EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

FOOD LIFELINE

December 2023

Community in Action: Food Packing Day at Food Lifeline

On October 27th, 2023, the Upward team stepped away from drawings and job sites to lend a hand at Food Lifeline, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger across Western Washington. Over the course of an afternoon—armed with gloves, hairnets, and a shared goal of tackling hunger, our team helped pack 2,880 pounds of frozen potatoes one scoop at a time—breaking down bulk quantities into family-sized portions ready for distribution to food banks throughout the region.

Food Lifeline’s mission—feeding people today while working to end hunger for tomorrow—aligns closely with our firm’s belief in thoughtful, community-centered action. While architecture might be our craft, building stronger communities is part of our foundation. This event gave us a tangible way to pitch in and make an impact outside of floorplans and elevations.

We were joined in the effort by several generous and community-minded partners: Carly Parkins of Maitri Consulting, radio hosts Jodi and Bender from 95.7 The Jet, and J Irons from Miovic Reinhardt Construction. Working alongside professionals from outside our own industry was a welcome reminder of how collective effort—across sectors—can drive meaningful change. Big thanks to them for rolling up their sleeves and digging in—figuratively and literally.

Representing Upward were Annalisa Castelli and her husband Kevin, Kristin DeJong, Will Siegel, and firm owner Mark Ward. It was a rewarding day of teamwork, shared purpose, and service—an experience we look forward to repeating.

As a firm that values process as much as outcome, we were grateful for the opportunity to contribute. We’re already looking forward to our next shift at Food Lifeline—and to any opportunity that helps us serve the communities we design for. Because whether it’s architecture or potatoes, it all starts with showing up and doing the work.