A nationwide volunteer push to get food to people in need is reaching Washington state, with a major delivery unloaded at the Bellevue School District warehouse for distribution to local food banks and community programs.
A semi-truck arrived with “40,000 pounds of food” that will be distributed to “21 local food banks from Covington to Seattle and up to Woodinville” to help families across the region, according to Cory Hrncirik, the first counselor in the Stake Presidency of the Bellevue Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Dozens of volunteers unloaded the truck, organized the food, and prepared it for distribution.
Regional Director for Just Serve, Laura Jones, said the effort reflects a broader commitment to community support.
“It’s wonderful to be able to serve others,” Jones said. “We love our communities. We know that communities are stronger when we work together, when we support each other, and especially when we reach out to those in need.”
The food is set to go to families who rely on local food banks, homeless shelter programs, college student pantries, and school break-time food programs, including the Redmond School Break Food Box Program.
Karene Busby, with the Redmond School Break Food Box Program, said the additional support helps the program continue operating.
“We’re month-by-month, once our financials are gone, we have to fold up,” Busby said. “With these folks helping us with this, we’re able to do another two or three spring breaks or winter breaks or whatever kind of breaks.”
40,000 lbs of food delivered in Bellevue and will be distributed to 21 local food banks. (KOMO News)
The delivery is part of a national collaboration that kicked off in November of 2025, with 250 truckloads of food planned for communities in all 50 states as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
The collaboration involves America250’s America Gives initiative and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Just Serve initiative, an online platform that connects people to volunteer opportunities.
Organizers plan to deliver more than 10 million meals across the country.
Among the recipients is Jubilee Reach, which serves 500 to 600 families a week
Peter Schock, a facility specialist at Jubilee Reach, said the support is meaningful for families facing hardship.
“It just warms our hearts because we know that a lot of people in the community see and care about the people who are less secure with food, less secure with money, less secure with safety and living,” Schock said.
The Bellevue delivery is expected to be one of many deliveries Washington will receive this year.