tents after the shooting will receive up to $5,000.

Johnson sent an email to vendors on Monday, stating that the Seattle Center Foundation is aware “many of you lost equipment, food, or both based on the urgent need to get to safety Sunday night,” and hopes the grant will “help replace what was lost,” according to The Seattle Times.

Other retail vendors and performing artists will receive up to $1,000, with the disbursements totaling $250,000. Amazon also pledged $100,000 toward marketing and assistance for 30 nonprofit tenants around Seattle Center, such as the Pacific Science Center and Seattle International Film Festival.

On Tuesday, Seattle Center Foundation leaders said that it will pay for any vendor costs, including registration fees and deposits, for any vendors that return to the Seattle Center for the Movies at the Mural events on Fridays.

“Amazon has a deep commitment to the communities across Seattle and the Puget Sound region,” Hoang said, according to The Seattle Times. “It’s important to us to support the Seattle Center Foundation’s efforts to help local vendors, small businesses, and resident organizations get back on their feet after the tragedy that happened.”

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