Lynnwood Food Bank

What Lynnwood Food Bank does

Lynnwood Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 5320 176th Street SW in Lynnwood, Washington, delivering free supplemental grocery distribution and nutrition programming to residents of Lynnwood and South Snohomish County. Founded in 1978 as Joseph's Closet at the Lynnwood Church of the Nazarene (now Silver Creek Family Church), the organization incorporated as an independent nonprofit in February 2004 (EIN 84-1642388) and opened its current dedicated facility on the church property in 2006. Service is open to all community members with no documentation, proof of income, proof of address, or identification required, and is provided free of charge on a weekly cadence.

The operational model combines a fixed-site distribution center operating Wednesdays (express, pre-shopped by family size) and Fridays (traditional, customer-choice), with a mobile food truck serving Edmonds College, low-income senior apartment complexes (Alderwood Court, Whispering Cedars, Garden Village), Heroes Cafe for veterans, and additional community sites. Ancillary programs include school-based pop-up pantries across the Edmonds School District, nutrition education delivered through Seattle Pacific University dietetic interns, cooking demonstrations (live and on YouTube), healthcare-integrated programs (American Heart Association blood pressure cuffs, Sea Mar Heart Healthy boxes, Medical Teams International dental van), and emergency box service for periods between distributions. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on standard food bank inventory and distribution practices supported by a five-person staff and an average of 125 volunteers donating approximately 2,260 hours per month.

The revenue model is donations- and in-kind-supported. Cash revenue comes from individual financial contributions (online via Network for Good, check, or cash), foundation grants (Verdant Health Commission, Hazel Miller Foundation, Hubbard Family Foundation, WAGRO Foundation), government sources (USDA commodities, City of Lynnwood COVID funds), and annual event fundraising (the 'Food Is Love' charity event held in 2025 at Dave & Buster's Lynnwood with $120/$60/$880 ticket tiers and multiple corporate sponsors). The majority of distributed food arrives as in-kind donations through grocery rescue partnerships with Costco, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and regional networks Food Lifeline and Northwest Harvest. In 2025, the organization distributed over 5 million pounds of food, served 191,797 individuals across 47,719 households (a roughly 10% year-over-year increase), and recorded 27,209 volunteer hours.

Name

Lynnwood Food Bank

Legal name

Lynnwood Food Bank

Website

https://lynnwoodfoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lynnwood Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free weekly supplemental groceries, mobile food distribution, and nutrition programming to households across Lynnwood and South Snohomish County, serving 47,719 households and 5+ million pounds of food in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Food Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAJAA

Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Food Security & Nutrition Programs

Keywords

• Food assistance services
• Community food bank
• Nonprofit food distribution
• Hunger relief programs
• Mobile food pantry

Headquarters

HQ city

Lynnwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Donations: The organization receives monetary contributions from community members, businesses, and foundations. Donations can be made online via Network for Good, by check (mailed or dropped off in person), or in cash. Financial contributions are used to purchase meat, eggs, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, cultural foods, dairy, and canned/dry goods as needed to supplement donated food.
2. In-Kind Food Donations: The majority of food distributed is donated in-kind from partner grocery stores (Costco, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and others), private individuals, and food bank networks (Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline). Additional sources include government commodities and purchased food bought with donated funds.
3. Charity Event Fundraising: Annual 'Food Is Love' charity events (e.g., Dave & Buster's hosted event on October 19, 2025) generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction contributions. Ticket prices were $120 per adult, $60 for ages 15 and under, and $880 for a table of 8.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lynnwood Food Bank provides free supplemental groceries to residents of Lynnwood and South Snohomish County through a fixed-site weekly distribution program (Wednesdays and Fridays) and a mobile food truck. The organization serves all community members regardless of documentation, income, or address, with a focus on providing nutritious, culturally relevant foods, nutrition education, and support programs for underserved populations including homeless individuals, students, veterans, and seniors.

