The History of Lynnwood Food Bank

About Lynnwood Food Bank

The Lynnwood Food Bank began in 1978 as Joseph’s Closet in the Lynnwood Church of the Nazarene, now known as Silver Creek Family Church. For more than 40 years, we have provided supplemental groceries to households in need across Lynnwood.


In 1982, we joined the Snohomish County Coalition of Food Banks, operating under the church’s non-profit charitable status. In February 2004, we incorporated as a separate entity and were granted 501(c)(3) status, ensuring clarity for our donors.

After years of planning and significant growth, we opened the doors to our current facility in 2006, located on the church property—just steps from where our journey began.


Our Community and Operations

The Lynnwood Food Bank thrives thanks to the commitment of a dedicated Board of Directors, which includes active community members, volunteers from Silver Creek Family Church, and food bank supporters. Under the leadership of our director, Alissa Jones, we manage daily operations with the support of an incredible team of volunteers.


Each month, an average of 125 volunteers donate 2,750 hours to our mission. They fulfill roles in every aspect of the food bank’s work, including driving vehicles, sorting donations, distributing food, and managing data entry—ensuring our operations run smoothly.


Impact in 2023

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we received over 1,000,000 pounds of donated food in 2023. Combined with contributions from government commodities, Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and food purchased with donated funds, we distributed over 5 million pounds of food last year. This effort served 43,574 households and 151,769 individuals.


Gratitude for Our Supporters

Providing supplemental groceries to our neighbors in need would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our community. From food donations to financial gifts, your support ensures we can balance our distributions with essential proteins and fresh produce to promote health and well-being.


Thank you for standing with us in service to our community. Together, we continue to make a meaningful difference.

The Impact of Lynnwood Food Bank

At Lynnwood Food Bank, we make an impact because we believe food is so much more than sustenance—it’s love, health, community, and culture.


Food Is Love

In 2023, over 5 million pounds of food passed through our doors, reaching thousands of households in need. This incredible effort reflects our unwavering belief that food is a profound expression of love and care for our neighbors.


Food Is Health

We impacted the health of more than 151,000 people last year by providing not only nutritious foods but also access to essential services like nutrition education and medical assistance for dental care, hypertension, and COVID-related needs. Because we believe that food fuels health, we are committed to offering resources that support both body and mind.


Food Is Community

Our volunteers make a difference by taking the time to connect personally with our customers, fostering a sense of belonging and support. These meaningful interactions contribute to the mental health and well-being of our community, reinforcing our belief that food brings people together as a community.


Food Is Culture

By providing thousands of households with culturally relevant foods, we help keep traditions alive during times of scarcity. These efforts honor the diverse backgrounds of our neighbors, affirming our belief that food is a powerful reflection of culture and heritage.


At Lynnwood Food Bank, every pound of food we distribute represents more than a meal—it embodies our commitment to love, health, community, and culture.


Calendar year (1/1 – 12/31/24) to date: 

 

Individuals

Individuals YTD

Households

Households YTD

Volunteer Hours

Volunteer Hours YTD

Distribu-

tions

 Jan. 2024

13,390

13,390

3,814

3,814

2,238

2,238

18

Feb. 2024

13,096

26,486

3,814

7,628

2,676

5,014

18

Mar. 2024

14,674

41,160

4,249

11,877

2,545

7,559

22

April 2024

13,926

55,086

3,918

15,795

2,518

10,077

17

May 2024

16,906

71,992

4,841

20,636

2,762

12,839

23

June 2024

13,108

85,101

3,783

24,419

2,794

15,633

19

July   2024

13,692

98,792

3,916

28,335

3,393

19,026

19

Aug.  2024

13,552

112,344

3,810

32,145

3,156

22,182

22

Sep.  2024

14,010

126,354

3.931

36,076

2,709

24,891

21

Oct. 2024

17,189

143,543

4,864

40,940

3,280

28,171

22

Nov. 2024

18,192

161,735

5,111

46,051

3,273

31,444

20

Dec. 2024

12,314

174,049

3538

49,589

2,678

34,122

16



Calendar Year Comparison

Calendar Year

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Individuals Served

174,049

151,769

104,104

70,327

71,090

43,231

39,480

41,391

CHANGE

Increase 22,280

14.6%

Increase

47,665

45.8%

Increase 33,777

48%

Decrease 763

1.1%

Increase

27,859

64.4%

Increase

3,751

9.5%

Decrease

1,911

4.6%

 

