2025 March Canopy and Impact Report - Flipbook - Page 11
Community Impact
Edmonds College Food
Pantry ‘Feels Like Home’
The Edmonds College Food Pantry began as a single metal
storage locker of nonperishables in 2018. After six years of
continuous growth, it has served more than 24,000 students,
faculty and staff at the college.
The metal locker turned “Trident Resource Hub” now offers
resources for students and staff experiencing 昀椀nancial
issues. The average student age is 30 when most people are
no longer receiving any parental support. Although nearly
half of students work at least part-time, it can be challenging
to pay for academic costs on top of the rising cost of living.
Furthermore, almost one in 昀椀ve students have children or
other dependents in their care.
A current student, Melanie (name changed for privacy),
shared that she is a single mom of two children pursuing her
dream of becoming a behavioral therapist. Her long-term
goal is to earn a master’s degree and specialize in helping
families impacted by substance abuse.
“I noticed that there are a lot of small families, like maybe
a person who just has been here a year or so who is taking
an English class, and they have four kids… they need a little
bit of support while studying,” Worm said. “They are always
emotionally grateful and it makes a huge difference.”
The hub is run mostly by student volunteers and the help of
Worm who started in February. Worm joined the food pantry
because she always had a need to serve others.
“The food pantry is the best thing Edmonds College
has done in the last 20 years,” a faculty member
shopping at the pantry said.
People come and they say ‘It feels like I’m coming home when
I come here’ and then people start bringing their friends
and family. It starts to be this big community where people
support and recognize each other,” Worm said.
Staples like peanut butter and bread provide her son with
lunch for the week, which he makes himself. Chicken Caesar
salad is one of her family’s favorite meals she makes from
items received from the Food Pantry.
Every single dollar in her budget is accounted for, so she
plans her schedule around the Food Pantry hours because
she cannot afford to miss an opportunity to provide
nutritious food for her family. Consistent access to food
removes a huge stressor and gives her hope that she
will achieve her goals.
“It’s like a one-stop shop, so students can get food, hygiene
products, as well as seek additional resources upstairs
through emergency grants. And if all our resources
aren’t enough, then we have our 211 navigators who can
provide resources in the community,” Stewart Sinning,
Program Manager at the Center for Student Engagement
and Leadership said.
This year the pantry was able to purchase an additional
fridge with grant funding to help stock perishable goods
such as milk, eggs, vegetables and more. Pantry Coordinator
Jamie Worm said that food usually goes pretty fast.
Based on previous surveys, Sinning and his team have found
that Edmonds College students have a higher average of
food insecurities than the state average. The pantry itself
sees roughly 125-150 students a week, Sinning said.
(Left) Jamie Worm, Edmonds College Pantry Coordinator (Right) Stewart
Sinning, Edmonds College Program Manager at the Center for Student
Engagement and Leadership
Did you know?
Nationally, nearly 15% of households with children,
face food insecurity de昀椀ned as limited or uncertain
access to adequate food.1
USDA ERS - Child Food Insecurity*
Since the pandemic, South Snohomish County food
banks have seen utilization increase as much as 250%.
Verdant’s investments in food security support a
variety of options by which people can receive access
to nutritious foods.
* https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2022/february/food-insecurity-for-households-with-children-rose-in-2020-disrupting-decade-long-decline
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2024 Community Impact Report
