The White Center Food Bank will celebrate the end of its capital campaign on Thursday, Oct. 2, after raising more than $10 million to purchase and renovate its permanent home in a former tortilla factory.

The event, set for 4 to 6 p.m. at the food bank’s new location at 10016 16th Ave. SW (map below), will mark the organization’s milestone of paying off its construction loan and officially closing the campaign.

All are invited, and food, drinks and community activities will be offered during the celebration, the food bank said.

The Capital Campaign to Keep the Community Fed launched publicly in September 2022 to support the purchase and renovation of the White Center property. Almost three years later, the organization said it is debt free and can direct all future fundraising toward food programs.

“This new facility not only supports people looking for food resources, it provides a dignified, beautiful space built for the community,” the food bank said in its announcement. After being displaced multiple times in its history, the organization now has what it calls a “forever home” to serve both as a food bank and a community gathering space.

The milestone comes at a time when safety net programs face cuts and food prices continue to rise. The food bank reported serving 13,618 individuals in 2024 — a total of 137,337 visits — and distributing more than 1.6 million pounds of food. Since moving to its new facility, the organization said it has served 30 percent more people, including an additional 2,500 households.

Founded in the mid-1970s, the White Center Food Bank provides daytime and seniors-only food distributions, expanded home deliveries, a mobile food bank serving senior housing sites, pop-up pantries, a Baby Pantry, a cultural foods buying program and grocery rescue. Intake services are available in nine languages.

Community members are invited to RSVP for the Oct. 2 event at this link.