The Auburn Food Bank

The Auburn Food Bank is a volunteer directed organization that provides food, referrals and emergency assistance to those in need within the boundaries of the Auburn School District #408...which includes Algona, Pacific, parts of Lake Tapps and Kent. The Auburn Food Bank started in 1930 as Auburn Community Chest to assist a family that had been burned out of their home. When that project was complete, there was enough resources left over to help more families. In 1950 The Auburn Food Bank became a member of United Way, which increased our ability for financial support and helped organize our program. In 1990 the Auburn Community Chest, the clothing bank and the mobile home used for transitional housing were given to other organizations better equipped to handle these programs. In 1994, the Auburn Community Chest became The Auburn Food Bank, focusing on providing food, referrals and emergency financial assistance.

We are a grocery store that doesn't take your money! The services of The Auburn Food Bank are provided each week to those who need our help. We are not just a food bank, but also have Emergency Financial Assistance, run 2 meal programs, Food to Go Backpack program for our most needy children in the Auburn School District, have a shut-in delivery program, job training for people trying to get into paid positions, and a job "retraining" for those who have had a disability that might have displaced them from their work. We serve about 80 homeless in our community and many of them return the favor by working for us as needs arise. We serve an average of 150 client families a day...100 families at our meal programs, and 360 students. Our food resources are Food Life Line, Northwest Harvest, groceries stores in our city and generous citizens! Our financial base is roughly 25% from major grantors, 25% from fundraising, 25% from smaller grantors, and 25% from our neighbors here in Auburn! We strive to treat our clients with dignity and respect. We work hard to keep our facility look and "feeling" comfortable. No one "wants" to go to a food bank...so we try to make this experience comfortable. If they need help - we are here to help!