EDMONDS FOOD BANK

AT EDMONDS FOOD BANK, THE VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AS WE PROVIDED FOOD, HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES, PERSONAL PRODUCTS, AND REFERRALS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. DUE TO ONGOING ECONOMIC ISSUES, HOUSEHOLD USE OF EFB REMAINS HIGH. WE OFFER IN-PERSON SHOPPING FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS, IN ADDITION TO OUR ONLINE, DRIVE-UP, AND DELIVERY SERVICES. WE CONTINUE OUR DELIVERY SERVICES TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS OF SENIORS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EACH WEEK. OUR ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM GIVES CUSTOMERS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE FOODS THEY NEED AND WANT EACH WEEK. MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS APPRECIATE THE SERVICE AS IT ENABLES THEM TO RECEIVE THEIR FOOD EFFICIENTLY AND FRIENDLY, THUS FREEING UP TIME FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR POP-UP PANTRIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LATINO EDUCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE (LETI), ST. ALBANS CHURCH, COLLEGE PLACE SCHOOLS, WASHINGTON WEST AFRICAN CENTER, AND THE KOREAN COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER, PROVIDING SUPPORT TO INCREASING NUMBERS OF CUSTOMERS WHO CANNOT ACCESS THE FOOD BANK DUE THE RESTRICTED HOURS ALLOWED AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION. IN ADDITION, WE ADDED SUPPORT FOR THE COALITION OF HEALTH WORKERS FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, SCRIBER LAKE ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS AT WASHINGTON KIDS IN TRANSITION. OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS (36,531 HOURS OF SUPPORT) COMMIT TO OUR PURPOSE ACROSS OUR 257 DISTRIBUTIONS, PROVIDING 40,561 HOUSEHOLDS (131,218 INDIVIDUALS) WITH A WEEK'S GROCERY SUPPORT.

THE EDMONDS TOY SHOP HAD A SUCCESSFUL YEAR UNDER THE EDMONDS FOOD BANK'S UMBRELLA, SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN DURING THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON. 908 CHILDREN RECEIVED GIFT SUPPORT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THIS WAS OVER A 23% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. IN JUNE, OVER 100 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH OUR BIKES, BOOKS, AND BERRIES PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED A BIKE DISTRIBUTION EQUAL TO LAST YEAR'S VOLUME, ALONG WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ATTENDEES TO SELECT FREE BOOKS, SIGN UP FOR LIBRARY CARDS, RECEIVE A SELECTION OF BERRIES, AND ACCESS SERVICES FROM WASHINGTON KIDS AND THE EDMONDS HUMAN SERVICES MANAGER. THE BIKE DISTRIBUTION PART OF THE PROGRAM WILL SUNSET AFTER THIS YEAR DUE TO HIGH DEMAND EXCEEDING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN BE SERVICED. WE HAVE REDIRECTED REQUEST TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATONS SUCH AS HOLY SPOKES AND SHORELINE TOOL LIBRARY, WHO PROVIDE BIKES YEARS ROUND.