Peer Seattle offers compassionate support for LGBTQ+ community at Ballard Food Bank

By Colleen Martinson, Director of Development & Communications

Marginalized communities are impacted by food insecurity and homelessness at disproportionately high rates. LGBTQ Adults Are Facing Hunger at Almost Twice the Rate as Others, New Data Shows

At Ballard Food Bank, working with partners like Peer Seattle helps us provide inclusive services. Peer Seattle, under the umbrella of Peer Washington, cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing peer emotional support and development services to those impacted by addiction, mental health and/or HIV/AIDS. The services of Peer Seattle are all offered free of charge to the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

Mack Aylesworth’s friendly eyes peer over his rainbow mask. This mask is standard garb for him as he holds ‘office hours’ in Ballard Food Bank’s Community Resource Hub. Mack works as a Peer Support Specialist with Peer Seattle, his position made possible, in part, by a grant from King County. Every Monday and Tuesday he does outreach at the food bank. The rainbow colors can act as a silent signal, letting LGBTQ+ folks at the food bank know that Mack is here for them.

His outreach is often more direct, as well. Sometimes he’ll announce in the lobby to a group of people waiting to shop that he’s here today to chat and connect about support groups for LGBTQ+ people as well as supportive housing, family navigation, peer coaching, and employment assistance. Other times food bank staff in the Community Resource Hub will introduce clients to him. No matter how that connection happens, perhaps the most important aspect of it is that clients are connected to someone who will simply sit with them and listen without judgment.

Mack Aylesworth in front of the iconic Pike Place Market sign

“That’s my main goal,” explains Mack. “I want to listen and learn about each person’s life and journey. How can I support them to be the best person they can be? Many LGBTQ folks are in recovery, and PEER Seattle has services to help them, like support groups, but that can be just a part of the picture. There are many different pieces of recovery. If they are struggling with housing, or can’t find work, that’s all a part of it.”

Mack’s own journey is a key reason he took this role at Peer Seattle, pivoting from a career in Biotech. Born and raised in Montana, he was almost ready to take the leap and come out to his community when the brutal murder of Matthew Shephard happened; scared, he stayed in the closet and turned to alcohol to cope. Having been through difficult times himself, he is now in recovery and fully out as a member of the LGBTQ community. He finds his work at Peer Seattle incredibly rewarding. His journey helps him connect with others in the community.

He says of his role: “If you walk away with a little more hope than you started with, I’m doing my job.”

Mack explains how he connected recently with a Ballard Food Bank client. The client, a member of the trans community, escaped from domestic violence. New to Seattle, he came to the food bank for food but found much more. Mack sat with him quietly in a Community Resource Hub office as a compassionate presence. Once he learned that the individual needed housing, Mack connected him with a colleague who specializes in finding trans-supportive housing.

Sitting with someone, side-by-side, as they go through tough times - many of us have been there and know how meaningful that is. Research highlights the power of that, as well, showing that peer support is successful at helping individuals on their path to recovery.

For more information about Peer Seattle’s mission and services, please visit their website: Peer Seattle | LGBTQ Peer Support | Seattle