Multi-Service Center

I feel bad for the experiences of the other two reviewers. My family is the face of the working poor. I am a Store Manager for a local non-​profit Thrift store and my hubby is a stay-​at-​home Dad. We have 4 kids — 2 of our own and 2 adopted out of the foster system. Dad stays home to take care of our youngest (3 yr. old) and does lots of running around to appointments and such for our other kids. We also have his disabled aunt living with us. We use the Food Bank occasionally now, but used it a lot when I was in between jobs in 2010-​11. We also got help during that time with holiday food and gifts for the kids. The workers and volunteers alike have always been cordial, caring, and pleasant with us. There’s a real sweet older couple who volunteer regularly and I worry if I don’t see them. And the manager, she is very calm and is able to deal with some real rough situations with grace and care. We also occasionally use the clothing bank and they are real nice there, as well.
My sister and her hubby and child also were helped immensely through MSC with housing. They got evicted and lost their car a couple years back after he lost his job. We let them stay with us temporarily until they could get in to transitional housing through MSC, as it was Winter and they had a toddler and I, of course, would not let them stay on the streets. Well, it was probably only a month before they got into an apartment. Now they live in permanent, new, gorgeous low-​income housing at Sandpoint.
I even remember years ago my Mom (who was one of the first women in King County to be diagnosed with HIV) got help on multiple occasions with her electric bill. People need to understand, though, that there is only so much funding available. It’s not that MSC doesn’t want to answer all the phone calls or help, it’s just the way it is. The need is greater than the funding available many times.
I wish I did not have such a full schedule or I would definitely donate my time and volunteer here.

A couple of years ago I called MSC for some job information and talked with a male staff. But he quickly judged saying to me, «We cannot help you.» before I explained more details of my career questions. He didn’t listen to me. Maybe he didn’t like my English accent or maybe something else. I felt a sort of being neglected, indifference, rudeness, even insult and discrimination.
And I used the MSC food bank for 3 to 4 months before I got a new job in 2010. There were nearly no smile, greetings, goodwill, kindness, warmth and huminity coming from MSC staffs. Only some volunteers who handed food items, showed some smile and kindness.
I never forget these experiences, especially the first one of Multi-​Service Center in Federal Way, WA. But I still remember the volunteers’ warm smiles.

We called 10x a day for weeks last year. They left a pregnant woman, her toddler with Asthma, and disabled mother huddling for heat in the winter in one room praying the next day was warmer. We couldn’t run the heater and PSE doesn’t have any other resources to help out but this useless agency who we never even got past the phone message with. Shame on MSC, PSE, and King County for not having more resources for women, children, and the disabled who need heating help.