The road ahead.
Our first year showed us what works: food drives powered by students, schools, and local partners. Now we're building on that, with bigger food drives and stronger community partnerships so we can collect more food and support more families.
34 volunteers · Chinook Farms · January 2026
$6,002Year-one impact
The problem is bigger than it looks.
On the Eastside, a lot of families who need food help don't look like they do, and many skip asking because they're worried about being judged.
What two students built in one season.
Project Refill started during the SNAP funding pause, when families across Sammamish and Issaquah were suddenly left without help. People assume nobody goes hungry in a place this wealthy. That isn't true.
$6,002
Total impact
Food value + cash raised
843
Items collected
$4,160 in food value
$1,842
Cash raised
Year one
30K lbs
Produce / year
Farm estimate for the greenhouse
174
Volunteer hours
Greenhouse build
34
Volunteers
3 greenhouse workdays
How we did it
Community food drives
Donation boxes at schools, preschools, and local shops. The Sammamish Chamber helped us get in the door. 843 items went to the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
Greenhouse restoration
Three Saturdays rebuilding a storm-damaged greenhouse for Food Bank Farm. The farm estimates it can grow about 30,000 lbs of produce a year for local food banks.
#BreakTheStigma campaign
27 posts, a week-long push, and a school news feature that reached 2,000+ students. Food insecurity should never feel like something to hide.
Coalition building
Partnerships with Food Bank Farm, Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, the Chamber, TLC Montessori, Key Club, DECA, and Environmental Club.
Mission
“Students run food drives and volunteer projects that support the food banks and farms our community already relies on.”
Vision
“A Greater Seattle where no family has to pick between food and paying the bills, and where asking for healthy food is never something to feel ashamed about.”
Where we stand.
Here is what we have done so far and what comes next as we grow our food drives and the team behind them.
Completed
First food drive completed: 843 items donated to the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank
Student board roles defined and governance framework established
Up next
Run the Eastlake NHS food drive for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank (see Events for details)
Renew our partnership with the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank to expand food-drive reach city-wide
Seat the student board
Recruit Adult Advisory Board members
Join our Adult Advisory Board.
We are forming a small Adult Advisory Board to provide financial oversight, guidance, and community connections as we expand our food drives and community partnerships.
What we are looking for
- Adults who want a real governance role, not just an advisory title
- Backgrounds in nonprofit finance, law, food systems, or community organizing
Founders
Angad Kochar
Co-Founder · Finance & Operations
Raj Sukumaran
Co-Founder · Marketing & Outreach
Questions? Email projectrefilldeca@gmail.com. Student board: interested? Email us too.