University District Food Bank

For nearly four decades, University District Food Bank has helped prevent hunger in Northeast Seattle neighborhoods. Each week, more than 1,300 different families receive the groceries they need to prepare nutritionally balanced meals at home.

In July 2016, after an incredible history at University Christian Church, we moved into a purpose built new home co-located with 49 units of affordable housing operated by LIHI and YouthCare, a job skills training café operated by Street Bean, and an amazing rooftop garden where we grow produce for the food bank.

Last year, we had 58,000 customer visits and distributed over 2.4 million pounds of food.

Approximately 30% of our customers are infants and children, 55% are adults, and 15% are senior citizens.  15% of our customers are also unsheltered, so we try to provide them with ready-to-eat foods when they visit the food bank.

Our home delivery program reaches almost 400 home-bound customers every week. Our backpack program, at 14 nearby schools, provides almost 550 kids with meals and snacks for the weekend when school meals aren’t available.

Our two off site food pantries located at Mercy Magnuson Place and North Seattle College provide groceries to another 200 households a week.

Two-thirds of our food bank households have at least one person working at a job full time but rely on the food bank to help save a few dollars to use for other monthly expenses. One-third of food bank customers report looking for additional employment.