FISH Community Food Bank

FISH Community Food Bank FISH strengthens communities and creates opportunity by addressing hunger now and working toward a future without it.

FISH is the county’s sole food bank and diaper bank. FISH is the federal Basic Food/SNAP coordinator for Kittitas County. The innovative Food is Medicine program and Medically Tailored meals promote long-term health, and FISH addresses food insecurity all over the county with programs like Meals on Wheels, Mobile Pantry, summer nutrition for school children and meal programs for seniors and others at the Open Table facility on Main Street in Ellensburg.

Alondra our SNAP & Senior Commodities Coordinator and Grace who heads up our Farm4FISH and gleaming program are at the E...
08/15/2026

Alondra our SNAP & Senior Commodities Coordinator and Grace who heads up our Farm4FISH and gleaming program are at the Ellensburg Farmers Market today! Stop by and learn more!

this institution is an equal opportunity, provide provider and employer.

It's Market Day!Did you know that at more than 100 participating farmers markets and farm stands, customers who use the ...
08/15/2026

It's Market Day!
Did you know that at more than 100 participating farmers markets and farm stands, customers who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/EBT benefits can stretch their food budget to buy more fruits and vegetables!

Not a SNAP recipient yet? Get in touch!

Alondra Ruiz
Basic Food (SNAP) & Commodities Coordinator
Office: (509)925-5990 Ext. 1008
Email: [email protected]

Use this form to get a call:
https://form.jotform.com/233106037441142 English
https://form.jotform.com/233116686589166 Spanish

If you use SNAP/EBT:
-Go to a participating market's information booth and tell them you’d like SNAP Market Match
-Swipe your EBT card for the amount you want to spend
-You will receive that amount in EBT tokens and the same amount in SNAP Market Match dollars.

Shop for:
Fresh vegetables
Fresh fruits
Mushrooms
Fresh herbs
Seeds and plants that produce food (for example, tomato seeds or tomato plants)

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Join us Saturdays August 15 and 22nd, from 12:00–2:00 PM for an onsite training to become a Farmers Market gleaner! Afte...
08/13/2026

Join us Saturdays August 15 and 22nd, from 12:00–2:00 PM for an onsite training to become a Farmers Market gleaner! After each market, FISH collects surplus produce from vendors and redistributes it into the food pantry. This year, volunteers have rescued 870 pounds of fresh, local food for neighbors in need.

In this training, you’ll shadow experienced volunteers, learn how market gleaning works, and help bring rescued food back to FISH Food Bank for storage. No experience needed—just sign up and show up!

When: August 15th and 22nd 12:00/Noon to 2:00 pm

Where: Meet at the Market Information booth at the Ellensburg Farmers Market (4th Avenue, Ellensburg, WA)

Note: Volunteers must be able to lift up to 40 lbs and have their own vehicle to travel from the market back to FISH.

Use this link to become a volunteer https://kvfish.org/volunteer/ Then, sign up for the training at this link. https://form.jotform.com/262215425033042

Can’t make these training sessions? Contact Grace at [email protected] or call 5099255990 ext. 1002 to schedule a training or to learn more about FISH’s gleaning program.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Thank You, Puget Sound Energy Foundation!FISH Community Food Bank is grateful to receive a $10,000 grant from the Puget ...
08/11/2026

Thank You, Puget Sound Energy Foundation!

FISH Community Food Bank is grateful to receive a $10,000 grant from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation's 2026 Food Security Grant Program.

This generous support will help FISH continue providing nutritious food and essential food assistance to individuals and families throughout Kittitas County.

PSE has been an incredible partner in our work to strengthen our community, and we're grateful for their continued investment in local food security and the neighbors we serve.

Thank you, Puget Sound Energy Foundation, for helping ensure more of our neighbors have access to the food they need.

08/10/2026

As a Meals on Wheels driver, you'll provide more than a meal. You'll help neighbors remain independent and connected while bringing a friendly face to their

FISH Welcomes Gary Bye as Executive DirectorThe FISH Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Gary Bye has been na...
08/10/2026

FISH Welcomes Gary Bye as Executive Director

The FISH Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Gary Bye has been named Executive Director of FISH Community Food Bank.

Gary has served as Interim Executive Director since July 2025, but his history with FISH goes back much further. He first served as a volunteer and board member for nine years before joining the staff more than four years ago, where he has held multiple leadership roles.

With more than 14 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Gary also serves on state and national advisory committees focused on food security, senior nutrition, summer meals, and food assistance programs.

“I am honored to continue serving FISH as Executive Director,” said Gary. “FISH has always been about neighbors helping neighbors. I’m grateful for the trust the Board has placed in me, and I look forward to working with our dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners as we continue meeting the needs of our community.”

Please join us in congratulating Gary on his new role!

