North Helpline and Hunger Intervention Program (HIP), two leading North Seattle nonprofits addressing food insecurity, announced today their intent to combine and form North Seattle Food Connection. The combined organization will expand access to nutritious food, prepared meals, and daily essentials—creating a more comprehensive, community-centered system of support for neighbors across North Seattle.
Stronger Together
North Helpline and Hunger Intervention Program are joining forces to create a stronger hub where neighbors can access nutritious food, essential resources, and genuine community with greater ease and dignity. Together, the organizations aim to make a broader and deeper impact than either could achieve alone.
By bringing together complementary services — North Helpline’s food bank, grocery delivery, homelessness prevention, and client services with HIP’s prepared meal programs, nutrition education, food justice advocacy, and meal delivery — the new organization will better address both immediate hunger and long-term household stability.
Community Support + Call to Action
As food and essential living costs continue to rise across the region, the need for community support has never been greater.
Both organizations are grateful for the support they’ve received so far, but recognize that sustaining and expanding our work will require additional partnerships across sectors, including:
- Government partners supporting critical safety-net funding,
- Foundations and philanthropic organizations investing in long-term impact,
- Local businesses contributing resources, sponsorship, and expertise,
- Individual donors helping neighbors in times of immediate need, and
- Community volunteers who make food distribution, meal programs, advocacy, and essential services possible.
Together, these partners will be crucial in ensuring North Seattle Food Connection can meet the growing demand for food, daily essentials, housing stability, and community-based support in North Seattle.
North Seattle Community Focused
Darcy Buendia and Srijan Chakraborty, HIP’s Co-Executive Directors, will co-lead the new organization, and the Boards of Directors of the two organizations will also combine. Over the next few months, more details will be finalized. All services will continue without interruption. Program participants will continue to access food, prepared meals, daily essentials, and support services as they do today, with a focus on maintaining trusted relationships and consistent care.
Aligning the two organizations will allow North Seattle Food Connection to create a stronger, unified presence in the community.
Together, the combined organization will reach more neighbors with groceries and ready-to-eat meals; offer multiple pathways to access food and daily essentials based on individual needs; reduce barriers and improve coordination across services; provide a true continuum of support—from immediate hunger relief to long-term stability; and strengthen community connection through aligned programs and shared spaces.
“This merger is about access, dignity, and impact,” said Chris Morrissey, Board Chair, North Helpline Board of Directors. “By bringing together North Helpline’s food access and homelessness prevention work with HIP’s meal programs, advocacy, and community-based services, we are creating North Seattle Food Connection as a stronger hub for our community—one that meets people where they are and provides the flexibility and support they need. With rising costs putting pressure on so many households, access to food and daily essentials—and the community support behind it—has never been more important.”
Emily Johnson, President, Hunger Intervention Program Board of Directors, noted that “For HIP, our mission has always been about more than meals—it’s about nourishing people and building community through food. By aligning with North Helpline, we can extend that impact and connect more people to the meals, food, advocacy, and essential services they need while also strengthening the fabric of our North Seattle community. We are grateful for the partners, volunteers, and supporters who make this work possible.”
North Helpline has served North Seattle since 1989 through food access, homelessness prevention, and client services that help neighbors meet basic needs with dignity. Since 1998, HIP has delivered nutritious meals, advocacy, youth and senior programs, and education that address food security and aim to build a stronger community.
Together, as North Seattle Food Connection, the organizations will advance a shared vision: a community where everyone has reliable access to nutritious food, daily essentials, stable housing, and meaningful connection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is this happening?
When we join forces, we create a stronger hub where neighbors can access nutritious food, essential resources, and genuine community with greater ease and dignity. Together, we can make a broader and deeper impact than either of us could achieve alone.
Was one of the orgs having financial issues?
No. Many times, nonprofit organizations consider combining when it is not financially viable to continue independently. That is not the case for either HIP or North Helpline.
Will programs change?
Not in the immediate future. HIP and North Helpline are combining to expand our services, so programs will likely expand and grow and evolve as the years progress. We will communicate all program changes as they arise.
Who are Darcy and Srijan?
Darcy Buendia and Srijan Chakraborty are the Co-Executive Directors of Hunger Intervention Program and the Co-Executive Directors of North Helpline as of July 10, 2026. They will soon be the Co-Executive Directors of North Seattle Food Connection.
Darcy (she/her) is the Co-Executive Director of Programs at HIP. She served as HIP’s first AmeriCorps member in 2012 and just… never left. She is motivated by the passion and compassion of her fellow HIPsters as well as the occasional (very occasional) taste test in the kitchen. Outside of work, Darcy is an avid vacationer, karaoke lover, and someone who lives for the summer. While she was born & raised in Florida, her deepest roots are in Lake City.
Srijan (he/him) has been HIP’s Co-Executive Director of Operations since 2015. He holds a master’s degree in Social Work. Before joining HIP, he was the Development & Communications Manager at The Sophia Way, an agency serving women experiencing homelessness. He also has a master’s degree in Computer Science and worked as a software engineer at Microsoft for nine years before deciding to switch completely to the social service sector. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his children, hiking in the mountains, listening to music, or reading a good book.
When will signs change?
HIP and North Helpline are in the process of finding a person to design the new logo and branding for North Seattle Food Connection. If you or someone you know is an artist local to North Seattle and would like to design a logo for us, please reach out to anya@northhelpline.org.
Will staff be changing?
Because we see this as a joining of complementary organizations, we are not eliminating any staff positions. As we integrate our programs for seamless service delivery, we will likely reorganize how each team does its work and there may be some related staffing changes. We do imagine seeing ways to combine teams to more effectively serve our neighbors, and those changes will happen slowly over the next year.
Does where I sign up to volunteer change?
No. For now we will continue to maintain separate volunteer registration portals. When we integrate our systems in the future, we will be sure to let all volunteers know with several weeks of warning.
Will the volunteer opportunities change?
No. Volunteer opportunities will remain the same and you’ll follow the same process to sign up for volunteering. You’ll show up in the same places you have been to volunteer. When we integrate our systems, we will let you know in advance.
Who will sign off on my volunteer hours?
The same people that have been. There is not going to be any immediate change in that process.
Can I still wear my North Helpline or HIP t-shirt when volunteering?
Totally! We love our history, and work is still ongoing to create our new logo and branding. We hope to have new shirts in a few months!
How would I make donations (monetary or in-kind)?
There is no immediate change in how you’d donate. You can continue to donate online either on the HIP webpage or on the North Helpline webpage or via check to either organization. If you have a recurring donation set up, thank you! You don’t need to make any changes in the near future. Workplace giving or other ways of donating can continue as well. As we integrate our systems over the next many months, we’ll let you know as things change.
If I have more questions, who do I ask?
For now, you can direct questions to info@hungerintervention.org or info@northhelpline.org.
I have a complaint I would like to share, who should I talk to?
For now, you can direct complaints to info@hungerintervention.org or info@northhelpline.org.
