By Andra Smith
As this year draws to a close, I have found myself reflecting on all that our community has experienced together. It has been a year marked by uncertainty, rising need, and dramatic changes in the hunger-relief landscape. It has also been a year filled with extraordinary generosity, resilience, and connection.
Across the state and here at home, portions of federal funding that supported food banks either came to an end or were reduced. At the same time, we saw a 35% increase in the number of households turning to the Sequim Food Bank for support compared to last year. And this fall, many families braced for the impacts of the federal government shutdown and delays in SNAP benefits, not knowing how they would make ends meet.
Through all of this, our community did what it always does: it showed up.
Our staff, volunteers, partners, farms, service clubs, and neighbors worked side by side to ensure our community had access to nutritious food. We adjusted, adapted, and expanded. We launched our new Mobile Food Pantry Program just seven months ago and it is now thriving. This program serves six locations each week, bringing fresh, healthy food directly to neighborhoods and community hubs.
We strengthened programs like Welcome Home Food and home deliveries to reach seniors, families, and people recuperating at home. And we worked closely with community partners to make sure individuals and families had support beyond food.
This year, we came together for our first annual Everyone At the Table event, a celebration of the idea that every person in our community belongs, has value, and has a place at the table. The response was overwhelming. People showed up in ways that demonstrated exactly what “Everyone At the Table” means: donors, volunteers, staff, community partners, local businesses, and visitors all standing together with a shared belief that when we take care of each other, our whole community grows stronger.
This sense of shared purpose is what makes Sequim so extraordinary and it is why I want to share some personal news with you today.
After nine years as executive director of the Sequim Food Bank, I will be transitioning out of my role in mid-February to become the next executive director of the Washington Food Coalition, the statewide organization that supports and strengthens Washington’s hunger-relief network. I am honored to continue this work at the state level, advocating for equitable access to food and supporting the many programs — urban, suburban, and rural — that serve their communities with care and dignity.
While this transition is bittersweet, I am deeply proud of where the Sequim Food Bank stands today: strong, stable, innovative, and rooted in the belief that everyone belongs. Our board of directors has begun the leadership search, and I will continue working closely with our team to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.
Most of all, I am leaving knowing that this organization is in the hands of an exceptional team. Our staff are skilled, compassionate, and deeply committed, and our volunteers bring heart, consistency, and warmth to everything we do. Their dedication is what makes this work possible.
One of our volunteers recently shared a reflection that captures the essence of our community: volunteering at the food bank twice a week reminds them of growing up in a large family — full of humor, kindness, challenge, and deep connection. They described the way volunteers look for one another across the parking lot, offer a hug or a wave, and instinctively step in to support each other without needing to be asked. They talked about veterans, teens, retirees, and young adults — people who might never have crossed paths otherwise — forming friendships and building trust over years of working side by side.
That reflection touched me deeply, because it reminds us of something fundamental: at the Sequim Food Bank, we are doing more than distributing food; we are nurturing a community.
As I look back over the last nine years, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. Thank you to every volunteer who has braved early mornings and rainy days; every donor who has invested in this mission; every community partner who walks alongside us; and every visitor who trusts us to be part of their journey. You make our work possible.
One visitor recently told us, “The food bank is truly a blessing on every level — mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.” We could not agree more!
If you feel inspired to get involved, now is a wonderful time. You can make an impact by donating funds, purchasing our most-needed items, or volunteering your time. Simply visit sequimfoodbank.org to learn how. Every gift, big or small, helps strengthen our community and makes a meaningful difference for families.
Thank you, Sequim, for allowing me to serve this community. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life. And thank you for continuing to make sure that everyone truly has a place at the table.
