EDMONDS — Edmonds Food Bank was awarded a $500,000 grant from Gates Foundation for Thrive Together: A Capital Campaign to Build a New Edmonds Food Bank.
The grant marks a major milestone for the campaign and brings total funds raised to more than $3.3 million as the organization raises funds to build a new permanent home to best serve the growing needs of the community.
Currently operating out of the basement of Edmonds United Methodist Church, Edmonds Food Bank has outgrown its existing space. The organization is actively seeking land for a future facility that will dramatically expand its ability to provide food access and support services to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
The future Edmonds Food Bank will include:
- Increased food storage capacity
- The ability to offer more distribution hours and improved customer access
- Dedicated space for partner organizations providing services such as nutrition education, financial literacy, legal assistance, healthcare access, and workforce support
- A community garden
- A commercial teaching kitchen for cooking classes and community programming
Staff from Gates Foundation toured Edmonds Food Bank in March during a food distribution to see firsthand the challenges within the current space, as well as the impact the organization has on the community. Within the last few weeks, Edmonds Food Bank has served record numbers including providing groceries for 1,670 households in one week.
The grant comes at a pivotal moment for the campaign following the recent launch of the Edmonds Food Bank’s Community 555 Campaign, a community-wide fundraising effort inviting supporters to help build momentum for the campaign.
For more information about Thrive Together: A Capital Campaign to Build a New Edmonds Food Bank, visit www.edmondsfoodbank.org/555.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
