Lynnwood Cares: A Unified Effort to Address Food Insecurity
01/20/26
Partner Lynnwood is a collaboration among Edmonds College, the City of Lynnwood, and local business and community leaders established to foster innovation and improve the quality of life for the region. During a meeting in April, the group asked a foundational question: How can we add value to the community through a project or initiative that we can tackle together? The result is Lynnwood Cares, the first-ever city-wide food drive launching in February 2026.
With a team of representatives, including Verdant Health, the Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI), the Lynnwood Food Bank, My Neighborhood News, the Washington West African Center, and the Edmonds School District Foundation’s Nourishing Network, Partner Lynnwood helped design a project that celebrates the city’s incredible diversity. Running throughout February, this initiative addresses local food insecurity, with a specific focus on shelf-stable, culturally relevant foods.
“The Lynnwood Cares Food Drive is a unified effort to support our diverse community in a tangible, meaningful way," said Edmonds College President Dr. Amit B. Singh. “It is a reflection of what is possible when we lead with empathy and collaboration and help build a more inclusive and connected Lynnwood.”
This food drive will benefit families, neighbors, and students from four vital local organizations:
- The Edmonds College Food Pantry
- The Lynnwood Food Bank
- The Foundation for Edmonds School District’s Nourishing Network
- The Washington West African Center
The task force chose these four beneficiaries for their widespread support in the Lynnwood community.
In 2025, the Lynnwood Food Bank served 191,797 individuals across 47,719 households, including both new and repeat visits. This equates to an average of 3,688 individuals and 917 households per week. Over the course of last year, the food bank distributed over 4.1 million pounds of food across 229 days.
Alissa Jones, Executive Director of the Lynnwood Food Bank, noted, “Being part of the Lynnwood Cares food drive really shows how our community comes together to make sure our neighbors have access to food with dignity. Partnerships like this help us reach families across the city and better meet the diverse needs of the people we serve.”
Similarly, the Edmonds College Food Pantry serves 250 students per week and distributes an average of 17,529 pounds of food per quarter. Providing roughly 15–20 pounds of food per household, the pantry has seen average student visitation increase by over 150 students since Fall 2021.
Stewart Sinning, Program Manager of the Edmonds Food Pantry, said, "For many of our students, the Edmonds College Food Pantry is the difference between completing a degree and dropping out. We know that a student cannot focus on their exams when they are hungry. Being the beneficiary of such an incredible community effort ensures that our shelves remain stocked and our doors remain open to everyone in need of a helping hand."
The Nourishing Network serves weekend meal kits to 750 students from the Edmonds School District each week and hosts pop-up pantries that feed 400 families per month. Thame Fuller, Community Director of the Nourishing Network, was thankful for the impact Lynnwood Cares will have on ESD families’ lives.
“We are serving more students and families than ever before,” Fuller said. “This generous support ensures local food-insecure students have the nutrition they need to get through the weekends and helps struggling families meet their basic needs each month."
The Washington West African Center serves 100 households in its biweekly food distributions. Pa Ousman, Executive Director of the Washington West African Center, said that including his community makes them feel seen, valued, and supported.
“The Washington West African Center is excited to be a beneficiary of the Lynnwood Cares food drive, which will strengthen our ability to support immigrant and refugee families with dignity and compassion,” Ousman said. “This partnership embodies the true spirit of community, as neighbors come together to ensure that no one is left behind.”
Making sure that anyone experiencing food insecurity has access to a food bank that meets their specific dietary needs was a priority for the Lynnwood Cares committee. By gathering items such as Masa flour, Jasmine rice, Berbere spices, and Ghee, the program ensures that every family has access to the familiar, nutritious ingredients they use to gather around the table.
How to Get Involved
The following partners are hosting donation barrels across the city of Lynnwood. Check here for a map of the donation sites.
- Edmonds College Makerspace at Monroe Hall: Tuesday–Thursday, 3–8 p.m.
- Edmonds College Triton Espresso: Located in Mountlake Terrace Hall.
- Verdant Health Commission
- Lynnwood Barnes & Noble
- Lynnwood Dave & Busters
- Lynnwood Neighborhood Center
- Washington West African Center
- Edmonds School District Office
These donations will support our four local beneficiaries.
To find out more, visit: lynnwoodcares.edmonds.edu