Households Served

49,589

43,574

29,498

22,104

21,158

16,064

13,429

13,060

CHANGE

Increase 6,015

13.8%

Increase

14,076

47.7%

Increase

7,394

33.45%

Increase

946

4.5%

Increase

5,094

31.7%

Increase

2,635

19.6%

Increase 369

2.8%

 

Volunteer Hours

34,122

31,108

29,861

34,821

38,083

35,206

32,752

27,613

CHANGE

Increase 3,014

9.6%

Increase 1,247

4.2%

Decrease

4,960

14.2%

Decrease

3,262

8.6%

Increase

2,877

8.2%

Increase

2,454

7.5%

Increase

5,139

18.6%

 



Fiscal STATS (7/1/2022 – 6/30/24) to date:

 

Individuals

Individuals YTD

Households

Households YTD

Volunteer Hours

Volunteer Hours YTD

July   2024

13,692

13,692

3,916

3,916

3,393

3,393

Aug.  2024

13,552

27,244

3,810

7,726

3,156

6,549

Sep.  2024

14,010

41,254

3,931

11,657

2,709

9,258

Oct. 2024

17,189

58,443

4,864

16,521

3,280

12,538

Nov. 2024

18,192

76,635

5,111

21,632

3,273

15,811

Dec. 2024

12,314

88,949

3,538

25,170

2,678

18,489

 Jan. 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb. 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar. 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 



Fiscal STATS (7/1/2022 – 6/30/24) to date:

 

Individuals

Individuals YTD

Households

Households YTD

Volunteer Hours

Volunteer Hours YTD

July   2023

11,639

11,639

3,267

3,267

2,598

2,598

Aug.  2023

12,552

24,191

3,740

7,007

2,709

5,307

Sep.  2023

13,739

37,930

3,939

10,946

2,149

7,456

Oct. 2023

13,539

51,469

3,868

14,814

2,720

10,176

Nov. 2023

16,266

67,735

4,642

19,456

2,873

13,049

Dec. 2023

13,747

81,482

3,870

23,326

2,829

15,878

 Jan. 2024

13,390

94,872

3,814

27,140

2,238

18,116

Feb. 2024

13,096

107,968

3,814

30,954

2,676

20,792

Mar. 2024

14,674

122,642

4,249

35,203

2,545

23,337

April 2024

13,926

136,568

3,918

39,121

2,518

25,855

May 2024

16,929

153,497

4,841

43,962

2,762

28,617

June 2024

13,108

166,605

3,783

47,745

2,794

31,411


Fiscal Year comparison (July 1 – June 30)

Fiscal Year

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Individuals Served

166,605

126,198

82,873

74,110

54,512

42,000

39,053

41,722

40,454

Change

Up

40,407

Up 43,325

Up 8,763

Up 19,598

Up 12,512

Up 2,947

Down 2,669

Up 1,268

 

 

Up

32%

Up  52%

Up 12%

26%

22%

 

 

 

 

Households Served

47,745

36,148

24,313

22,317

18,358

15,144

12,630

13,199

13,367

Change

Up

11,597

Up 11,835

Up 1,996

Up 3,959

Up 3,214

Up 2,514

Down 569

Down 168

 

 

Up

32%

Up

49%

Up

9%

Up 22%

Up 21%

 

 

 

 

Volunteer Hours

31,411

33,573

33,256

37,318

38,909

38,077

29,692

27,636

29,972

Change

Down

2,162

Up

317

Down

4,062

Down 1,591

Up

832

Up

8,385

Up

2,056

Down

2,336