Why Become a Meal Partner?

Your meal can make a meaningful difference to someone spending a cold or difficult night at the shelter.

As a Meal Partner, you help us:

Provide warmth.
A hot meal helps make the shelter feel welcoming and safe.

Provide dignity.
Everyone deserves access to a nourishing meal, regardless of their circumstances.

Strengthen our community.
Meal partnerships bring local businesses, organizations, and neighbors together to care for people in our community.

Be Part of the Mission.
As a Meal Partner, you become part of our community response—helping provide warmth, nourishment, safety, and dignity to our neighbors when they need it most.

Help Us Make Sure No One Goes Hungry on a Cold Night

When the weather turns dangerous, the Marysville Emergency Weather Shelter (MEWS) opens its doors to provide a warm, safe place for people in our community to stay.

A warm meal is an important part of that welcome.

Whether you are a local restaurant, business, faith community, civic organization, community group, or individual, we would love to have you join our Meal Partner network.

You don't have to commit to providing meals every night. Even providing one meal during the season can make a difference.

Complete the Meal Partner Interest Form and let us know how you would like to help. When the shelter is activated and meals are needed, our team will contact participating partners with the details.

Thank you for helping us make sure our neighbors have a warm meal when they need it most.

Meal Partner Interest Form

What You Should Know (FAQS)

  • The Marysville Emergency Weather Shelter operates November 1 through March 31. It only opens when weather conditions meet Snohomish County’s criteria for activation, which is 34 degrees or below. Because the shelter only operates when needed due to inclement weather, meals are only needed on nights when the shelter is open.

  • We welcome a variety of meals! Meals should be warm, filling, nutritious, and easy to serve. A meal might include an entrée, side dish, fruit or vegetable, and a simple dessert or beverage if desired.

    Meals may be prepared by a restaurant, catered, purchased, or provided by an approved community group or organization.

    For all meals, please package food in disposable containers whenever possible. This helps make serving and cleanup easier for shelter staff and volunteers.

  • We expect to serve an average of approximately 40 people per night when the shelter is open. Meal Partners should generally plan to provide approximately 40 individual servings. Guest numbers may vary depending on weather conditions and community need.

  • Yes. We ask that those preparing meals have proof of a Food Handler’s Card and be able to submit a copy of it to the Shelter Director, Jessica Reyes-Bream at jessica@lincnw.org.

    Food Handler Cards are available via this link here. Cost is $10 per card.

  • Meal needs depend on when the shelter is activated. Whenever possible, our team will contact Meal Partners in advance when weather conditions indicate the shelter is likely to open.

    Our goal is to provide at least 48 hours’ notice, but because shelter activation is based on weather conditions and official notification from Snohomish County, advance notice is not always possible. In some cases, Meal Partners may receive 24 hours’ notice or less.

    We appreciate our Meal Partners’ flexibility and understanding as we respond to changing weather conditions and shelter needs.

  • Whenever possible, Meal Partners should plan to deliver meals directly to the shelter. You can indicate on the Meal Partner Interest Form whether you are able to provide delivery, and we will share the appropriate delivery location and instructions when we contact you about a meal opportunity.

    If delivery is not possible, meal pickup may be arranged with advance notice. Because pickup requires coordinating available shelter staff or volunteers, we ask Meal Partners to let us know at the beginning of their commitment if pickup will be needed. Changes from week to week may not be able to be accommodated.

    For all meals, please package food in disposable containers whenever possible. This helps make serving and cleanup easier for shelter staff and volunteers.

  • While we prefer Meal Partners who are able to make a weekly commitment during shelter activations, we understand that not everyone has the capacity to participate that often. We are happy to welcome partners who can provide a one-time meal, help occasionally, or participate as their availability allows.

    Becoming a Meal Partner does not mean you are committing to provide a meal every time the shelter opens. When you complete the interest form, we’ll learn more about your availability and the type of commitment that works best for you. Our team will then contact you when meal opportunities align with what you are able to provide.

    Whether you can support us weekly or just once, your participation helps us ensure shelter guests have a warm meal when the shelter is open.

  • We understand that every Meal Partner has different resources and capacity. If you are unable to provide a full meal for approximately 40 guests, we still welcome your support.

    We also accept frozen “emergency” meals that can be kept on hand for nights when a scheduled Meal Partner is unable to provide a meal or when we have more guests than expected. These backup meals help ensure that everyone can still be served when unexpected needs arise.

    We also have ongoing breakfast needs, including needing frozen breakfast burritos and individual packets of instant coffee.

    When completing the interest form, simply let us know what you are able to provide and how you would like to participate. We are grateful for support in whatever way works best for you.