Product overview

Lynnwood Food Bank is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing supplemental groceries and food assistance to residents of Lynnwood and South Snohomish County. The organization operates its core Food Distribution Program on Wednesdays and Fridays from its main location, supplemented by a Food Truck mobile distribution service on Thursdays and Saturdays. Secondary programs include a comprehensive Nutrition Education Program with cooking demonstrations and dietetic intern services, Homeless Services with customized food options, Pop-Up Pantries at schools and community locations, Health Programs including dental and blood pressure services, Student Programs at local schools and Edmonds College, Veterans Programs through Heroes Cafe, and community engagement initiatives like Grow a Row and Food Drive Hosting. The organization serves approximately 4,000 households and 15,000 individuals monthly, with a focus on providing nutritious, culturally relevant foods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Distribution Program Weekly supplemental grocery distribution at the food bank location on Wednesdays and Fridays, offering both express (pre-shopped by family size) and traditional (customer-selected) shopping options, serving residents of Lynnwood and South Snohomish County.
• Food Truck Mobile Distribution Mobile food distribution service funded by City of Lynnwood COVID funds and Verdant Health Commission, serving Edmonds College students on Thursdays (approximately 300 students per month) and various low-income apartment complexes and seniors on Saturdays.
• Cooking Demonstrations Live and video-based cooking demonstrations teaching recipes using common food bank items, cultural food preparations (Ethiopian, El Salvadoran, Ukrainian, Tex Mex), and nutrition information, available on YouTube and during distributions.
• Nutrition Education Program Comprehensive nutrition education including cooking demonstrations, video nutrition tips, one-on-one sessions with dietetic interns, nutrition handouts in multiple languages, and classes on food safety and dietary management, with partnerships through Seattle Pacific University and Verdant Health Commission.
• Homeless Services Customized food options for unhoused individuals including non-cook bags, modified cart service, and full service options based on their specific needs, capacity to carry, cook, or refrigerate items.
• Pop-Up Pantries Mobile food distributions at local schools (Meadowdale High School, Alderwood Middle School, Spruce Elementary School), Heroes Cafe for veterans, Sea Mar Health Clinic, and Refugee Immigrant Services Northwest.
• Health Programs Health-focused partnerships including Medical Teams International dental van, American Heart Association blood pressure cuff distribution and Heart Healthy boxes, Sea Mar Medical Clinic collaboration, and health clinics providing vaccines, COVID tests, and A1C testing.
• Emergency Box Service Pre-packed canned/dry goods boxes with produce and bread when available, provided to customers during food bank closures; does not count against regular service eligibility.
• Student Programs School-based food distributions through partnership with Nourishing Network and Edmonds School District, and weekly grocery distributions at Edmonds College serving approximately 300 students per month.
• Veterans Programs Monthly food truck visits to Heroes Cafe for veterans, plus non-cook bag preparation for homeless veteran outreach through Heroes Cafe volunteers.
• Grow a Row Community garden donation program encouraging residents to grow vegetables specifically for donation to the food bank, with guidance on accepted fresh produce from home gardens.
• Food Drive Hosting Organized community food drives with support materials including donation barrels, guidelines, flyer templates, and social media promotion; available year-round with emphasis October through January.

