The Ballard Food Bank is moving from 24th Ave. into a bigger space in the industrial area of Ballard. Nancy McKinney, the Executive Director for the Ballard Food Bank, sent us this note:
Given our lack of capacity and poor placement in a residential neighborhood, the Ballard Food Bank is planning to move to an undisclosed location in industrial Ballard. The new location will allow us to better serve our clients, store food and expand our distribution hours. In addition we hope to use some flexible office space to partner with agencies that can give referral assistance along with other services that will help clients that need health care and housing assistance.
We will keep you posted on the location once McKinney can discuss it publicly.
View Ballard Food Bank drop-off locations in a larger map
In the meantime, the Ballard Food Bank is still helping thousands of people each week. You can help out by donating at the food bank (7001 24th Ave. NW) or at any of the barrels shown in the map above.
Wow, that's big news. Not quite sure what to think about it. BFB has always been a close neighbor. I can't help but feel a little sad…
i would hate to live near the food bank. the trash alone that's generated after a large crowd is pathetic. further proof that the recipients don't care about the neighborhood, just the hand outs.
Your comment has nothing to do with the current article. Why do you feel impelled to say something bad?
I've lived close for over 7 years. Zero complaints.
I've lived around the corner for over ten years. Likewise no problems (or almost none — as I've posted before, one time a guy parked in front of my driveway, but over the course of that many years, no big whoop).
This is great news for the neighborhood.
Those truly needy Ballard residents who take advantage of the food bank will still be able to get the help they need, and the scumbag neer do wells who have been attracted here to get yet another a handout will at least not be bussed into the residential heart of Ballard and dropped there.
Plus it will be a much shorter commute for all the bums living in their run-down RVs.
A win for everyone.
I'm with BoardBrown … sad to see them go. But, it sounds like a good move with lots of promise and I wish them all the best!
“…the scumbag neer do wells who have been attracted here to get yet another a handout will at least not be bussed…”
Do you mean “ne'er-do-well” and “bused”? Not sure what a “neer” is and anyway they're probably seldom bussed.
Do you still fly? If so, I think you're a greater hazard to residential Ballard than the food bank users.
if you're going to go after someone's grammar–check yourself.
“bussed” is the correct past participle of bus.
and I hardly think leaving out the hyphens make “ne er do well” incomprensible.
for the record, I'm not too sad to see this place leave the hood. (that's 'hood for some people)
Yeah, it's very sad they have to move. But it sounds like they'll have more space in the new digs, and they won't have to listen to NIMBY complaints anymore.
Has anyone thought of what will become of the Ballard Food Bank space once they move?
Condos?
Maybe they will turn it back into an asian corner store that sells alcohol to teenagers. The corner of the building had one of my favorite stores back in high school.
I live two blocks from the BFB and know neighbors who live closer. There have been isolated issue with trash and such. Those were addressed long ago.
People are not bused in to be patrons of the foodbank. They may give you food once if you are not from the area (and if you are sober and not causing problems) but then they will refer you to another food bank in whatever part of town you are in. There are plenty of food banks all of over the city including downtown so it's kind of silly to think that people would bus in from all over town just to use our neighborhood's food bank. Check your facts before you spout off about things you know nothing about and are just assuming.
I heard that the owner is planning to sell it. So, I imagine once it sells it the current building will be leveled and mixed use condos built.
“whatever part of town you are in”
I see people hanging out by that bus stop all the time. Could it be some of these people are homeless and bus themselves from another part of town? We know lots of these people collect their mail at the food bank–doubt they all live in ballard.
and for the record–it's “bussed”
I didn't know about the selling alcohol to teenagers, but I remember the corner store — it was quite handy. The food bank was one door in at that time and expanded into the corner space when the store was closed.
Both “bused” and “bussed” are correct in US English; the one-ess forms are listed first in Merriam-Webster, 11th ed. (a standard reference for most publishers).
Main Entry: 2bus
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): bused also bussed; bus·ing also bus·sing
The parcel is too small for a mixed use project, I think. I smell townhouses!
How can you have an issue with hungry people getting food from the food bank. I for one don't have an issue with anyone getting food from the food bank if they need it regardless of the address they live at. I'm sure you can ignore them just like you do all the other people that don't meet up to your standards. Maybe we can give out North Face jackets and have all the people in line hold Starbucks cups if that will make you less afraid of them.
(feel free to hack at my grammar)
Perhaps the new location will make it more accessible to those who use the services. It made no sense to have it in a residential neighborhood.
Why doesn't it makes sense to have a food bank in a residential neighborhood? That's where the people who need food are, isn't it?
the best location is central and accessible. Would the current food bank location be a good place for a supermarket meant to serve the whole Ballard area? Nope — but somewhere not too far from 15th and Market would be a better site.
If it is true the building is being sold, then there is your reason for the move. Kudos to the neighbors who were cool about having the foodbank close by. Your property values will go up a little now, and you didn't act like d-bags because poor people passed through your area. Good karma for sure.
Why would their property values go up? Compassionate people will pay high prices no matter what the neighborhood!
Because although your kind global conscious is as infectious as herpes Stupid Hippie, sadly not everyone gets it.
So sad. I'd be more than willing to pay threw the nose to live in a crime and homeless-filled neighborhood……I guess I just have too much compassion.
The values will go up due to the anticipated new construction, not because of the loss of the food bank.
Actually, I'd never thought about this before, but a supermarket is an ideal place for a food bank. Think of it:
1. Low overheard for the food bank due to potentially shared facilities, or at the very least reduced transportation costs.
