About

The Snohomish Community Food Bank is a non-profit organization of individuals, churches, businesses, service clubs and other charitable groups who are concerned for the welfare of needy people within the community. This life-giving resource exists to provide basic foods and services to qualified recipients in a caring, dignified and humane manner. The Food Bank serves every qualified applicant within the boundaries of the Snohomish School District and is supported solely through donations and community volunteers who solicit, manage and distribute it’s reserves. Since 1985, local citizens have screened beneficiaries, collected and distributed food, and provided social services on a weekly basis.

Hunger is on the rise and the need for nutritious food remains a problem for many families in Snohomish County:

• 1 in 6 Washingtonians relies on their local food bank.
• In 2017, around 1 in 8 Washingtonians did not get enough food to meet their basic nutritional needs.
• In Washington, the number of people living in poverty significantly decreased over the last year, but nonetheless, nearly 1 in 9 Washingtonians lived below the poverty line in 2017.
• 1 in 5 kids in Washington state lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table.
• 1 in 7 Washingtonians relies on SNAP (food stamps), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is severely threatened by budget cuts. Half of all people on SNAP are kids.
• The majority of working-age Washingtonians who live in poverty are actively working or looking for work.
• Since the start of the recession in 2008, Washington has cut more than $12 billion in discretionary spending from our state’s operating budget, all in the areas of public safety, higher education and basic needs services.

Source: Northwest Harvest

A Historical Perspective of Our Food Bank

Following the Second World War, when the Federal Government made commodities available for distribution, The Snohomish Welfare Service quickly assumed the food bank task and continued until 1982. The Blackman’s Lake Food Reserve was then established under the sponsorship of the Assembly of God Church. When The Blackman’s Lake Food Reserve closed in 1985, the Snohomish Community Food Bank was incorporated as a non-profit organization with community leaders serving as an executive board.

The Snohomish Community Food Bank officially opened in October 1985 at Stocker’s Produce Market adjacent to Harvey Airfield. In 1986, the operation moved to a new facility on Harvey Airfield, donated by the Harvey Family. In 1989, as the needs of the community continued to grow, the Mayor and City Council agreed to donate property and the use of an existing facility east of the Fire Station Headquarters to house the Food Bank. The plan called for the site to be jointly owned by the City and Fire District and the building owned by the Snohomish Community Food Bank. Our new home opened its doors in 1991. Supported by charitable donations of capital, labor and materials, additional warehousing and storage was added in 1993. A kitchen remodel was completed in 2010 and a much needed walk-in freezer was installed in 2013 thanks to generous support from the Boeing Employees Community Fund.

Who We Are Now

Monday through Saturday, volunteers at the Snohomish Community Food Bank are hard at work to help people struggling with food insecurity. During our food distribution hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, we serve an average of 210 families each week. Because of your support, we are able to provide fresh nutritious food which they otherwise would not have access to; dairy, eggs, meat, bread, fruits and vegetables, canned and boxed goods, even pet food. In addition to our regular food services, we also have programs that support our infants, homebound clients and the homeless. Through our participation in the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition, we are able to ensure everyone in need is able to receive assistance from the food bank that serves their area. We also support meal programs at Community Kitchen, the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club and the Snohomish Senior Center.

We are fortunate to have enthusiastic grocery partners in Albertsons, Franz Bakery, Haggen, Northwest Harvest, and Safeway. They supply us with many of the fundamental resources that enable our work to carry on. We would also like to thank our community partners Bickford Motors, Kiwanis, L&B Auto and Lions Club. Their sponsorship plays an important role in ending hunger in Snohomish. Many of our local schools and churches help us throughout the year with food drives, community gardens and fund raising. We are able to maintain our vital services to the community because of their generosity. As the need for food grows, so does our need for support. Please be a part of our team and help us continue our mission to help others.

Elizabeth Durand

Executive Director

Elizabeth joined the Snohomish Community Food Bank in 2009 with an extensive background in Advertising and Public Relations. She was the Marketing Director at The Evergreen State Fair for eight years; CommUnity Campaign Coordinator in Florida; worked in Radio/TV for eight years in St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco; and owned and operated a Specialty Advertising/Public Relations Company for six years.

Awards include Community Leadership Award, WA Association of School Administrators, 2017; Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International, 2015; Ruby Award from the Soroptimist International, 2015; the Community Citizen Award from the Garden City Grange, 2015; Excellence in Collaboration in 2011 and 2014 from Food LifeLine; Recognition for the School Supplies in a Backpack Program from the Snohomish School District, 2010; Outstanding Achievement from U.S. Conference of Mayors and two Addys for the Community Campaign; and the Mother Spaulding Young Award, Excellence in Humanities from Marysville University.

She is a graduate of Marysville University, St. Louis, Missouri with a major in Communications/Journalism and minors in Business and Political Science. She has been certified in Family History through the National Genealogical Society and Brigham Young University; and trained as a Public Information Officer by FEMA.

She is the proud mother of two daughters, Danielle and Elyssa, who both recently graduated from Washington State Universities.

Elizabeth Durand, Executive Director
Snohomish Community Food Bank
director@snohomishfoodbank.org
360.568.7993; fax: 360.568.5903

The Board is responsible to ensure that fiscally sound programs and efficient operations are delivered to the client users of the food bank in accordance with the organization’s mission statement. The Board does this by adhering to the adopted articles and by-laws of the corporation, advocating for client users of the food bank, and by providing leadership, advice and direction to the executive director, staff and volunteers. Board members are elected to serve a three year term. The Snohomish Community Food Bank serves all qualified individuals and families residing inside the boundaries of the Snohomish School District. If you wish to contact any one of our Board members, please leave a message at the Food Bank.
(360) 568-7993

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We encourage you to support the organizations who support the Food Bank. Let them know how much you appreciate their willingness to help the community!