Don't forget FISH's Annual Meeting is coming up August 24th, 5pm at Open Table - Central Washington which is a great time to hear from Gary about everything happening at FISH.

Fresh produce in the pantry! Open today, 1:30-4:00.This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
08/10/2026

Fresh produce in the pantry! Open today, 1:30-4:00.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

From Grace:Backyard gleaning season is here!Last Tuesday, a neighbor in Ellensburg called us to glean her front-yard plu...
08/08/2026

From Grace:

Backyard gleaning season is here!

Last Tuesday, a neighbor in Ellensburg called us to glean her front-yard plum tree. Thanks to her generosity and the work of the Glean Team, we harvested 39 lbs of plums that would have otherwise fallen into the ground and gone to waste. Picked on Tuesday, the plums were on our pantry shelves the very next day on Wednesday—fresh, local, and straight to our community.

We’re so grateful to be bridging the gap between overproducing fruit trees and families who need nutritious food. Gleaning is one way FISH helps strengthen our local food systems and provides produce at peak freshness to our customers.

Have an over-producing peach or plum tree? Want to join the glean team and help feed Kittitas County? Please contact Grace at Grace to schedule a free glean or for more information at (509) 925 5990 Ext. 1002 or [email protected].

¡Ya llegó la temporada de recolección de fruta en patios y jardines!

La semana pasada, el martes, una vecina de Ellensburg nos llamó para invitarnos a cosechar las ciruelas de su árbol en el jardín. Gracias a su generosidad y al trabajo del Equipo de Recolección (Glean Team), cosechamos 39 libras de ciruelas que, de otro modo, habrían caído al suelo y se habrían desperdiciado. Las ciruelas se recogieron el martes y ya estaban en las estanterías de nuestra despensa el miércoles: frescas, locales y directamente para nuestra comunidad.

Estamos muy agradecidos de poder conectar los árboles frutales con producción abundante con las familias que necesitan alimentos nutritivos. La recolección de fruta es una de las maneras en que FISH fortalece nuestro sistema alimentario local y ofrece frutas y verduras en su punto máximo de frescura a nuestros clientes.

¿Tiene un árbol de duraznos o ciruelas que produce más fruta de la que puede aprovechar? ¿Le gustaría unirse al Equipo de Recolección y ayudar a alimentar a la comunidad del condado de Kittitas?

Comuníquese con Grace para programar una recolección gratuita o para obtener más información al (509) 925-5990, ext. 1002, o por correo electrónico a [email protected].

Community Help Needed to Find New Home for Upper Kittitas County Senior Meal Program FISH Community Food Bank is asking...
08/06/2026

Community Help Needed to Find New Home for Upper Kittitas County Senior Meal Program

FISH Community Food Bank is asking for the community's help in finding a new home for its Upper Kittitas County Senior Congregate Meal Program. The program's current host location will no longer be available after August 31, 2026, and FISH is actively exploring options to relocate the program so it can continue serving local seniors.

The Upper Kittitas County Senior Congregate Meal Program provides nutritious meals in a welcoming setting where older adults can gather, enjoy fellowship, and stay connected to their community. For many participants, the program offers valuable social interaction that helps reduce isolation while supporting their overall health and well-being.

"We're exploring options for the future of this program and are hopeful that, with the community's help, we can find a new home that meets the needs of our seniors," said Gary Bye, Executive Director of FISH Community Food Bank. "If our community wants to see this program continue, we invite businesses, organizations, churches, and community members to help us identify a location or partnership that can make that possible."

FISH is seeking a welcoming, ADA-accessible space that can accommodate approximately 20 to 35 participants. Because meals are prepared off-site and served for a short period of time, the program does not require a commercial kitchen. Restaurants that are closed during lunch hours, churches, community or event spaces, fraternal organizations, apartment or senior housing gathering spaces, and other welcoming facilities may all be good candidates.

In addition to a host location, FISH welcomes conversations with organizations, businesses, and community members interested in supporting the program through partnerships, financial contributions, or other resources.

Anyone with ideas for a potential location or partnership opportunity is encouraged to contact Stacey at (509) 537-1162 or email [email protected].

About FISH Community Food Bank
For more than 55 years, FISH Community Food Bank has provided food, nutrition, and hope to neighbors throughout Kittitas County. In addition to its food pantry in Ellensburg, FISH operates mobile pantries, senior nutrition programs, Meals on Wheels, gleaning initiatives, and nutrition assistance programs that help strengthen food security across the county.

Address

804 Elmview Road, Ellensburg WA 98920
Ellensburg, WA
98926

Opening Hours

Monday 1:30pm - 4pm
Tuesday 1:30pm - 4pm
Wednesday 1:30pm - 4pm
Thursday 1:30pm - 4pm
Friday 9am - 11:30am

Telephone

+15099255990

Website

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