King County awards Kent Food Bank $450,000 grant
Published 12:48 pm Friday, August 7, 2026
Kent Food Bank & Emergency Services has received a $450,000 grant from King County, part of $2.75 million in capital grants to 30 food assistance providers to help strengthen food security in the region.
The funds will be used in Kent to “support the purchase of the current food bank facility and make critical improvements to create a safer, more efficient working environment and improve capacity to meet the growing community need for healthy food options,” according to a Aug. 5 news release from the office of King County Executive Girmay Zahilay.
King County awarded Kent Food Bank, 515 W. Harrison St., the largest grant, which ranged from $11,000 to $450,000, to help address long-term infrastructure needs and enhance the local food system, according to the news release. Funding will support projects ranging from facility improvements to the purchase of refrigerated vans for mobile food delivery services.
More than 70 organizations applied for grants.
“The Food Security Capital Grant is a transformative investment in the future of Kent Food Bank & Emergency Services,” said Jeniece Choate, executive director of the food bank. “This funding provides the critical gap financing needed to secure ownership of our facility, ensuring we can continue serving families for years to come.
“It will also help us improve our donation area, making it safer and more efficient for volunteers, donors and staff. We are deeply grateful for this investment in the long-term sustainability of our organization and our ability to serve the community.”
Food assistance continues to be a urgent need in the county.
“The need for food assistance in King County communities has never been greater,” Zahilay said. “As the cost of groceries continues to rise, more seniors, families, and working people are relying on food banks and community partners to put food on the table. At the same time, these organizations are being stretched thin as demand continues to increase.
“That’s why King County is making a dedicated capital investment for these organizations so that they can improve their facilities, expand capacity, and continue to serve neighbors in need. Everyone in our region deserves access to healthy, affordable food, and we remain committed to supporting the local organizations working every day to make that possible.”
Living Well Kent grant
Living Well Kent Collaborative received a county grant of $132,691.
The funds will be used to “purchase a refrigerated cargo delivery van to expand capacity to bring fresh, temperature-controlled produce and pantry staples directly to food-insecure families who cannot safely visit Living Well Kent’s Cultural Food Pantry in Auburn,” according to the news release.
The food hub is at 3902 W. Valley Highway North, Suite 108.
