Another summer means another group of interns have joined us at RVFB. Help us welcome Essence, Dasha, Ra’mya, Xinnan and Hanifa, led by our Youth Engagement Coordinator Holden. They joined us through TIPS, and SYEP. The summer they'll be helping out around the building and learning how the food bank operates. 

Last week we held our very first Backyard BBQ! We had nearly 225 neighbors join us, including volunteers, food guests, staff, and board members.

Chobo-Ji is a diverse community doing deep spiritual inquiry through silent meditation and caring action for the benefit of all beings, great and small, animate and inanimate. They have also been monthly doners since 2020 and have been an integral part of the Seattle community, offering various meditations and practices to the community since their founding. We had the fortune of speaking with them and getting to know them a bit better. 

This past June was Pride Month and at a time when so many wish to question the very existence of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s more important than ever to remember our common struggles as human beings. We all want our basic human needs met, such as food, shelter and hygiene. We all want to be treated with humanity, decency, and respect. And we all want the ability to have pride in ourselves and the communities we are a part of and represent.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, also known as AAPI Month. 

One of our staff members, Kimmy Nguyen, spoke to us about how she serves her community through our Grocery Shopping program.

SNAP (also called Basic Food in Washington) helps millions of households access groceries each month. This post explains how the program works, recent policy updates that may impact benefits, and where neighbors can find support and additional resources.

As we enter the final stretch of our Room for All Capital Campaign, we’re taking time to recognize the community leaders who have supported this vision along the way. We’re honored to introduce a group of beloved and respected community members serving as our Capital Campaign Honorary Co-Chairs. Read along to learn more about the individuals whose leadership, influence, and deep connection to community are helping us close out this campaign.

Behind every big milestone is community. As our Room for All Capital Campaign that brought about our new Community Food Hub comes closer to completion, we’re reflecting on all of the folks who have helped bring our new facility to fruition. Among those guiding the way are our incredible co-chairs who have been part of our community for several years. Together they’ve stewarded our work, helping to organize and guide our fundraising efforts. Read along to meet and learn more about our Capital Campaign Co-Chairs, Jen and Calandra!

With the holiday season here, there are several cultures that celebrate different holidays throughout Fall and Winter with traditional and popular food dishes. Take a look at some of the upcoming holidays and how different countries and cultures celebrate with food.

The holidays are just around the corner! While the food bank will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, there are many opportunities to share a meal and connect with others in the community. Explore these local Thanksgiving meal events to find the right fit for you and your family.

Find your way to additional food resources throughout the Seattle area with our list of resources, meals, and community fridges. If transportation is a barrier to accessing these resources, please reach out to a staff member about accessing bus tickets.

We’re thrilled to share that we have raised $16 million towards our campaign to renovate our former warehouse space into a thriving food hub for South Seattle—and we’re inviting everyone into the “Room for All” campaign for abundance with a new giving challenge. 

We’re seeking an artist or artist team to design and execute a large mural for our newly completed facility.

Throughout the past year and a half, we’ve watched transformation blossom at Rainier Valley Food Bank throughout the course of our building’s renovation. As we approach the other side, with our community food hub almost complete, we’re reflecting on all that this time has brought us. We’ve come to realize that one thing is true: our work through this season has been powered by community care.

More of our neighbors are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression due to economic factors and food and housing program at risk. Voicing our opinions is one way to stand for anti-hunger and anti-poverty policies, including contacting your local politicians and state and federal legislators. 

Thanks to more than 200 of our neighbors, RVFB raised $110,000, with more coming in, to fund and expand food access for all during this year’s GivingTuesday!

Our food bank continues to bring social service providers together in South Seattle and address the challenges our neighbors face. Join us in spreading the spirit of generosity this season by making an additional gift to uplift our service partners.  

The holidays are just around the corner! While the food bank may be closed on Thanksgiving day, there are so many places to gather in the community with your neighbors and family while sharing a free meal this Thanksgiving. Explore these six options to find the right for your family.

We had the amazing opportunity to have a 2024 Summer Intern Cohort! Interns support us in making our mission a reality by working alongside our staff in development and distribution roles. We also provide interns with valuable professional experience, helping them achieve their goals and preparing them for their future paths. 

Even though millions of people benefit from SNAP Benefits, the government is debating on how much funding the food assistance program should receive in the future. This year, these conversations and decisions appear in the 2024 Farm Bill.