2. Ease of donating. Just drop your donated food off when you do your shopping, perhaps even include a donation when you pay. Check the food bank on your way in to see what they need most so that your donation is most helpful.
3. Less stigma for our neighbors who depend on the food bank
I wonder if this is done anywhere? It seems like a natural to me!
Sure, just look at the universal love for the food bank on this board. It is clear that all people are totally into having a food bank in their neighborhood.
Or, wait, some people don't want a food bank near their home? If so then since when did less demand = higher prices?
And if I had a nickel for every real estate flyer I've seen boasting “only 1/2 a block from the food bank” …
You forgot to mention on your flyer all the vagrant shelters with open door policies to child rapists and your friendly, neighborhood arsonist who collected his mail at the food bank.
Yeah, I figure probably something like the townhouses across the street south of there (which are not stunningly beautiful, but aren't hideous either). But isn't this kind of a lousy time to invest in new construction? or can you get stuff (and workers) cheaper than a little while ago?
this is a good idea. Don't poor people already use food stamps in the supermarket (in the form of debit cards?)
Food banks help bridge the gap for people who aren't already in the system, people who are and still can't get enough to eat, or people who are having temporary problems.
personally I wouldn't care if the food bank was on my block, but thanks for supporting my notion that many people would.
For those who seem to think that the majority of the people the Ballard Food Bank helps out are homeless troublemakers, please see the info I posted in this thread for some valuable stats: https://www.myballard.com/forum/topic.php?id=2856
Primarily, out of 3,903 people helped each month, only 300 may be homeless. 559 are under the age of 18. Their demand has gone up 25% in the last year alone.
This is not about supporting the homeless, they're a fraction of those being helped. It's about helping your neighbor, your child's teacher, the person who sells you your coffee in the morning. These aren't all faceless bums, they are people you see every day in your neighborhood just trying to feed themselves and their families during tough times.
Everyone needs help at some point, and not at their proudest moment. How would you feel if when you were at bottom and had to ask for help with some of the most basic things to support your family, and you read some of the vitriolic posts on here? Way to kick them when they're down. I hope more compassion is shown to you when it's your turn to ask for help.
Had to chuckle this morning at the comments of people saying that recipients of the Ballard Food Bank don't come from all over the city. You obviously don't ride the #18 bus very often. OMG.
I've lived around the corner and up the block for more than 6 years. No problems from them at all.
I'm just sad, because I will no longer be able to lord it above people that I lived less than a block away from the food bank when NIMBY arguments come up. How am I suppose to feel superior now!?!
I heard through the grapevine that the new owners (It was bought a year or two ago), are doctors. Maybe they will convert it into an office for themselves (a little knockdown work in the back could free up a few parking spots), which should be all they need.
I would love a corner store.
@Fauxnothing
You're not the only one to see these crews disembark from bus #18 from downtown and points beyond.
Personally, I hope the current food bank owner will take down that run down building and replace it with a 4-story group of studio apartments for low income people. Lord knows we have enough condos and surely we have lots of low income people looking to get into affordable housing in Ballard.
I grew up in this area and I for one am sad to see Ballard become so out of reach for so many. I remember a mix of people living in this area, some very low income when I was growing up in the 60-70's. There is very little low-income housing in the Ballard area now, and I think we need to fight for a mix of incomes and classes to live here in Ballard. or…Do we want to be the next Medina? That is where Ballard seems to be going if we don't allow a mix of people here.
I know many of you will disagree with me, but why not give those that are low income in our community a chance to shine and give back? Why not turn some of those condos that aren't being sold into low income housing? I'm sure we'd find some very grateful neighbors ready to give back to the community, just like back in 60's & 70's when there was still a chance for someone to begin or restart a life in Ballard.
Maybe they will turn the old food bank site into a needle exchange program, a porn shop, or a grocery store. Either way, I think Ballard needs to deal with their low income population by like it or not, creating programs to help them. They are not going away and increasing by the day. Such is life…Messy and challenging at times…
Are you aware of the Ballard Food Bank hours for food distribution: Monday at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church -4:30-6;30pm and then again on Wednesday&Thursday -11am-2:45pm. Maybe the crowd you saw on the bus was rushing to something else?
I am a neighbor of the Ballard food bank. The greatest issue to date has been that of parking for it's patrons. 4300 per month and no parking makes for a dicey and unsafe proposition for pedestrians and motorists alike. The move to a larger space with parking is a good thing. Too bad about the higher lease rate. Perhaps the executive director could donate a portion of her generous salary to help with expenses. Let me add that those throwing the “nimby” appellation around would have a different opinion if they could experience what I have had to deal with. 4300 people per month, their economic class notwithstanding, converging on a single residential block every month, presents a problem even if only one per cent comprise a dangerous element. We know that the Greenwood arson suspect collected his mail at this facility.
I sincerely wish the best to the Ballard food bank in their new building, and may they continue to do the good and worthwile work of helping those who need assistance in these changing times. I am only sorry the move has been delayed this long-to the detriment of patrons and neighbors alike.
When are they moving? I live next door and as much as the food bank helps, I will be glad to see them move. As entertaining as having the police in my yard once a week, have people sit on my lawn waiting for the bus, throwing thrash on own property, entering our gate and using our water or peeing on garage, I will be happy to support them in another location.
The need is so great that the lines start quite early; they also have a sack lunch program everyday.
I’m a Ballard food bank client. I have a graduate degree, a beloved child & a home here in the neighborhood, just like most of you. Unfortunately, layoff + nasty divorce = I can’t afford food (yet don’t qualify for food stamps until my unemployment runs out). THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF YOU. Thank goddess for neighborhood help like this.