Federal Way Senior Center

What Federal Way Senior Center does

Federal Way Senior Center is a private, community-based nonprofit located at 4016 South 352nd Street in unincorporated South King County (Auburn, WA 98001), serving seniors (60+) and veterans across Auburn, Edgewood, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Milton, Northeast Tacoma, Pacific, and nearby unincorporated areas of South King and Pierce Counties. The organization operates a fixed-location hub delivering a consolidated set of social services: a Food Bank open Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM to Noon (serving over 120 families per day as of 2025, up from 70-80 previously), a Nutritional Lunch Program, weekly Socializing sessions, Bingo events, a long-running Community Garden, and a Volunteer Program. The facility additionally hosts several special-interest clubs (ADTA, Ford Club, Woodcarvers Club, Garden Club, Pacific NW Metropolitan Club) and Cascadia Church services on Sundays, providing ancillary facility-rental revenue.

The revenue model is donation-led and consists of community contributions, annual fundraising campaigns (notably GiveBIG, Washington State's statewide day of giving), in-kind grocery donations from partners including Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Costco, and Food Lifeline, and modest facility rental income. Service delivery is exclusively in-person and walk-in; no online ordering, remote service, or mobile application exists, and the technology footprint is limited to a WordPress website with an event calendar and online donation capability launched in July 2024. The center is led by Executive Director Shelley Puariea (35+ years of community-service tenure including prior leadership at Boys & Girls Clubs in Puget Sound and founding of the EX3 teen center), and recently benefited from operational reengineering by Sue Thacker that reduced food bank wait times from approximately 2 hours to 1.5 minutes. There is no parent company, private equity backing, or venture investment; the entity operates as an independent nonprofit under Washington jurisdiction.

Name

Federal Way Senior Center

Legal name

Federal Way Senior Center

Website

https://federalwayseniorcenter.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Federal Way Senior Center is a nonprofit community hub in South King County, Washington, providing a food bank, lunch program, social activities, bingo, and a community garden to seniors, veterans, and food-insecure families across nine South King and Pierce County municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior community services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF), Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs (HSABANAM)

Keywords

• Senior community services
• Nonprofit senior center
• Food bank services
• Social activities
• Veteran support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The center relies on community donations, annual campaigns like GiveBIG (Washington State's day of giving), and individual contributions to fund operations and programs.
2. Food Drive Contributions: Receives food donations from partners like Grocery Outlet and community members during food drives, which are converted into store credit for purchasing additional supplies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Federal Way Senior Center operates a physical community hub in unincorporated South King County (Auburn, WA) that runs a Food Bank, Nutritional Lunch Program, Socializing sessions, regular Bingo events, a Community Garden, hosted club activities (ADTA, Pacific NW Metropolitan Club, Ford Club, Woodcarvers Club, Garden Club), Cascadia Church hosting, Facility Rental, and a Volunteer Program serving seniors, veterans, caregivers, and older adults in South King and Pierce Counties. Programs are delivered primarily on-site at the center with limited remote/online reach; services are free or low-cost and funded by donations, sponsorships, grants, and partner contributions.

Product overview

The Federal Way Senior Center operates as a community hub offering a unified set of senior services and programs. The core offerings include the Food Bank (open Mondays & Thursdays 9 AM - Noon), Socializing Programs, Lunch Program, Bingo Events, Community Garden, and various hosted clubs including ADTA, Pacific NW Metropolitan Club, Ford Club, Woodcarvers Club, and Garden Club. The center also provides facility rental services, volunteer opportunities, and Cascadia Church hosting. The organization serves seniors and veterans across Auburn, Edgewood, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Milton, Northeast Tacoma, Pacific, and nearby unincorporated areas of South King and Pierce Counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Bank Provides free groceries and food assistance to seniors, veterans, and families in need in South King and Pierce Counties. Operated on-site at the center on Mondays and Thursdays, 9 AM – Noon, and served over 120 families per day after operational improvements.
• Lunch Program Nutritional meal program offering weekly lunch gatherings where seniors and veterans enjoy meals in good company, with staff and volunteers providing support and social connection.
• Socializing Programs Monday Socializing sessions that provide a relaxed space for seniors to enjoy coffee, conversation, meet new people, reconnect with old friends, play games, share stories, and celebrate milestones.
• Bingo Events Regular Bingo games held on Mondays and Thursdays providing mental stimulation through numbers, patterns, and attention, along with friendly competition and social engagement.
• Community Garden A long-running community-driven garden space that has provided fresh food, connection, and purpose for local seniors for nearly two decades.
• Facility Rental Space rental opportunities at the senior center for community events, meetings, activities, and hosted club or church services through the Rent the Center program.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities for community members to assist with senior activities, the food bank, events, and special programs such as the sing-a-long music sessions.
• Sing-a-long Music Program Social music sessions featuring volunteer piano and guitar players for sing-a-longs on Mondays and Thursdays 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, with lunch provided.

