Local

U.S. Marshals, Downtown Seattle Association team up to feed homeless

SEATTLE — About 200 homeless people in Seattle now have a meal they can eat anytime, anywhere thanks to an idea from the local U.S. Marshals Service office.

The Marshals had MREs – meals ready to eat -- that were set to expire at the end of the year.

So on Thursday they teamed up with the Downtown Seattle Association to hand the packets out to people who need them now.

“This is not something we normally do,” said U.S. Marshals Assistant Chief Kayla Celaya, who had the idea to donate them.

“This is outreach and the homeless people are part of our community.

The people who would need these meals, they don't have to show up to a food line at a certain time or wherever, they can take them and eat them wherever they want.”

After first calling Seattle police, she was directed to the Downtown Seattle Association, which has n Outreach and Engagement team of 11 full-time workers.

“We got some food for you,” said Outreach Specialist Judy Parker as she distributed the MREs in Pioneer Square.

“I'm from an outreach group.”

They handed out a wide variety of meals, from beef enchiladas to sloppy joes.

“Chicken and pasta, there it is,” said Ray Andrada, who has lived on the streets of Pioneer Square.

Andrada told KIRO 7 he’s had the MREs, which are commonly used in the military.

And he says they’re great in a tough spot.

“Honestly this will probably go in my pack,” said Andrada.

“Until I absolutely needed it.”

The work on Thursday was about more than handing out food.

The outreach team used it to build relationships to get homeless people the services they need, with the goal of ending Seattle homelessness.

Celaya with the U.S. Marshals told KIRO 7 that was exactly their goal.