La Conner Sunrise Food Bank looking for new location

A large, weathered, light beige wooden building with faded pink trim stands on a street corner under an overcast sky. The two-story structure has a gabled roof with exposed beams and a front entrance with stairs leading up to a small covered porch. A green and white sign on the front reads ‘John L. Scott Real Estate Commercial.’ The building shows signs of age, with visible stains and discoloration on the siding. Power lines run across the upper part of the image. To the left is a small grassy lawn and a separate low white building with several windows. On the right, a white picket fence borders a neighboring home. A street sign at the corner indicates ‘Morris St.

The nonprofit, which serves about 130 households — roughly 400 individuals — each week, is determined to stay within the La Conner School District.

2–3 minutes

HELP NEEDED, SPACE WANTED

The La Conner Sunrise Food Bank is urgently seeking a new location after their current location was sold.

“We’ve known for quite a while the building was going to be sold, and we’ve been looking all over,” said Arin Magill, director of the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank. “We’ve held back on advertising because we thought we had something in place, but now we’re facing an immediate need.”

The food bank’s lease runs through the end of the year, but the new owners of the Garfield Masonic Lodge are hoping to occupy it sooner, Magill said. The food bank, which serves about 130 households — roughly 400 individuals — each week, is determined to stay within the La Conner School District and is open to flexible lease terms that could provide tax benefits to landlords.

“We would literally be in a parking lot with a trailer before we shut down.”

Arin Magill

“We would literally be in a parking lot with a trailer before we shut down,” Magill said.

Founded in 2010, the Sunrise Food Bank has grown into a vital resource for the community, operating with approximately 40 volunteers and a “no questions asked” policy for those in need. Magill emphasized that the organization serves everyone, regardless of documentation status, and recently updated its signage to make that clear.

The food bank’s services shifted to a drive-up model during the COVID-19 pandemic, a format that remains in place. Volunteers greet clients and distribute boxes of food directly to their vehicles. However, the ultimate goal is to return to a “shopping model,” allowing clients to select their items inside.

Volunteers sort and pack fresh produce and other items for community members at Sunrise Food Bank in La Conner. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

In terms of facilities, the food bank is looking for a space with basic utilities, some parking, and ideally ADA accessibility and handwashing stations. Magill said the organization is adaptable and willing to consider smaller spaces if needed.

Food supplies have also taken a hit in recent months. The organization used to receive around 8,000 pounds of government commodities per month. Since January, that amount has dropped to about 1,500 pounds due to federal cutbacks.

The cuts are impacting food banks across Northwest Washington. The Skagit Food Distribution Center, which supports 14 partner organizations across Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties, is bracing for the loss of $133,000 in federal funds that allowed it to purchase 44,000 pounds of fresh local food annually. The cancellation of the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which supported both small-scale growers and food-insecure families, will cut off that supply starting this month — undermining the region’s ability to provide reliable, nutritious food just as need continues to rise.

Despite those challenges, Magill said support from the town and community has been unwavering. “We are so grateful already for the support of the community. Now we are just seeking space,” she said.

The La Conner Sunrise Food Bank is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Anyone with leads on a possible location or who wishes to offer help can reach the organization at laconnersunrisefoodbank@gmail.com.

Kari Mar is editor and publisher of La Conner Community News.

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