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Transforming lives
through food

We help people overcoming barriers to employment gain job and life skills while feeding our community. It starts with food but grows from there into career pathways that provide stability and economic mobility.

WHO WE ARE

FareStart is a social enterprise nonprofit focused on job training and employment. We run food-based businesses that serve as classrooms for our students to learn on-the-job skills that will prepare them for careers while nourishing the community and sustainably funding our mission. Our end goal is personal stability and economic mobility for people overcoming barriers to employment.

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Our Programs

The holistic approach to our programs helps address the root causes of poverty and food insecurity.

DINING

Food is the foundation of our work. It’s the tool we use to transform lives, disrupt poverty and nourish communities.

Our model has far-reaching impact

We measure the impact of everything we do to ensure we’re delivering on our mission to disrupt poverty and nourish communities through food, life skills and job training.

7,891

students enrolled

Nearly 8,000 students have enrolled in FareStart job training programs since 1992, working to support themselves and their families.

68%

job placement rate

On average, 68% of adult students have secured jobs within 90 days of graduating from our job training programs since 1992.

19.7M

Meals prepared

Since 1992, we have prepared nearly 20 million meals for local nonprofits, shelters, respite centers, youth and adult daycare centers and schools.

358

Organizations Impacted

Over the past 20+ years, we have consulted with over 350 organizations in 51 states and provinces across the U.S. and Canada to advance job training programs and realize better employment outcomes.

News

Stay up to date on all the latest FareStart news.

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Be the first to hear what’s up at FareStart and share it with your friends and community.

