Seattle, Washington — 2025
Before the U2030 SPARK Annual Meeting began in Seattle, a group of utility leaders gathered at Byrd Barr Place, a community organization that has supported Seattle residents for generations.
For more than fifty years, Byrd Barr Place has helped individuals and families facing economic hardship through food access, energy assistance, and programs designed to promote long-term stability.
About twenty U2030 volunteers divided into teams and spent the morning supporting the organization’s operations. One group spread fresh bark dust across the property to improve the appearance of the grounds. Another team prepared nearly one hundred food boxes for families receiving food assistance. Inside the building, volunteers cleaned and stocked the pantry shelves.
The teams later reconvened to assemble cold-weather and hygiene kits for individuals in need, carefully packing essential supplies including sanitary items and diapers for families with young children.
The effort was made possible through the sponsorship of Puget Sound Energy as part of SPARK’s commitment to community engagement.
For many participants, the experience reinforced the purpose behind the utility sector’s work. Infrastructure powers cities and delivers essential services, but its ultimate purpose is supporting the people who rely on those systems every day.
Sometimes leadership begins with service.
Learn more:
https://byrdbarrplace.org/
