University District Food Bank

Mission

Our mission is to support people experiencing food insecurity in Northeast Seattle by providing high quality, culturally familiar food and connecting them with vital resources.

Description

Hunger is rising in Northeast Seattle, and more of our neighbors are turning to the University District Food Bank for help.

In 2025, we distributed 3.9 million pounds of food and responded to more than 368,000 requests for groceries from households across our community. Demand for food bank services has increased 70% in four years, while food donations have declined and food purchasing costs have quadrupled during the same period.

Each week, the University District Food Bank provides groceries to 2,600 households across Northeast Seattle. At our main U District pantry, about 1,600 households shop weekly for the groceries they need to prepare healthy meals at home. Our satellite pantries at Magnuson Park and North Seattle College serve another 430 households each week, expanding access for neighbors who face transportation or geographic barriers.

Beyond groceries, our Packs for Kids program provides weekend meals to 820 students at 16 schools, ensuring children have food when school meals are unavailable. Our Apple a Day Café serves more than 1,000 hot meals each week, and our Community Connector team helps neighbors access housing, healthcare, and other vital resources that support long-term stability.

Our community has always stepped up when neighbors need support. GiveBIG 2026 is a chance to continue that tradition and ensure the University District Food Bank can keep shelves stocked and provide at least three days of healthy food to every household who turns to us for help.

Thank you for supporting your neighbors by supporting the University District Food Bank.