Emergency Food Network (EFN) began as a program in 1982 when the leadership of FISH Food Banks, Tacoma Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, and Associated Ministries recognized a great need in our community to resource emergency food collectively. Originally designed to meet a temporary need caused by the economic recession of the 1980’s, it became apparent in the early 1990’s that the need for such a community service had grown. In response, EFN became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1991.

In order to provide our Partner Programs with a consistent, diverse, and nutritious food supply, EFN uses the following service delivery model:

• Collects, stores, and distributes nearly 20 million pounds of donated, purchased, and government food annually
• Purchases over 2 million pounds of staple foods annually through our Co-op Food Purchasing Program 
• Delivers fresh and nonperishable food to over 700 households each month through our Home Delivery Program
• Distributes 2,000 bags of food to students experiencing food insecurity each fall, winter, and spring break, totaling 6,000 bags every year, through our Break Bags Program  
• Provides our Partner Programs with year-round technical support to expand access to the tools they need to meet their communities' needs  
• Administers over $2 million of pass-through government funding for our Partner Programs to allocate where needed  

The mission of Emergency Food Network is to provide Pierce County with a consistent, diverse, and nutritious food supply so that no person goes hungry. 

EFN is Pierce County, Washington’s nonprofit food distributor. We partner with a network of 75+ food pantries, meal sites, and shelters, supplying them with over a million pounds of food each month, at no cost to them. This food comes from a variety of sources, including donations, government food programs, and our Co-op Food Purchasing Program. Through our partners, we serve the entire Pierce County area, including dense urban cores and isolated rural communities alike. In 2025, our partners recorded 3.7 million visits to food pantries, meal sites, and shelters. 

In Pierce County, 1 in 4 households are food insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to affordable and nutritious food. Children are more likely to experience food insecurity, with 1 in 5 children living in a food-insecure household. Food-insecure households often face the tough choice between paying for food and other basic needs, such as housing and utilities. When a household has access to food from one of our Partner Programs, they can use their limited income to pay for other basic needs. EFN believes that every person in Pierce County should have the food they need, not just to survive, but to thrive. 

Board Members

Ingrid Gourley Mungia (Chair), VP, Public Policy & Advocacy, MultiCare Health System

Sylvia James (Vice Chair), Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration, University of Washington Tacoma

Julie Boyd (Treasurer), Community Member