Quantifiable outcome

• 191,797 individuals served in 2025 — a 9.95% increase year-over-year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food LifelinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food bank network providing donated food and resources to Lynnwood Food Bank as part of the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition.
• Northwest HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide hunger relief organization providing donated food to Lynnwood Food Bank to supplement local donations.
• American Heart AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to address health disparities. Has distributed over 200 blood pressure cuffs to customers with hypertension. Also partners on Heart Healthy food boxes distributed through Sea Mar Medical Clinic.
• Medical Teams InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides a dental van to serve Lynnwood Food Bank customers approximately once per month, a program running for approximately 20 years.
• Sea Mar ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Heart Healthy boxes of food distributed to hypertensive patients identified by the clinic. Also collaborates on pop-up pantries with refugee and immigrant communities.
• Seattle Pacific UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Seattle Pacific University's Food and Nutrition Department's Dietetic Internship Program. Dietetic interns provide the majority of nutrition education programming including handouts, cooking demonstrations, nutrition tips, and one-on-one customer consultations.
• Edmonds CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite of Thursday food truck distribution serving approximately 300 students per month. Also a sponsor of the Food Is Love charity event and provides internship/community jobs program placements.
• Silver Creek Family ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe church where the food bank originated in 1978 (then Joseph's Closet) and whose property hosts the current facility. Provides ongoing community support and partnership.
• Costco (Alderwood, Business Center, Shoreline)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor grocery store partner donating fresh produce, dairy, meats, and other essential foods on a regular basis. One of the primary sources of fresh food for the food bank.
• Safeway (Lynnwood 196th, Lake Serene 148th, Bothell)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular grocery store donor providing fresh produce, dairy, meats, and shelf-stable foods. One of the most consistent partner donors in the grocery rescue program.
• Trader Joe's LynnwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular grocery store donor for the Lynnwood Food Bank's grocery rescue program. Contributes fresh and shelf-stable foods six days a week.
• Whole Foods LynnwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular grocery store donor contributing fresh produce, dairy, and other essential foods to the food bank.
• Snohomish County Food Bank CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of food banks in Snohomish County that Lynnwood Food Bank joined in 1982, operating under shared non-profit charitable status.
• Nourishing NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Edmonds School District to provide nutritious groceries at school-based pop-up pantries for students and families.
• Heroes CafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran organization that the food truck visits monthly and for which non-cook bags are prepared for homeless veteran outreach.
• Refugee Immigrant Services NWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on pop-up pantries and outreach to refugee and immigrant communities in South Snohomish County.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides government commodity foods that supplement the food bank's inventory.
• WSU SNAP EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on nutrition education programming to teach customers about healthy eating and food preparation.
• Sound DietitiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on nutrition education programming and resources for food bank customers.
• Dave & Buster's LynnwoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the 2025 'Food Is Love' charity event on October 19, 2025, providing venue, grill and chill BBQ buffet, and unlimited gaming. Platinum sponsor of the event. All proceeds support Lynnwood Food Bank.
• Anheuser-BuschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 2025 Food Is Love charity event at Dave & Buster's.
• Lynnwood RotaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2025 Food Is Love charity event, supporting the food bank's annual fundraiser.
• Fire Protection Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2025 Food Is Love charity event supporting the food bank's mission.
• Signarama LynnwoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor of the 2025 Food Is Love charity event.
• South County FireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2025 Food Is Love charity event.
• Lynnwood Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecognized Lynnwood Food Bank as Best Nonprofit for Providing Services in Lynnwood for two consecutive years (2025, 2026). Bronze sponsor of the Food Is Love event.
• Olson's Bakery, Franz Bakery, Finale Bakery, Cost Plus World MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakery and specialty store donors providing regular food donations to supplement the food bank's inventory.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National hunger-relief network that Lynnwood Food Bank is effectively affiliated with through Feeding America's regional partners. Sets industry standards, aggregates grocery rescue supply, and coordinates the national infrastructure within which Lynnwood operates.

Direct peers

• Food Bank for Seattle & King County: Largest direct-serving food bank in WA, distributing groceries through partner pantries and direct distribution. Closest geo-functional peer to Lynnwood Food Bank; its model of fixed-site plus mobile plus partner sub-agencies mirrors Lynnwood's approach.
• Food Lifeline: Regional food bank network in Western Washington that distributes donated food to partner pantries including Lynnwood Food Bank. Operates the same hunger-relief mission and serves as both supplier and comparable regional peer in the Snohomish/King County ecosystem.
• Marysville Community Food Bank: Community food bank serving North Snohomish County — same county, same Snohomish Food Bank Coalition, and similar mid-sized pantry operation serving low-income households on a weekly free-distribution model. Closest local peer for comparable scale and operating model.
• Northwest Harvest: Washington statewide hunger-relief organization that supplies food to Lynnwood Food Bank. Operates the anti-hunger mission at greater scale across WA, making it both a supplier and the most direct comparable peer on service model, funding base, and volunteer-driven distribution.
• Mary's Place: King County nonprofit providing shelter and food for families experiencing homelessness. Comparable through free food distribution, strong volunteer base, partnerships with healthcare and government, and focus on dignity-driven service for vulnerable populations.
• Stanwood-Camano Food Bank: Community food bank in the same Snohomish County coalition serving North Snohomish households on a free weekly-distribution model. Nearest geographic peer at the food bank operating unit level.
• Hopelink: Eastside/King County human services nonprofit operating food banks, housing, and integrated support services. Comparable due to overlapping mission, household-level service delivery model, King/Snohomish County operating geography, and reliance on a mix of donated food, foundation grants, and community fundraising.
• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Large Western WA social services nonprofit that operates food banks alongside housing, refugee, and senior services. Comparable through integrated anti-poverty programming, reliance on donations and faith/community partnerships, and similar WA geography.
• Volunteers of America Western Washington: Western Washington affiliate of a national human services nonprofit providing food, housing, and recovery services. Comparable as a multi-program community services organization with similar funding mix (donations, foundations, government grants) and focus on low-income and homeless populations in the same Pacific Northwest geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lynnwoodfoodbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/LynnwoodFoodBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lynnwood-food-bank

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lynnwood Food Bank