OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

about

After years of searching, the Vashon Food Bank has found a new home! We plan to relocate to the property owned by the Vashon United Methodist Church at 17928 Vashon Hwy SW, moving us from our current facility on Sunrise Ridge to a site that is in the town center, closer to other services and public transportation.

We will purchase and renovate an existing 3,500 square foot building and build a new 3,900 square foot food bank and warehouse to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive community resource hub where people will find access to a wide variety of resources to help them thrive.

There are so many ways you can help us achieve this vision! Please reach out to our Capital Campaign Manager, Minta Crafts, to learn more, volunteer your time, expertise, ideas, or give your financial support: minta@vashonfoodbank.org.

Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Food Bank need to move?
The facilities at Sunrise Ridge, our home for over 40 years, are dilapidated and inaccessible. The Vashon Food Bank will be better able to meet its mission to increase the island’s food security and connect people to the supporting resources they need to thrive in a facility and location that is safe, dignified, accessible and adaptable to the community’s evolving needs.
Why is the Methodist Church property the best option?
The VUMC property is accessible and visible to the community. It offers VFB the opportunity for a flexible, adaptable and dignified space for operations, administration and shared community space for increased access to other services. The agreement we have with VUMC will allow the food bank more autonomy while creating the long-term stability needed to provide reliable services long into the future.
What other locations has VFB looked at?
Over the past decade, VFB leadership has investigated (to varying degrees) the K2 Building, the land behind Granny’s/IGA, other spaces on Sunrise Ridge, the DIG Property and, more recently, the VCC building. While each of these locations have pros and cons, the VUMC property meets more of the food bank’s criteria for a future location.
Why didn’t you move to the DIG property?
The property formerly known as DIG was donated to the Vashon Food Bank in 2020. The property was not suited for food bank operations, so it was sold. The proceeds of over $700,000 were put into board designated capital reserves and helped launch the design and planning process for the new facility at VUMC.
Will VFB and VUMC merge into one entity?
No. VFB and VUMC share humanitarian values and a spirit of community-mindedness, but will remain separate both in physical space and in business administration.
How long will the whole project take? And what stage are you at now?
We are 75% done with the design process and over 25% done with the full project. We have submitted permits to King County and construction is expected to start in May or June of 2024. The current timeline has the new facility opening in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Will the move cause significant disruptions in grocery services?
We do not foresee major disruptions to regular grocery services. If there are short-term (1-2 weeks) disruptions to the regular service, we will make contingency plans to ensure that our customers continue to have reliable access to nutritious food while we move locations.
Why is the food bank going to purchase the Education Building instead of leasing it long-term?
This business arrangement provides VFB the autonomy to adapt/expand programming as needed without being financially entangled with another organization and includes a long-term ground lease with right of first refusal in support of reliable services into the future. VUMC will benefit from the revenue produced by sale of the Education Building. It is a mutually beneficial deal for both organizations.
What will happen to the buildings/property at Sunrise Ridge?
The future of Sunrise Ridge has yet to be determined. The Sunrise Ridge Board of Directors, itself a non-profit organization, is working on long-term plans for the campus.
Will the food bank have a garden at the new location? What will happen to the garden on Sunrise Ridge?
While we will not have a dedicated garden on site, VFB is committed to offering fresh, locally grown produce to food bank customers whenever possible. We have strong relationships with island producers and will continue to offer the same volume and quantity of locally grown food whether or not we have an on-site garden.
I am a customer and I’m not comfortable shopping at the food bank if it is right in town. What about my privacy?
Safety and dignity are two of VFBs core values. We are committed to creating a space where all members of the community feel safe and welcome. This is reflected in the design of the new facility, with the primary entry on the Eastern side, and the structure of our programming, where we offer in-person shopping, order and curb-side pick-up and home delivery for anyone who wants or needs it.
When is VFB’s lease up at Sunrise Ridge?
Our current lease was up in May 2023 and is now on a month-to-month basis.
How much will the project cost?
Full project costs, including planning, design, engineering, permitting, construction, relocation and internal campaign costs, are projected at approximately $6.5 million. This includes hard and soft costs. (Hard Cost Total: $4.8mil, Soft Cost Total: $1.2mil, Building Acquisition: $550k, Grand Total: $6.55mil)
How will the project be funded?
The project will be funded by a comprehensive capital campaign that includes private donors, institutional grantors and government funds.
How will you keep the project cost from increasing dramatically during construction?
We are very aware of the community’s expectation that we mitigate cost increases to the extent possible. In September-October 2023 we went through a thorough Value Engineering (VE) exercise and cut project costs down by nearly $700,000 and will work with our project team to make sure the scope of the project does not exceed our fundraising capabilities.
Knowing that the “social service hub” is a key element of the project vision, are other social service providers in support of the project?
Yes. VFB works very closely with the Vashon Social Service Network (VSSN), composed of nine non-profit social service agencies, all of which are well-aware of the project. VSSN has done, and will continue to do, work to develop a shared vision for how the project will benefit the whole community.
What about ongoing operating costs, post completion?
We are in the process of identifying and planning for all overhead cost increases and building a robust business plan.
Are all donations to the food bank going to the site relocation project?
No. Contributions to the food bank’s general operating fund and contributions to the capital campaign are kept distinctly separate. We are running separate budgets and keep the two funds in separate bank accounts.