2011: Seattle Food Banks by the Numbers

Many Seattleites – just like many Americans – struggle to put enough food on their tables during these tough economic times. Seattle food banks help fill that gap and work to ensure families don’t go hungry. But Seattle food banks are also struggling to meet the increased need, coupled with a decrease in funding and donations.

See why in this review of the year 2011 by the numbers:

Seattle Food Banks: 2011

• TOTAL households served by Seattle Food Banks* in 2011: 702,238
• Percent change since 2007: +25%

Recent Trends

• Seattle food banks continue to see increases in the number of clients coming to them for help. March 2011 marked their busiest month ever with 62,816 bags of food distributed (a 28% increase over March 2008).
• Although demand continues to rise, funding for coalition-wide food purchases decreased by 24% from 2010 to 2011.
• 28% of the clients served by Seattle food banks in 2011 were children (ages 0-18).
• In November 2011, Seattle food banks provided 33,792 bags of food to households with children ages 0-18. This represents a 26.3% increase over November 2010 and a 45.8% increase since the recession hit (November 2008).
• Seniors, on average, visit food banks nearly twice as often as individuals in any other age range. In 2011, the average number of food bank visits for seniors (ages 55+) was 14.6 while the average for adults (ages 19-54) was 7.6.
• The frequency of food bank visits is on the rise overall. From 2007 to 2010, households visited food banks an average of between 8.2 and 8.4 times per year. In 2011, that average shot up to 9.1 times per year.

2011 Demographics

158,572 (unduplicated**) individuals served.

• Children & babies (under 18): 43,622 (28%)
• Adults (19-54): 89,237 (56%)
• Seniors (55+): 25.713 (16%)

*Numbers reported reflect service levels of the 27 Seattle-area food banks which receive Washington State Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) funds.


**In Washington food banks, clients are counted once as “unduplicated” the first time they visit a given food bank each year. On every subsequent visit, they are counted as “duplicated” or returning clients.