Salt spilling from a wooden scoop onto burlap cloth with an olive branch. Text reads: “Gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” — John 6:12

Celebrating 30 Years of Faith, Food & Compassion • Serving Snohomish County Since 1992

Feeding
Snohomish County Since 1992

Free food, household resources, and community support across Snohomish County, serving families and individuals all year long.

In 2025:

1,208,900 Pounds
Distributed

13,170 Families
Served

74,450 Individuals
Fed

Salt of the Earth Food Blessing picks up donated food and goods that would otherwise go to waste and brings them directly to families across Snohomish County. We serve Arlington, Marysville, Everett, and Snohomish every week.

No paperwork No ID No Income Verification

Find Free Food Near You Support Our Mission

Our Impact in 2025

Real Numbers. Real Neighbors.

Through volunteers, partnerships, and community support, Salt of the Earth continues connecting donated resources with families throughout Snohomish County.

1,208,900 lbs Food Distributed Collected, sorted, and delivered in 2025 — every pound rescued from waste.

74,450 Individuals Fed Men, women, and children fed through our distributions in 2025

13,170 Families Served Families across Snohomish County received food and resources in 2025

200+ Volunteers No paid staff. Every distribution is powered by neighbors who care.

30+ Years Serving Serving Snohomish County since 1992

40+ Community Partners

2,028 Resource Pickups

5 Weekly Distributions

365 Days in Operation

Every single day of the year

5 Active Locations

Support This Mission View Full 2025 Impact Report →

1992 Founded in Everett, WA

How It Started

A Few Sack Lunches. A 30-Year Ministry.

In 1992, Sandra Richards began making sack lunches for teenagers living on the streets of Everett, Washington. She partnered with Mildred Yager — an 83-year-old woman with a tremendous heart for those kids, and started with five young people and whatever the local grocery stores were willing to donate.

The need grew. Word spread. For three years, Sandra picked up food 365 days a year, making lunches, hot meals, and food baskets on her own. Then others came — volunteers, churches, and donated vehicles. The work grew into the county-wide ministry Salt of the Earth has become today.

Read Our Story →

You Are Welcome Here

We are here to love and serve our community. No documentation required. Just your name and some basic information. Come as you are, and bring a neighbor if you know someone who could use a hand.

Salt of the Earth (SOTE) is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 91-1462111. Contributions may be tax-deductible.

"Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." — John 6:12

Growing to Serve More

Expanding Our Capacity with Care and Gratitude

For years, Salt of the Earth has operated out of space generously provided by a local church community center. We are deeply grateful for that partnership. It's made this ministry possible.

As the need in Snohomish County grows, so does ours. We are beginning to outgrow the available space. Our goal is not to leave the church. Our goal is to create enough dedicated operational capacity to continue serving more families, while being good stewards of the facilities that have sheltered this work.

Good stewardship means growing wisely, so we can keep serving for the next thirty years.

Resource & Equipment Needs

❄️

Refrigeration & Cold Storage Safe cold and frozen storage for perishable donated resources — so donated resources stay safe, organized, and ready for distribution

📦

Shelving & Storage Systems Organized shelving and storage for donated food and resources , so nothing gets wasted

🚜

Material Handling Equipment Forklift and pallet equipment to safely move the large volumes of donated resources we receive and distribute

🏭

Distribution Infrastructure Sorting tables, receiving dock access, and facility improvements to support efficient and dignified distribution

Operational Support

Every distribution runs on real costs — fuel, insurance, storage, and the coordination that keeps five weekly sites operating year-round. These are not overhead. They are the ministry.

⛽

Fuel & Vehicle Maintenance Fuel for 2,000+ annual resource pickups, plus routine maintenance and repairs that keep our vehicles on the road every week of the year

🔒

Insurance & Liability Protecting the ministry, our volunteers, and the people we serve

💡

Utilities & Facility Costs Powering the lights, refrigeration, and climate control that keep donated resources safe

🗂️

Storage Supplies Bins, pallets, food-safe containers, and shelving materials that keep donated resources organized, accessible, and safe between pickups and distributions

🧰

Ministry Operations Food-safe bags, boxes, labeling materials, and the volunteer coordination tools that keep five weekly distributions organized and running

Learn More About the Expansion → Support This Project

Expansion Campaign Goal $75K Every dollar feeds a neighbor Donate Now

Fundraising totals are reported as verified. Every gift is acknowledged and counted accurately.