  • Make your weekday routine easier with FareStart’s grab & go options. Sandwiches, salads, breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches—simple options made fresh. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #SeattleEats #GrabAndGo #LunchMadeEasy
  • In honor of Memorial Day, FareStart Restaurant, FareStart Café, our job training programs and offices are closed today. We’re deeply grateful to our dedicated staff who continue working behind the scenes to ensure meals are still reaching our community—your commitment makes all the difference. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow. #FareStart #FoodSecurity #CommunityMeals
  • A new opportunity can start with the right support system. If you or someone you know is looking for job training, career guidance and a welcoming community, FareStart’s free job training programs are here to help people take the next step forward. Whether someone is interested in food service, barista training or another career pathway, our team helps each student figure out which program is the right fit for their goals. Participants can also receive a cash stipend during training. At FareStart, no one has to navigate the journey alone. Learn more and get connected. Job training information in bio. #FareStart #JobTraining #TransformingLives #Community
  • Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
  • Crispy and with just the right amount of kick. 🔥 FareStart Restaurant’s crispy chicken sandwich is stacked with fresh lettuce, crunchy pickles and mayo in a perfectly toasted bun. Add a splash of Nashville hot sauce for a spicy finish. Place your order. Click the link in bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #CrispyChicken #SeattleEats
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Make your weekday routine easier with FareStart’s grab & go options. Sandwiches, salads, breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches—simple options made fresh. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #SeattleEats #GrabAndGo #LunchMadeEasy
@_farestart
@_farestart
•
Follow
Make your weekday routine easier with FareStart’s grab & go options. Sandwiches, salads, breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches—simple options made fresh. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #SeattleEats #GrabAndGo #LunchMadeEasy
6 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
In honor of Memorial Day, FareStart Restaurant, FareStart Café, our job training programs and offices are closed today. We’re deeply grateful to our dedicated staff who continue working behind the scenes to ensure meals are still reaching our community—your commitment makes all the difference. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow. #FareStart #FoodSecurity #CommunityMeals
@_farestart
@_farestart
•
Follow
In honor of Memorial Day, FareStart Restaurant, FareStart Café, our job training programs and offices are closed today. We’re deeply grateful to our dedicated staff who continue working behind the scenes to ensure meals are still reaching our community—your commitment makes all the difference. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow. #FareStart #FoodSecurity #CommunityMeals
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/5
A new opportunity can start with the right support system. If you or someone you know is looking for job training, career guidance and a welcoming community, FareStart’s free job training programs are here to help people take the next step forward. Whether someone is interested in food service, barista training or another career pathway, our team helps each student figure out which program is the right fit for their goals. Participants can also receive a cash stipend during training. At FareStart, no one has to navigate the journey alone. Learn more and get connected. Job training information in bio. #FareStart #JobTraining #TransformingLives #Community
A new opportunity can start with the right support system. If you or someone you know is looking for job training, career guidance and a welcoming community, FareStart’s free job training programs are here to help people take the next step forward. Whether someone is interested in food service, barista training or another career pathway, our team helps each student figure out which program is the right fit for their goals. Participants can also receive a cash stipend during training. At FareStart, no one has to navigate the journey alone. Learn more and get connected. Job training information in bio. #FareStart #JobTraining #TransformingLives #Community
A new opportunity can start with the right support system. If you or someone you know is looking for job training, career guidance and a welcoming community, FareStart’s free job training programs are here to help people take the next step forward. Whether someone is interested in food service, barista training or another career pathway, our team helps each student figure out which program is the right fit for their goals. Participants can also receive a cash stipend during training. At FareStart, no one has to navigate the journey alone. Learn more and get connected. Job training information in bio. #FareStart #JobTraining #TransformingLives #Community
A new opportunity can start with the right support system. If you or someone you know is looking for job training, career guidance and a welcoming community, FareStart’s free job training programs are here to help people take the next step forward. Whether someone is interested in food service, barista training or another career pathway, our team helps each student figure out which program is the right fit for their goals. Participants can also receive a cash stipend during training. At FareStart, no one has to navigate the journey alone. Learn more and get connected. Job training information in bio. #FareStart #JobTraining #TransformingLives #Community
@_farestart
@_farestart
•
Follow
A new opportunity can start with the right support system. If you or someone you know is looking for job training, career guidance and a welcoming community, FareStart’s free job training programs are here to help people take the next step forward. Whether someone is interested in food service, barista training or another career pathway, our team helps each student figure out which program is the right fit for their goals. Participants can also receive a cash stipend during training. At FareStart, no one has to navigate the journey alone. Learn more and get connected. Job training information in bio. #FareStart #JobTraining #TransformingLives #Community
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
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Last week’s Guest Chef Night welcomed Chef Kevin Smith (@the_english_butcher) of Beast & Cleaver (@beastandcleaver), The Little Beast (@littlebeastballard) and The Peasant into FareStart Restaurant for a night of thoughtful cooking, hands-on learning and great food. Our students and graduates worked alongside Kevin and his team, picking up new skills, asking questions and getting a close-up look at the care and craft behind every dish. If you haven’t made it to Beast & Cleaver or The Little Beast in Ballard, it’s well worth the visit. Kevin’s approach to whole-animal butchery and cooking is distinctive. We’re grateful to Chef Kevin for his support of our students and mission. Thank you as well to the volunteer servers from Amazon (@amazon), and to US Foods (@us_foods) and Wells Fargo (@wellsfargo) for helping make the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us at the table. Our summer Guest Chef Night lineup is now live through September, and tickets are selling fast. We’d love to welcome you into the FareStart kitchen for one of these special evenings. Check out the Guest Chef Night link in our bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #GuestChefNight #SeattleEats
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
Crispy and with just the right amount of kick. 🔥 FareStart Restaurant’s crispy chicken sandwich is stacked with fresh lettuce, crunchy pickles and mayo in a perfectly toasted bun. Add a splash of Nashville hot sauce for a spicy finish. Place your order. Click the link in bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #CrispyChicken #SeattleEats
@_farestart
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•
Follow
Crispy and with just the right amount of kick. 🔥 FareStart Restaurant’s crispy chicken sandwich is stacked with fresh lettuce, crunchy pickles and mayo in a perfectly toasted bun. Add a splash of Nashville hot sauce for a spicy finish. Place your order. Click the link in bio. #FareStart #FareStartRestaurant #CrispyChicken #SeattleEats
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
5/5

How you can help

There are many ways to support our mission. With your help, FareStart is transforming lives, disrupting poverty and nourishing communities through food, life skills and job training.

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A Job Changes Everything

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