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Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank FAQ & Summer Program
Frequently Asked Questions for New Clients
Have you heard about the Issaquah Food Bank but are unsure what it is? Or how it works? If you would like to learn more, read more about some of the most frequent questions we get from community members.
Question (Q): What is a Food Bank?
Answer (A): A Food Bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides food for people who need assistance accessing food for themselves and their families.
Q: Do I need to pay?
A: No. You do not need to pay. All the items we have in the Issaquah Food Bank are free. We have limits on how much you can take to help make sure there is enough for everybody who needs help.
Q: How do I get food?
A: If this is your first time going to the Issaquah Food Bank, you must register for services. You can then come and shop in our market. Check our schedule (https://issaquahfoodbank.org/client-service-hours). We are open for shopping every other week (Monday – Thursday, from 1:00pm - 7:00pm). On weeks we are not open for shopping, we have pre-packed emergency boxes at the door from 8:00am - 4:00 pm.
Q: How do I register for services?
A: You can register online here: https://issaquahfoodbank.org/services. You can also register in person when you come to shop for the first time.
Q: Do I need to show proof of income to get food?
A: No. You do not need to show proof of income or other paperwork to receive food from the Issaquah Food Bank.
Q: Do I need to show proof of address to get food?
A: You do not need proof of address to receive food. However, we do have special programs that require you to provide your address to determine eligibility. (These are programs for students like Summer Lunch, Lunch for the Break, and Holiday Gifts). We can only provide these extra programs for people who live in specific zip codes or the Issaquah School District.
Q: When are you open for shopping?
A: Our market is open for shopping every other week (Monday – Thursday, from 1:00pm – 7:00pm). Be sure to check our schedule (https://issaquahfoodbank.org/client-service-hours).
Q: How do shopping days at the market work?
A: The market is open from 1:00pm – 7:00pm on our shopping days. At 12:45pm, we start a waitlist to determine the order in which people can enter the building to shop. You will receive an alert when it is time to enter the building. When we start this waitlist, people receive a random number for the order they will enter. When we open, we are not “first come, first served.” Where you are standing in line at 12:45pm will not determine your place in line. You will receive a random number that will tell you about your place in line. What this means is that even if you come early to the Food Bank, you are not guaranteed to be first in line. Later in the afternoon, when there are fewer people, the waitlist is based on the order in which people arrive.
Q: How long will I wait to receive an alert that I can shop in the market?
A: That all depends on how many other people are waiting. If it is a Monday or Tuesday and we just opened, you might wait 1-2 hours, or longer. If it is later in the day or on a Wednesday or Thursday, you might wait only 15 – 30 minutes. Typically, the longest wait times occur on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Q: What do I do when I get to the Food Bank?
A: Here is a brief description of the process:
Put your name on the waitlist.
You can choose to get your alert as a text message or use one of our pagers. If you have a cell phone, we kindly ask that you opt for a text message to ensure we have enough pagers for everyone without phones.
When you receive an alert, enter the building.
Go to the check-in desk and provide your name or birthday.
Get a shopping cart and bags. (We highly encourage you to bring reusable shopping bags.)
Turn right and enter the market with produce, refrigerated food, and frozen items.
There are signs that indicate how many of each item you can take.
Walk across the lobby (back in front of the check-in desk) to the room with the boxed and canned items.
Follow the arrows on the ground to walk around the room.
Look for the signs that tell you how much of each item you can take.
Exit the building from this room. A volunteer can help you get the food to your car.
If a volunteer did not come out with you, bring the cart back to the front door.
Q: What kind of food can I get?
A: The types of items we have change each day. We always have fresh vegetables and fruit, dried goods (like pasta and cereal), and canned items (like tuna, chicken, or beans). What we like to have (but cannot guarantee we have each time you come to the market) includes milk, eggs, frozen meat, and bakery items. We also have personal hygiene items, diapers, and cleaning supplies.
Q: How do I know how much I can take?
A: There are signs on all the food items with a number that tells you how much of each item you can take. Due to the increasing need in our community, we are unable to adjust the number of items based on family size. The limits we have in place ensure we can have enough for everyone needing our services.
Q: What happens if I come when the market is not open for shopping?
A: If you come when we are not open for shopping and cannot return during the shopping time, you can get a box of shelf-stable items and a bag of fruits and vegetables. Ring the doorbell at the front door; if the food bank is open, someone will come to the door.
Q: Where does the food come from?
A: The food that we provide comes from multiple sources. We get donations from grocery stores, individual people, and larger non-profits. Thanks to generous community donations, we also purchase fruits, vegetables, eggs, and milk regularly to ensure we are providing our clients with healthy, fresh food!
The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank has a program called “Summer Lunch.” It provides extra food for students during the summer. It includes kid-friendly produce, dairy, protein, and snack options.
This program is open to all students (Kindergarten –12th Grade) who live in zip codes 98027, 98029, 98059, 98074, and 98075 or attend school in the Issaquah School District.
You do not need to provide proof of income to qualify. You may need to verify your address or enrollment in the Issaquah School District; if more information is needed, you will receive an email.
Summer Lunch provides extra groceries. It does not provide pre-cooked meals.
To participate in Summer Lunch, you need to:
Register for services at the Food Bank (you can also do this in person): https://issaquahfoodbank.org/services
Register for the Summer Lunch program. This is a separate registration and can only be done online (https://issaquahfoodbank.org/summer-lunch-program).
The dates for Summer Lunch are:
Thursday, June 27
Thursday, July 11
Thursday, July 25
Thursday, August 8
Thursday, August 22
Open for shopping from 1:00pm – 7:00pm each day. Timeslots may be assigned via email to ensure a short waiting time.
On the Summer Lunch dates, you will follow the same procedures as a regular shopping day at the Issaquah Food Bank. You might need to wait, and you will need to check in before shopping.
If you have questions, please email programs@issaquahfoodbank.org.
