Ballard Food Bank Welcomes Everyone

With the incoming presidential administration’s unwelcoming rhetoric and threats to deport millions of immigrants, so many of our neighbors are under increased stress about their rights, futures, and lives. Ballard Food Bank remains committed to being a safe place serving ALL our neighbors. Because there can be enough for everyone – and we truly mean everyone!

We do not ask for proof of citizenship or residency to shop in our free community market. We do not share information on guest identities or addresses.

Also, Ballard Food Bank, including the inside of the building and the parking lot area, is not a public space. We are a private organization and have the right to ask people to leave and stay out. This is a right we can and will exercise if Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal immigration agencies show up at our door. We will ask them to wait outside our property while we call in our attorney as well as a representative from the City of Seattle to review any warrants or paperwork prior to admitting them.

To our immigrant neighbors - and everyone targeted by unwelcoming rhetoric and proposed policies - we promise to continue to advocate for your human rights as we do what we can each day to bring us all together in a community where our needs are met. We will continue to work with people from all backgrounds to apply for services and help with asylum and immigration paperwork where possible. We will continue to translate our website and written materials into the many languages spoken by our neighbors and bring in language interpreters and culturally relevant services.

Ballard Food Bank believes every individual is worthy of respect, and we value each person’s dignity, worth, and lived experience. That’s why we all work together – staff, volunteers, donors, visitors – to build a welcoming, inclusive environment. Sharing smiles, sharing recipes, greeting each other by name, learning to say hello in each other's languages, picking up trash, and more.

Together, we have created a community where everyone is welcome. Together, we will protect and continue to build this community.