Help us help Seattle kids this Thanksgiving

Seattle kids could use our help this time of year and Ron and Don are answering the call.

“Solid Ground is an agency that helps families and individuals who find themselves living in a life of poverty for a variety of reasons,” said Mike Buchman, communication director with Solid Ground. “Particularly with our residential services, out at Magnuson Park — the Sandpoint Community — we have a housing neighborhood with 175 families. All whom have come through the experience of being homeless. They are now in primarily permanent, affordable housing, wresting with the history they brought with them. They are trying to find the goals and dreams they have and make progress toward those.”

Check out Solid Ground

The show is teaming up with Solid Ground this Thanksgiving. The organization says it “helps children and families find stability from the trauma of homelessness

Don with Charlisse Hammon and Mike Buchman from Solid Ground, and Mike Salk. (Candy Harper, KIRO Radio)

by providing permanent housing and individualized support.” Solid Ground touts 22 programs and services to help over 60,000 households each year overcome poverty, including housing and nutritional resources, and transportation and financial services.

It also provides after school activities for youth, access to computers, and help with homework.

“There are a lot of different systems that play in these kids’ lives,” Buchman said. “There’s schooling, sometimes the homeless service system, mental health system, the juvenile justice system … kids coming from challenged communities have a different experience in school than kids coming from healthier, wealthier communities. They are disproportionately singled-out for disciplinary action, etc. They don’t necessarily have access to sports leagues at the community center because they can’t afford the fees. In general, there’s a lack of equity and opportunity.”

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