On a warm July afternoon, the Queen Anne Food Bank opens its doors wide to a line of neighbors that winds through the parking lot and down the block. Everyone is welcomed with a smile by Food Bank staff and volunteers, leaving with a nourishing bag of groceries handed to them by a member of the Food Bank team.
These visitors have arrived for the Queen Anne Food Bank’s weekly grocery pick up, which the Food Bank offers in addition to fresh meals distributed every weekday. Nestled in the heart of Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, just steps from the Climate Pledge Arena and the Pacific Science Center, the Food Bank serves an average of 125 people every day. Their message is simple and heart-felt: “Come if you’re hungry.”
On July 1, the Queen Anne Food Bank officially joined Catholic Community Services (CCS), entering into our family of more than 190 programs throughout Western Washington. Originally founded as a ministry of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, the Queen Anne Food Bank is now joining CCS as a part of Partners in the Gospel, an effort to bring renewal to churches in the Archdiocese of Seattle.
This new partnership with CCS ensures the Queen Anne Food Bank will have the needed support to sustain and expand their crucial services for the Seattle community. Entering into the CCS network will also offer an opportunity to connect Food Bank guests with other CCS programs, including shelters, mental health services, case management, and housing.
Every weekday, the Queen Anne Food Bank provides fresh lunches including soup and a sandwich. On Thursdays, guests can pick up groceries that help provide essential nutrition throughout the week. In addition to fresh meals and groceries, the Food Bank also provides hygiene items and, in the winter, cold weather supplies including hats and hand warmers.
At the heart of the Food Bank is Steve Kreins, a longtime staff member who now serves as program manager. With more than a decade of involvement with the Queen Anne Food Bank, Steve brings continuity and expertise to this new chapter.
With cuts to the federal SNAP program, food insecurity and the need for foodbanks is expected to rise in the coming months and years. Supporting nutrition programs like the Queen Anne Food Bank is key to CCS’s commitment to responding to the changing needs of our community.
The newest member of the CCS program network, the Queen Anne Food Bank is more critical than ever, bringing much needed nutrition and compassion to our neighbors who need us most.
Volunteer Opportunity: The Queen Anne Food Bank is seeking volunteers to help prepare and serve meals on weekdays. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Queen Anne Food Bank at QueenAnneFoodBank@ccsww.org.