The Snohomish Community Food Bank is more than just a food distribution center. We’re a vital, connected part of the community we serve. We are only able to do what we do because of the generous support from the Snohomish community. We thank you for every can, dollar and hour you have donated. Your ongoing commitment keeps us financially sound and allows us to provide critical services to those in need.
Take a moment to meet our director and board of trustees, learn about our history and visit the other agencies and businesses with whom we partner.
The Snohomish Community Food Bank is a 501c3 non-profit corporation (EIN # 91-1334772).
Mission
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
History
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.
Meet the Director
Ashleigh Cruze, MA
Executive Director
Bio Coming soon
Ashleigh Cruze, MA, Executive Director
Snohomish Community Food Bank
director@snohomishfoodbank.org
360.568.7993; fax: 360.568.5903
Board of Trustees
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
Tom Rohde
Treasurer
Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at Swan’s Trail
Sara Wagner
Secretary
Sara is an active volunteer at the Snohomish Community Food Bank and has volunteered for over 30 years at food banks in Kansas, Texas and Colorado with her family. Prior to moving to Snohomish, Sara worked at Lockheed Martin for 16 years as a Program Manager, Systems Engineering Manager, and Certified Principal Engineer on DoD satellite programs. She served as a mentor to female engineers and engaged in outreach programs to educate and recruit young girls into the field of engineering. She stays busy with her two young children, Hannah and Elliot, and with her husband, Mikael, enjoys preserving and restoring their historic Snohomish home.
Sheri Carr
Board Member
Sheri Carr retired from Boeing after 33 years, working mostly in Electrical Engineering. While at Boeing, she had many opportunities to participate in volunteer community activities. She was involved in The Boeing Employee Good Neighbor Fund in several roles, including training Pacific Northwest Fund Boosters.
One of the highlights of Sheri’s career was her participation in the loaned Executive program to United Way of Snohomish County. There, she was able to tour approximately forty Snohomish County non-profit agencies, as well as assisting local businesses in fund raising for United Way.
This experience led to Sheri’s passion to volunteer at agencies which provide goods and services to
families in need. Sheri has volunteered at the Snohomish Cold Weather Shelter, the Medical Reserve
Corp testing center and currently volunteers at Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County at the Administration Center and their thrift store.
Sheri has been with the Snohomish Community Food Bank for the last three years and enjoys working
with the wonderful volunteers to serve our clients. Specifically, she is on the Food-2-Go team and
oversees the Infant Care Program.
Sheri lives in Snohomish with her husband, Jim (who is also a volunteer), and their kitties.
Ron Tastad
Board Member
Ron Tastad is a retired GTE/Verizon employee after 25 years with the company. He has been a volunteer at the Snohomish Food Bank for almost 13 years. He has two children and four grandchildren. Two of the grandkids have volunteered at the food bank as well. He has volunteered as a baseball/softball umpire and a Boy Scout leader.
Larry A. Bailly
Honorary Board Member
Volunteer and Friend of the Food Bank and its clients.
Snohomish Community Food Bank Corporate Resolution, adopted November 14th, 2012
Partners & Sponsors
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!
