On Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 9:30am, Emergency Food Network will host a ribbon-cutting for a new building on their Lakewood campus. The construction of the building was made possible through a WSDA capacity grant, which allowed EFN to purchase a modular structure and place it on existing EFN property.
This expanded office space allows staff to safely work and meet together, and supports EFN’s continued growth. EFN’s staff expanded during the COVID-19 Pandemic to keep pace with the growing community need, resulting in insufficient office space for the team after 16 months of remote work. The new building is a safeguard for the future, creating more capacity to increase staffing in order to achieve the agency’s mission. The building also provides space for the entire staff to gather in one place for meetings and a space to offer trainings for staff and volunteers from EFN’s network of more than 70 food pantries, meal sites, and shelters.
“We could not be more excited for our new building and the impact it will have on our work. In the past, we have been crowded into our old break room that did not offer enough sitting room for the entire staff. The new space comfortably fits our entire organization and will allow us to gather together more often in the future, to cultivate a sense of inclusion on our team and strengthen work across departments in the agency, ” says EFN CEO Michelle Douglas.
The public is invited to join EFN staff, Board members, volunteers, and elected officials at this event. The building is located at 3311 92nd St S, Lakewood, WA 98499 and parking will be available. The event will include a brief program and a campus tour. Those who are not vaccinated are required to wear a mask.
About Emergency Food Network
Emergency Food Network (EFN) is located in Lakewood, WA and was established in 1982. In 2020 EFN distributed over 19.5 million pounds of food and served over 70 partner food pantries, meal sites, and shelters. EFN also runs an 8-acre farm in the Puyallup Valley that organically grows produce for distribution to food pantries. The mission of Emergency Food Network is “to provide Pierce County with a consistent, diverse, and nutritious food supply so that no person goes hungry.”