2023-24 ANNUAL REPORT

As I look back on the past year, I am struck by how profoundly the dramatic increase in need in our community has shaped our organization.

These changes go beyond numbers — we see it in all aspects of our everyday work.

Our programs served more than 13,000 people in our community, almost twice as many as the year before. The rise in demand has required us to think creatively, leverage partnerships in new ways, and remain focused on our core mission of food security and housing stability. We have asked more of you this year to help us meet this unprecedented need, and you strongly responded with your financial donations, food drives, and hours of volunteer service. 

The challenges we face as an organization reflect the broader struggles within our community, including rising food and housing costs. Our pantry distributed more than one million pounds of food last year, continuing the increase in the costs of our food security programs. We saw increased demand in our housing programs, too. We provided support to 729 households to prevent eviction and preserve their stability, over 100 more than the year before.

Thank you for standing with us, for believing in our mission, and for helping us navigate this transformative year. We need you to keep standing with us, as growing numbers of people in our community face barriers to accessing nutritious food and maintaining stable housing.

In our first year with our new name, seeing our dedicated volunteers proudly wearing their new WayForward T-shirts has been a powerful symbol of our shared commitment and energy to build a community where everyone has the stability to thrive. Together, we can continue to work toward this vision.

With gratitude,

Ellen Carlson
Executive Director