The Ballard Food Bank will be relocating in anticipation of their expiring lease.

Ballard Food Bank Executive Director Jen Muzia says the lease on their current home at 5130 Leary Ave NW, where they’ve operated for the past eight years, expires in October 2021.

In those eight years, they’ve expanded their offerings substantially: they started the community resource hub, which is a program that connects clients with partners who can provide resources such as VA benefits, mental health services, and discounted ORCA cards.

The food bank serves residents from six zip codes all around Northwest Seattle.

“We are more than a food bank. We offer homelessness prevention services as well as a community resource hub that partners with an extensive group of agencies to bring more services to clients all under one roof,” Muzia says. “Our programs are focused on how to help our neighbors access healthy food and achieve self-sufficiency – whatever way they may define that for themselves. As a food bank and community resource hub, we have really become a one-stop shop.

“All of this means that we have outgrown this space,” Muzia says.

The new site location, which Muzia expects to announce soon, will still serve Ballard, Magnolia, and Queen Anne, plus surrounding neighborhoods.

“Our new space will allow us to grow our food bank and community resource hub to better serve our neighbors throughout northwest Seattle,” Muzia says. The new center will host their market-style food bank, community resource hub, kitchen, and garden, and will also provide job training in various areas.

“Depending on funding commitments, the site could have capacity to host more nonprofits in the community as tenants – beyond the community hub work we already do.”

Muzia says they’re finalizing details on their new location, and expect to be able to announce the news as early as next week — we’ll keep you posted.



Photo from Ballard Food Bank’s website