Quantifiable outcome

• Food bank serves over 120 families daily (previously 70-80 cars)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Grocery Outlet (Federal Way)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2026Grocery Outlet Federal Way store donated $7,000 through their annual Independence from Hunger campaign to support the Federal Way Senior Center & Food Bank. The store also selected the center as beneficiary for their annual food drive with a goal of raising $15,000 in store credit.
• Dash Point Grocery OutletcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2026Located across from Lakota Middle School, Dash Point Grocery Outlet chose the Federal Way Senior Center and Food Bank as beneficiary of their annual food drive.
• South King Fire & RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Santa Parade and Canned Food Drive partnership. South King Fire & Rescue organizes this community event and the Federal Way Senior Center Food Bank participates, collecting non-perishable food donations.
• Food LifelinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFood bank partner working with the center to support community nutrition programs.
• SafewaysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGrocery partner providing support for the center's Nutritional Meal Program and food bank operations.
• CostcosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWarehouse partner supporting the center's food bank and community nutrition programs.
• Rain City ExteriorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor that performed exterior painting of the senior center building in 2024, rejuvenating the entire building exterior.
• Hanson's ChimneyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChimney repair contractor that performed chimney repairs at the Federal Way Senior Center, including Dan Hanson and Jacob Champion's artistry and skill.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Council on Aging (NCOA): National advocacy and program operator focused on senior center networks, food security, and healthy aging. Provides the broader framework and best practices that local centers like Federal Way operate within.
• Meals on Wheels America: National umbrella for senior meal programs including congregate dining and food assistance. Federal Way Senior Center's lunch program and food bank operate a model that mirrors Meals on Wheels' senior nutrition mandate at the local level.

Regional players

• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Large regional faith-affiliated nonprofit delivering aging and adult services across Western Washington including meals, case management, and housing. Overlaps with Federal Way on senior nutrition and supportive services but operates at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Sound Generations: King County-based nonprofit operating multiple senior centers, meal programs, and supportive services. Directly comparable to Federal Way Senior Center in mission, demographic focus, and service mix (congregate meals, socialization, case management), with broader geographic footprint across King County.
• Pike Market Senior Center: Downtown Seattle senior center providing meals, social services, and activities for older adults. Comparable in providing daily lunch programs, social/recreational programming, and case management to a localized senior population.
• Northshore Senior Center: Bothell, WA nonprofit senior center offering meals, social activities, classes, and volunteer programs for older adults in the north Seattle metro. Operates the same center-based model serving community seniors with similar activities (lunch, recreation, classes).
• Greenwood Senior Center: Phinney neighborhood senior center in Seattle offering congregate meals, social activities, and community programming for older adults. Matches the small-staff, center-based nonprofit model with similar activity calendar.

Emerging players

• Multi-Service Center: Federal Way-based nonprofit providing food bank, emergency assistance, and senior services directly within Federal Way Senior Center's service territory. Closest direct geographic peer operating an adjacent food-bank-centered mission in the same market.
• Hopelink: East King County nonprofit providing food assistance (including food banks), housing, and supportive services. Overlaps with Federal Way on the food bank mission and similar donation-funded social services delivery model.

Others

• Aging & Disability Services (Seattle/King County): King County government's Area Agency on Aging that funds and coordinates senior services including those delivered by community centers like Federal Way Senior Center. Acts as a contracting/funding partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/federal-way-senior-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Federal Way Senior Center