Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank

UNITE OUR COMMUNITY IN NOURISHING AND NURTURING INDIVIDUALS BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO HEALTHY FOOD, VITAL RESOURCES, AND CONNECTIONS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

ISSAQUAH FOOD AND CLOTHING BANK: OUR FOODBANK IS A SELF-SELECT GROCERY STORE MODEL. OUR ATMOSPHERE ENCOURAGES PERSONAL CHOICE, AND WE STRIVE TO MEET OUR CLIENTS' DIETARY AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. WE OFFER A WIDE SELECTION OF FRESH PRODUCE, CANNED GOODS, FROZEN MEAT, DAIRY PRODUCTS, DRY GOODS, AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. IN 2022, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER A MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD. OUR LOW-BARRIER MODEL ENSURES THAT ANYONE IN NEED OF FOOD CAN RECEIVE IT.WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO LOCAL HOMES, FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS OUR STORE. GROCERIES TO GO IS A FOOD DELIVERY PROGRAM FOR CITIZENS THAT ARE HOMEBOUND, AND IN 2022 THIS PROGRAM GREW TO SERVE 190 HOUSEHOLDS A WEEK. WE SUPPLY EMERGENCY CLOTHING FOR ADULTS THAT IS PRIMARILY FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. WE ADDITIONALLY SUPPLY CHILDREN'S CLOTHING AND OTHER SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN UP TO 12 YEARS OLD THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH KIDVANTAGE. IN 2022 WE SUPPLIED COATS THROUGH A WINTER COAT EVENT WHICH SUPPLIED OVER 700 COATS TO INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.OUR CURRENT MARKET IS AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS OF WASHINGTON STATE FOCUSING ON THE COMMUNITIES OF ISSAQUAH, SAMMAMISH AND RENTON, AND OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS AND CLOTHING SERVICE AREA FOCUSES ON THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND 16 SURROUNDING ZIP CODES. WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO AID ANYONE COMING TO OUR DOOR WITH FOOD AND BASIC NEEDS SUPPLIES. THESE PROGRAMS THRIVE FROM THE PARTNERSHIPS WE DEVELOP WITH LOCAL SERVICE GROUPS, GOVERNMENTS (CITIES OF ISSAQUAH AND SAMMAMISH), BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, AND A SOLID VOLUNTEER BASE.

YOUTH PROGRAMS: WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SERVE PRE-SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. OUR POWER PACKS PROGRAM SENDS STUDENTS IN THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT HOME WITH KID-FRIENDLY FOOD EVERY FRIDAY. 11,680 POWER PACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS IN 2022.EVERY SUMMER WE HAVE A SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A WEEKS' WORTH OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS. IN 2022, 421 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY SUMMER LUNCH.DURING ALL THE WEEK-LONG BREAKS FROM SCHOOL (FALL BREAK, WINTER BREAK, SPRING BREAK), WE OFFER LUNCH FOR THE BREAK, WHEREBY WE PROVIDE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS WITH A WEEK OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS. WE SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 430 UNIQUE YOUTH OVER THE THREE SCHOOL BREAKS.EVERY YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION WE HELP PROVIDE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS IN THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN START SCHOOL WITH THE BASIC TOOLS TO SUCCEED. IN DECEMBER, WE HOST A ONCE-A-YEAR EVENT THAT PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH GIFT CARDS AS WELL AS ADDED HOLIDAY TREATS AND SUPPLIES. THE HOLIDAY GIFT CARD EVENT SERVED 14,050 CHILDREN AND 555 FAMILIES IN 2022.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: THE ISSAQUAH FOOD & CLOTHING BANK PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEED RESOURCES BEYOND FOOD AND HYGIENE ITEMS. WE PARTNER WITH ISSAQUAH COMMUNITY SERVICES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH EVICTION PREVENTION AND UTILITY BILL SUPPORT. OUR CLIENT SERVICES PROGRAM PARTNERS CLOSELY WITH ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE EASTSIDE FIRE & RESCUE'S MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM, CITY OF ISSAQUAH'S HOMELESS OUTREACH/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM AND THE ISSAQUAH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HAVE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AVAILABLE TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. IN 2022, WE HAD A STAFFING SHORTAGE AND COMMUNITY NEEDS WERE MET BY A TEAM OF FOUR DEDICATED CLIENT SERVICE VOLUNTEERS AND OUR OPERATIONS & PROGRAMS DIRECTOR. OUR CLIENT SERVICES STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONNECT CLIENTS WITH REFERRALS FOR HOUSING AND LOW COST MEDICAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR OBTAINING IDS AND CELL PHONES, ASSISTANCE WITH DSHS BENEFIT APPLICATIONS, SUPPORTIVE MOVE-IN COSTS FOR RECENTLY HOUSED FAMILIES, MAIL SERVICE AT OUR OFFICE, AND BASIC NECESSITIES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING. IN 2022, OUR CLIENTS SERVICES TEAM ASSISTED 324 PEOPLE WITH SUPPORTIVE RESOURCE REFERRALS OR CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED OVER 800 SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.