A Washington-based nonprofit is pioneering a new approach to charitable food distribution, redefining the traditional food bank experience with their innovative Fresh Lockers.

The Fresh Lockers initiative is part of the organization’s ongoing mission to provide free food while preserving the dignity and normalcy of the recipient’s experience. This initiative builds upon the success of their free grocery outlet, aptly named The Market, which was introduced in late 2020. The Market offers a shopping experience akin to a high-end boutique country store, prioritizing the dignity of those it serves.

Stacey Crnich, CEO of the nonprofit, emphasizes the sense of community The Market fosters, even going as far as intentionally omitting the term “food bank” from its name. The aim is to create a welcoming space where all community members are valued, and patrons can simply refer to it as “the market,” underscoring its importance to the clientele.

The Fresh Lockers project embodies a similar philosophy, aiming to provide customers with a flexible and convenient way to access food assistance.

Shoppers at The Market receive a membership card granting them access to 200 points per week that can be used to acquire food at the facility or placed online for delivery to a locker. An online ordering system powered by SmartChoice facilitates the process, sending email notifications to customers when their orders are ready.

Volunteers and staff collaborate to assemble orders, placing them inside refrigerated lockers manufactured by Bell & Howell. The lockers offer language options, Braille, and headphone jacks for accessibility, and they operate 24/7, ensuring that patrons can collect their food at their convenience.

Currently, there is a single operational locker, situated adjacent to The Market. However, by the end of 2023, the nonprofit plans to launch five more lockers at various locations across the county, including a high school, a library, and a fire station.

The pilot locker, inaugurated in October 2022, has already proven successful, serving 4,200 households since its launch. On a daily basis, approximately 60 families rely on the locker for their food needs.

According to Crnich, the pilot phase has been remarkably smooth, with zero technical or equipment errors. As the additional lockers come online, the organization anticipates distributing around 360 pickups daily, 1,800 weekly, and 8,100 monthly, effectively expanding their reach.

Each locker costs $75,000 to install, including shipping. The pilot locker’s funding came from Pierce County, and U.S. Representative Kim Schrier allocated an additional $2 million in state funds to expand the program after visiting the pilot locker. The initial wave of lockers will be financed by this funding, while private investors may support future installations.

The Fresh Lockers program minimizes food waste compared to traditional methods, such as pre-packed food boxes. Crnich highlights the wastage generated by pre-selected food, including groceries, bags, and boxes, which often ends up in landfills.

Interestingly, families using the lockers typically do not exhaust their full weekly allocation of 200 points. They tend to use the organization’s services to supplement their existing food supply.

To Crnich, the Fresh Lockers program offers customers flexibility, and through this flexibility, it upholds their dignity. Whether picking up groceries at the high school, library, or another convenient location, patrons have the autonomy to choose what suits them best.

In essence, this innovative approach ensures that access to essential food assistance aligns with the evolving needs and preferences of the community it serves.