On May 1, 1991, our food bank opened as a volunteer-led neighborhood pantry serving 50 families a week. Founded as Northwest Community Services, the organization experienced a rapid rise in demand as the nation’s economy began to decline in 2008. In response to this huge increase in the number of families in need of food in our neighborhood, the board changed the organization’s name to Rainier Valley Food Bank, and hired its first professional executive director in 2009. Our mission is to nourish with great food, empower with knowledge, and serve with compassion. We work to further our mission through our five core programs: On-Site Distribution, Home Delivery, To-Go Food Bags, Backpack Program, and 360 Support. These programs serve roughly 23,000 people every month. We believe that access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food is a human right, and we envision a hunger-free Rainier Valley.