Former Northshore School District (NSD) parent Sue Freeman was recognized as the Human Services Champion of the Year by the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) at the organization’s annual awards program held on Dec. 3.

Freeman has made a lasting impact in reducing hunger among families in north King County, according to a press release. Currently, she serves as convener of the Northshore Nourishing Network (NNN) to help develop and support cross-sector partnerships to leverage local talent and resources for food access.

Programs within the network include: Totes to Go Backpacks for Kids, free community dinners, free summer lunch programs and local food banks. NNN just celebrated its 10th anniversary and has served as a model for eight nourishing networks in other communities.

NSD Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid acknowledged Freeman’s contributions.

“Wow, this is such an inspiring example of our Northshore ‘can-do’ attitude,” she said in the release. “Thank you, Sue.”

Prior to Freeman’s role as the convener for NNN, she created and led a food program for seven years, which was a partnership between Northshore Council PTSA and the Northshore YMCA. The program, Northshore Community Kitchen, served more than 14,000 free, healthy, ready-to-eat, to-go meals once a week to 70 NSD families. The program also provided 4,000 healthy snacks for after-school programs at two area middle schools and Kenmore Library’s Teen Zone.

To learn more about Freeman’s work, visit NNN’s website at www.nourishingnetworks.net/networks/northshore.