Whole grain bread. Carrots with hummus. Apples and peanut butter. These are some of the healthy snacks for clients recommended by nutrition student Nicole Adams Sweedal. Nicole, a 38-year-old mother, completed a four-month internship at Ballard Food Bank this summer and just started a master’s program to become a registered dietician.
Read MoreOur values have always guided how we bring our mission to life. Every decision we make as an organization is guided by our values, so they are critically important. Two years ago, we began a partnership with Equity Matters, a Seattle-based women of color consulting team. They specialize in supporting organizations that are in the pursuit of racially just transformation.
Our purpose: to be intentional in our racial justice journey and lead with a racial equity and racial justice lens.
Read MoreBuilding partnerships within the Ballard community is essential to our mission and our commitment to clients. The ongoing pandemic and persistent food shortages spotlight just how important these partnerships are as we continue to find new, creative ways to assist our clients and ensure that they have the resources they need when they come to the Hub for Hope.
One partnership that has been especially crucial during these challenging times is with Community Loaves.
Read MoreEvery Wednesday from 10am to 4pm, clients are greeted by the smiling face of Kristen Wittstock. As a front desk volunteer, she plays a critical role in maintaining the smooth operation of the food bank. New families are coming in every day, and Kristen and the other front desk volunteers are often their first contact. “We’re the face of the organization,” says Kristen, who’s volunteered at the desk for five years.
Read MoreMack Aylesworth’s friendly eyes peer over his rainbow mask. This mask is standard garb for him as he holds ‘office hours’ in Ballard Food Bank’s Community Resource Hub. Mack works as a Peer Support Specialist with Peer Seattle, his position made possible, in part, by a grant from King County. Every Monday and Tuesday he does outreach at the food bank. The rainbow colors can act as a silent signal, letting LGBTQ+ folks at the food bank know that Mack is here for them.
Read MoreAt Ballard Food Bank, we honor the responsibility that comes with building and growing on this land. We give thanks to the Duwamish and Coast Salish people, the original caretakers of Shilshole and Seattle. Given our nonprofit status, the staff and Board of Directors have chosen to dedicate the money we save from property taxes to the Duwamish. We are also committed to standing with our indigenous neighbors in their fight for the federal recognition they’ve been denied for decades.
Read MoreKwon Kim is refilling a large metal container with fresh produce in the community market when Grayling Tunney stops to chat with his coworker and friend. They share a laugh before moving on to separate tasks at the food bank. The men are 2 of 46 participants who’ve worked at the Ballard Food Bank through the AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program since 2012.
Read MoreAs we approach the six-month anniversary of moving into our new home, we feel gratitude more than ever for the people who helped us get here - a place that serves our friends and neighbors. Even as we continue to grow, we would like to talk about Betty Barden, a late supporter of the Ballard Food Bank, who was crucial to our campaign for a bigger and better facility.
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