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, whether they need food or want to help out.
Why this matters
The problem is bigger than it looks.
9.5%
of King County residents deal with food insecurity
Including families on the Eastside who appear self-sufficient from the outside
180,000
people locally affected by the 42-day SNAP funding pause
Many of whom had never needed food assistance before and didn't know where to turn
7 in 10
skip asking for food help because they're afraid of being judged
The stigma problem is as real as the supply problem, especially on the Eastside
The story so far
What two students built in one season.
Project Refill started during the 42-day SNAP funding pause, when families around 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 community impact
Food value + cash raised
843
Food items collected
~$4,160 in food value
$1,842
Cash donations raised
16% over goal
30,000 lbs
Produce/year restored
Via Chinook greenhouse
174
Volunteer hours
Across all initiatives
33
Volunteers
Across 3 greenhouse workdays
How we did it
Community & school food drives
We put donation boxes in schools, preschools, and local shops — the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce helped us get in the door. Everything got sorted and checked, and all 843 items went to the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
Greenhouse restoration
We spent 3 workdays rebuilding a greenhouse at Food Bank Farms that had been sitting broken for 7 years after a storm. That puts about 30,000 lbs of fresh produce back in the pipeline every year.
#BreakTheStigma campaign
27 posts, a week-long campaign, and a spot on our school news that reached 2,000+ students. We wanted asking for food to feel normal instead of embarrassing. It got picked up in Pack News.
A real coalition
We built partnerships that stuck: Food Bank Farms, the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, the Chamber of Commerce, TLC Montessori, and clubs like Key Club, DECA, and Environmental Club.
Our 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.”
Our 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.
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 what we already have coming in: produce from our farm partner, items from our drives, and the kinds of foods regular pantries usually skip. Every month we count households served, pounds handed out, and volunteer hours.
- 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 to specific individuals. Each case is approved using pre-established guidelines and we pay stores directly, maintain records of all assistance, and structure the program to preserve tax-deductible donations.
- Board-approved grants per established criteria
- Payments go directly to vendors, not cash
- Full records kept 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.
Becoming official
Building toward 501(c)(3) status.
To run programs, accept tax-deductible donations, and partner with institutions long-term, we need to register as our own tax-exempt nonprofit. We have already done the foundational legal work. Here is where we stand.
IRS-ready bylaws written, including a student board structure and conflict-of-interest policy
Student board roles defined and governance framework established
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