Washington Food Banks: Find Food, Volunteer, & Donate

Foodbanks & Food Relief Distributors

Washington State foodbanks are working hard to serve the needs of the food insecure and vulnerable. Most foodbanks have information on their websites regarding donations, volunteering, and how to find food. These facts about WA Hunger from Northwest Harvest before COVID-19:

• 1 in 10 Washingtonians struggle with hunger.
• 1 in 6 Washington kids live in a household that faces challenges in putting enough food on the table.
• 1 in 8 Washingtonians relies on SNAP (food stamps), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Half of all people on SNAP are kids.

Northwest Harvest

Northwest Harvest is a nonprofit food bank distributor operating statewide in Washington with a network of 375 food banks, meal programs and high-need schools. Through this network, they provide nearly 2 million meals every month.

• Find Food: If you need food, see their Hunger Response Network map and its list to find a foodbank or relief near you.   Also check with the Washington Food Coalition who is maintaining a list at this link of hours and closures of every Hunger Relief Distribution site in the state, organized by county.
• Program Information: In a coordinated statewide effort, the three largest hunger relief organizations in the state, Northwest Harvest, Second Harvest, and Food Lifeline, are coordinating to best meet the rapidly growing demand for emergency food in communities across the state. Washington State Partner Program FAQ available HERE.
• Volunteer: The COVID-19 Response Page also has an urgent call to VOLUNTEER in Yakima, Spokane, and SODO Seattle.
• DONATE HERE to Northwest Harvest’s COVID-19 Response Fund

Second Harvest

Last year, Second Harvest distributed more than 30 million pounds of food to a network of 250 neighborhood food banks and meal centers. These partner programs currently feed more than 55,000 people a week in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

• Find Food:  2nd Harvest distributes foods to foodbanks who distribute to those in need.  Their I Need Food Assistance page includes links to foodbanks in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, and to Mobile Markets.
• Volunteer:  VOLUNTEER here for work in Spokane, WA and Pasco, WA.
• Donate:  DONATE HERE to the COVID-19 Response Fund.

Food Lifeline

Food Lifeline sources millions of pounds of nutritious food from farmers, manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, and retailers that would otherwise go to waste. Food Lifeline then distributes it to more than 300 food banks, shelters, and meal programs throughout Western Washington, the equivalent of 134,000 meals every day for hungry children, adults, and seniors.

• Find Food:  Food Lifeline has a Need Food? page with a map to locate a foodbank in Washington State by zip code search.
• Volunteer:  You can VOLUNTEER Here for work in the Seattle warehouse to pack emergency food boxes.
• Donate:  Food Lifeline lets you DONATE HERE for single or recurring donations.

Seattle-Area Emergency Food Resources Map

The City of Seattle Human Services has mounted an outstanding map using Tableau Public of Food Banks, Meal Services, and Student To-Go Meals: Covid-19 Seattle-Area Emergency Food Resources.  

City of Seattle has a great and growing COVID-19: Resources for Community page that includes Food Support: Food Banks, Food Support for Young People, Food Support for Older People, Food Support from Local Organizations, and Food Support from Government Agencies.

Seattle Food Committee & Seattle Foodbanks

Seattle Food Committee Foodbank Directory lists almost 30 foodbanks in the Seattle area and has the Foodbank Locator Map to help. Your local foodbank has likely posted specific information regarding the COVID19 response, such as these examples:

• North Helpline serving Lake City and Bitterlake has to food banks that serve the residents of the 98115, 98125, 98133, 98155, 98177, 98011, and 98028. You can also follow the North Helpline Facebook page.
• Rainier Valley Foodbank COVID19 Response  includes information about their services, health resources, dealing with prejudice and stigma, how to DONATE and how to VOLUNTEER
• The Ballard FoodBank COVID19 Update  includes information on their expanded home delivery service, drive through service and food for the homeless.   

Prison Scholars: Food Delivery to the Formerly Incarcerated

• The Prison Scholar Fund believes that incarcerated individuals deserve a second chance at a better life. That’s why they help incarcerated individuals get access to the education they need to transform their lives. DONATE TO PRISON SCHOLARS HERE.
• Prison Scholars has partnered with Northwest Harvest to provide food boxes in Washington State.  APPLY HERE for forms if you live in or outside of King County and you can DONATE HERE to help cover delivery fuel costs.

Within Reach

• Within Reach’s Family Food Hotline at 1-888-436-6392 provides information about food access, health care access, child development, breastfeeding, immunizations, and other resources including WIC state hotline/locations & screening. Visit ParentHelp123,

Washington Food Fund

WA Food Fund is a relief fund, hosted by Philanthropy NW, that supports food banks and pantries across the state so they can maintain their food supply. Three Washington-based organizations working on the frontlines of food insecurity – Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest and Second Harvest – will use these funds to distribute food to hundreds of food banks across the state from our cities to our most rural communities. DONATE HERE.