Year two and beyond
The road ahead.
Up to now we have mostly helped other nonprofits do their thing. That mattered and we learned a lot. But to register as our own 501(c)(3) and serve families directly, we need to shift. We want Project Refill to be the name people on the Eastside think of first.
Why this matters
The problem is bigger than it looks.
9.5%
King County food insecurity rate
Including families on the Eastside who appear self-sufficient from the outside
180,000
People affected by the 42-day SNAP pause
Many had never needed food assistance before and didn't know where to turn
7 in 10
Skip food help out of fear of judgment
The stigma is as real as the shortage, especially on the Eastside
The story so far
What two students built in one season.
Project Refill launched during the 42-day SNAP funding pause, when families across Sammamish and Issaquah were suddenly left without help. People assume nobody goes hungry in a place this wealthy. The numbers say otherwise.
$6,002
Total impact
Food value + cash raised
843
Items collected
~$4,160 in food value
$1,842
Cash raised
16% over goal
30K lbs
Produce / year
Via Chinook greenhouse
174
Volunteer hours
Across all initiatives
33
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 at Food Bank Farms. Restores ~30,000 lbs of fresh produce per year for families in the area.
#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 Farms, Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, the Chamber, TLC Montessori, Key Club, DECA, and Environmental Club.
Mission
“Project Refill gets nutritious, familiar food straight to families across the Greater Seattle Area. Students run the food distribution, and we back up the farms and pantries our community already leans 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.”
Our two programs
Direct service, starting Fall 2026.
We are building two programs that complement each other: one for regular access, one for emergencies. Both are designed to be sustainable and run by students with adult oversight.
Main program · The front door
Monthly Pop-Up Pantry
A free food giveaway on the same day every month, at one set spot on the Eastside. No ID, no proof of income, nobody asking questions. We stock it with produce from our farm partner, items from our drives, and the kinds of foods regular pantries usually skip.
- Same location, same day every month
- No ID or proof of income required
- Culturally responsive food selection
- Volunteer-run, student-organized
Safety net · Board-run
Emergency Assistance Fund
For times when a monthly food bag is not enough, our board can approve emergency assistance for families in acute crisis. Donations go into the fund itself, not earmarked to individuals. Each case is reviewed against written criteria, and we pay vendors directly.
- Board-approved per established criteria
- Payments go directly to vendors, not cash
- Full records maintained for transparency
- Structured to protect tax-deductible status
How they fit together: the pantry is how families find us, and the fund is for when they need more than groceries. Someone we meet at a pop-up who is in a rough spot gets sent straight to the board for review. One system, two layers of support.
Becoming official
Building toward 501(c)(3) status.
To run programs, accept tax-deductible donations, and build long-term institutional partnerships, we need to register as our own tax-exempt nonprofit. We have done the foundational legal work. Here is where we stand.
Completed
IRS-ready bylaws written with student board structure and conflict-of-interest policy
Student board roles defined and governance framework established
Up next
Seat the student board
Recruit adult advisory board members
Secure a host site for the monthly pop-up pantry
Launch the Monthly Pop-Up Pantry (target: Fall 2026)
File for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Seed the Emergency Assistance Fund
Join us
Looking for adult board members.
We are forming a small adult advisory board to provide financial oversight, legal guidance, and community connections as we file for 501(c)(3) status and launch our programs.
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
Willingness to review Emergency Assistance Fund cases as they come in
Connections to potential host sites for the monthly pantry
Interest in helping seed the Emergency Assistance Fund
Founders
Angad Kochar
Co-Founder · Finance & Operations
Raj Sukumaran
Co-Founder · Marketing & Outreach
Questions? Email projectrefilldeca@gmail.com