Acorn Offers Holiday-Related Services

Washington ACORN members and the Washington ACORN Institute kicked off their first ever mobile Prosperity Centers at the West Seattle Food Bank last week.
The group is offering special services such as holiday budget planning and more opportunities to sign up for government and nonprofit food benefits.
ACORN has ramped up its outreach and services just as the local economy is spiraling downwards and holiday pressures are reaching their peak.
Organizers say the Washington ACORN Institute will offer benefits enrollments with a focus on basic food, free tax preparation, mortgage intake, special holiday budget planning and access to living wage jobs at its mobile centers.
The group has also launched a new website with tips and resources for households in crisis, at www.washingtonai.org. Those who need assistance – or people who would like to volunteer with the group – follow the "prosperity" link and sign up for a free website account,
Washington ACORN estimates there is over 70 million dollars in unclaimed basic food benefits in King County alone.
"Those resources are needed now more than ever," said Washington ACORN President John Robert Jones. "It's going to be a little merrier Christmas when we help a struggling single mother access over $400 in monthly basic food benefits she didn't even know she qualified for."
At the grand opening of the mobile Working Families Prosperity Centers, the group unveiled new help in holiday budget planning and announced more mobile sites coming soon to serve the North Helpline Food Bank.
Organizers also posted new times for weekly intake services in King County, at 134 SW 153rd Street in Burien. Basic food enrollment and tax prep will be held Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2-8 p.m., with foreclosure prevention intake Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Call 206-723-5845 for information.