I wasn’t living in Kirkland yet during the height of the pandemic—but the stories I’ve heard since are nothing short of inspiring. When schools closed and jobs were lost, this community came together in remarkable ways to make sure children and families had enough to eat.
That legacy of compassion and action lives on here. And today, I’m reaching out to invite you to be part of that kind of effort again.
During recent visits to nonprofits serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Kirkland, I saw something that’s stuck with me: the breakfast shelves were nearly empty.
Just a few boxes of cereal and oatmeal. No fruit. Limited protein options. The basics that help start the day with a sense of stability—missing.
While I haven’t personally faced housing insecurity, I’ve stood in rooms with people who have. I’ve seen the determination it takes to rebuild a life, and how something as small as a bowl of cereal can carry real meaning.
“Do we have cereal today?”
That’s the first thing I ask most mornings. Not because I’m picky—but because it means I can start the day feeling just a little bit normal.
For a long time, I didn’t have that. I was crashing on friends’ couches, staying anywhere that felt safer than home. I didn’t know where I’d sleep next, let alone what I’d eat. Every morning was chaos. No routine, no food, and definitely no sense of stability.
When I finally got into transitional housing, everything started to shift.
Now, I have a safe place to stay. I’m working. I’m trying to rebuild. And most mornings, there’s a small breakfast station—cereal, oatmeal, fruit, milk. It might not sound like much, but it’s a big deal when you’ve gone without.
That little bit of breakfast gives me something to count on. It helps me walk out the door and face the day. It gives me dignity.
But lately, the breakfast shelf is almost bare.
That’s why the Kirkland Community Foundation is launching Morning Matters—a monthlong effort this May to restock local shelter pantries with breakfast essentials.
Food donations tend to slow down after the holidays, but the need doesn’t. And as summer approaches, food insecurity often rises just as support wanes.
Our goal:
👉 Donate Now – every $60 means someone wakes up to a nourishing start.
Morning Matters is part of KCF’s Health & Housing Area of Impact—one of the simplest, most meaningful ways to support people in our community who are doing their best to get back on their feet.
Because in a moment of instability, a bowl of cereal isn’t just breakfast—it’s a fresh start.
KCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
EIN 46-4931717
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