Several Kent organizations will receive money as part of the Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System’s Community Partnership Fund in Western Washington that focuses on addressing housing and homelessness, food insecurity, health care and children’s needs.

The Kent groups include Catholic Community Services, Living Well Kent and Mother Africa.

MultiCare awarded $600,000 among 99 organizations in Western Washington, according to a Nov. 22 press release. The fund supports organizations in Pierce, King, Thurston and Kitsap counties providing care, services and resources that strengthen the overall health and well-being of communities.

“Our mission of partnering for healing and a healthy future extends well beyond the walls of MultiCare hospitals and clinics,” said Lois Bernstein, chief community executive for MultiCare. “It connects us with organizations whose missions improve the lives of those in our community.”

MultiCare selected 25 organizations in King County.

“This year, MultiCare’s Community Partnership Fund provided over $100,000 to organizations in South King County that support Kent residents,” according to a MultiCare spokesperson. “We are proud to help support these organizations, but we do not disclose the individual award amounts.”

With a total of $600,000 awarded to 99 groups, each organization would have received about $6,000 each, but some groups might have received more, and others less.

MultiCare has 11 hospitals, including locations in Auburn, Covington and Tacoma. MultiCare is a not-for-profit health care organization with more than 20,000 team members, including employees, providers and volunteers.

Funds for Kent groups

• Catholic Community Services

Funding will help offset the $374,000 in Kent Community Engagement Center expenses accrued each year. This operating support enables the center to provide uninterrupted hygienic services, case managers and welcoming community spaces for individuals in need. This support also aids the center’s operating schedule.

• Living Well Kent

Funds will increase Kent immigrants and refugees’ access to culturally relevant food. The funds will augment donated food received will ensure the food distributed is culturally relevant and nutritious. Support will assist in keeping shelves stocked and mitigate food fluctuations.

• Mother Africa

Funds will help provide services which align closely with the priorities of parents in their communities. They provide them with information about early childhood development, experienced advocates and advocacy support when working with schools and behavioral health providers, and ASQ-3 (Ages & Stages Questionnaires) screeners who speak their language and share their cultural background. Funding will go primarily to expand their capacity to provide screenings, learning books and toys, a relevant $25 gift card for every screening participated in, and support program costs such as staff salaries and materials.