Welcome to the Highline Area Food Bank
Our building is located at 18300 4th Avenue South, Burien, WA Map of HAFB.
Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 66427, Seattle, WA 98166
206-433-9900
Who We Are
The Highline Area Food Bank is a Non-Profit 501C3 organization dedicated to the gathering and distribution of food for those in need in the Burien and greater Highline area.
How We Started
A group of churches in 1983 started the Trinity Church Food Bank and the John Knox Food Bank. With the continued demand for food from an increasing population and limited space, graciously provided by our host churches, the necessity for a larger location was determined. In 1995 a group of seven churches (Church by the Side of the Road, John Knox Presbyterian, Lake Burien Presbyterian, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Prince of Peace, St. Francis, and Trinity) organized and filed for non-profit status as an independent corporation known as the Highline Area Food Bank (HAFB).
In 1996, we negotiated and signed a 25-year lease to make the Manhattan Community Center (18300 4th Avenue S.) the new home of the Food Bank. By the end of the decade we had added 20-ft and 40-ft insulated containers to store our gathered food until distribution. Later, in the summer of 2003, the food bank purchased and installed a 12-ft by 24-ft walk-in freezer/refrigerator unit, allowing us to store more fresh and frozen foods. In the fall of 2004, the King County Council donated a Chevy AstroVan to the food bank to assist with pick-up and distribution of food. Since then the HAFB board has created and filled the position of a paid, full-time director to oversee their ever-expanding operations.
Who Do We Serve?
Our established boundaries serve clients north of 192nd and south of 116th Streets, west to Puget Sound, and east to PAC-Highway/International Boulevard/Military Road. In 2007 we distributed food to 8,724 households representing 23,453 individuals, of whom 44% are adults (18-55), 16% are seniors (56+), 38% are children (3-17), and 2% are babies (0-2). Further, 65% reside within the city of Burien, 20.5% in SeaTac, 5% in unincorporated King County, 1.5% in Normandy Park, and 8% declare themselves as homeless. To these households, we distributed approximately 684,000 pounds of food valued at approximately $1,024,000. In addition, at Christmas we distributed toys to over 427 children along with food for their families.
Our clients represent many different nationalities. Many of them are employed, but do not make enough to provide for their basic needs.
Donations and Funding
We currently pick up day-old and damaged products from merchants in Burien (Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertson's, three Starbucks, Little Caesar's, Mud Bay pet store, Schuler's Bakery), Normandy Park (QFC), and SeaTac (Gai's Bakery). We have a food bank drop-off location at the QFC store year round. The purchase of food is essential to our ability to give out a nutritionally balanced unit of service to our clients. Our funding was generated from the following sources in 2008: 34% from federal, state, and city grants, 13% from local churches, 19% from individual donors, 11% from businesses, 7% from organizations, and 16% from United Way. The total value of the donated food we distributed in 2007 was over $1,024,000. We receive grants from Fema, and a state grant (EFAP). You may also designate the Highline Area Food Bank at your place of work in the United Way Giving campaign.
Questions
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Executive Director (Mike Werle) at 206-433-9900, or by mail: P.O. Box 66427, Burien, WA 98166. Email: highlinefb@gmail.com
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