First Western U.S. college food locker now open

On Jan. 23, Pierce County marked a significant milestone by becoming home to the first climate-controlled, 24-hour access food locker on a college campus in the Western United States that provides healthy, locally sourced food to students who struggle to afford meals due to school costs.

The food locker is located at the Bates Technical College South Campus in Tacoma and provided by GoodRoots Northwest, a local non-profit organization addressing food insecurity by connecting rural and underserved areas with fresh, locally sourced food through a climate-controlled locker network.

GoodRoots Northwest has seven food lockers in six cities and towns in East Pierce County, most operating in food deserts, which are communities – especially those with limited transportation options – struggling to access nutritious food consistently.

The food lockers operate like a PO Box, only the box is a network of climate-controlled lockers where people can pick up their food orders. People can order food from the website or app, select a location near them for pick up, and pick it up once it’s delivered.

The Bates Technical College location is the first closed ordering system, only available to students.

“When we talk about coming out of the pandemic better than we went into, this is what we’re talking about,” said Pierce County Council Chair Jani Hitchen (District 6). “This innovative thinking about how we create better systems is at least one good thing that has come out of the pandemic.”

The first food locker opened in 2023, right in front of The Market at the Bonney Lake Food Bank – which later became GoodRoots Northwest – providing 24-hour access to food from a food bank.

“I started my job at the Bonney Lake Food Bank 10 days before the [COVID-19] pandemic hit, 10 days before the lockdowns. I spent a lot of hours inside that building in the first two months cleaning and sterilizing and, you know, dumpsters upon dumpsters of expired food,” said Crnich. “I started noticing that people were circling the building at all hours, and I started thinking more of just like the psychology of being without a basic human need and how it changes who you are and your actions and your behavior.”

During those pivotal times, Crnich and her forward-thinking Board of Directors envisioned a radical solution. Within six months, the Bonney Lake Food Bank transitioned from a traditional food bank to a farm-to-table location in the most literal sense, growing food there on the campus and then putting it into circulation.

The food bank also partnered with local farmers during this time, expanding its reach and impact and supporting farmers’ ability to get their products to people. The customer service team at GoodRoots Northwest used texting to communicate with customers about food availability.

The food locker concept came shortly after that, but it was met with skepticism. A chance encounter with Pierce County Councilmember Dave Morell (District 1) helped Crnich secure $174,000 through the Pierce County Council to fund a pilot program and show its potential.

“The access these lockers provide is critical,” said Morell. “For a single mother who can’t leave work to get to the food bank between 1 and 4 on a Wednesday, it makes a big difference. Having access 24-7 is a game changer for those in need.”

In a 2022 letter to the U.S. Congress Committee on Appropriations, Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) requested $2 million for the Food Bank, writing, “This program will invest in greenhouse infrastructure to allow for year-round food production, which will lead to lower food purchasing costs and increase food security resilience. Additional investments in smart lockers will keep food fresh and safe for family pickups.”

The Bonney Lake Food Bank received that $2 million grant.

GoodRoots Northwest later amended the budget to buy from growers, essentially guaranteeing they could pay for their own greenhouses.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, a food locker opened in front of that same Rainier Fresh Country Store. In what was described as a community-centered move by community members, the owners agreed to install a GoodRoots Northwest Food Locker in front of their store.

Crnich and the Browns hope to foster greater resilience in Buckley and surrounding areas by offering an alternative that integrates directly with local infrastructure. What that looks like is still to come.

“The partnership between GoodRoots Northwest, Rainier Fresh Country Store, our food banks, colleges, and other local supporters is an example of how diverse groups can unite to create scalable and sustainable solutions,” said Morell. “By drawing on each partner’s expertise, resources, and networks, they can broaden their reach and establish trust within the community.”

GoodRoots Northwest is revolutionizing how communities are addressing food insecurity. By connecting rural and underserved areas with fresh, locally sourced food through its innovative climate-controlled locker network, GoodRoots Northwest is providing access with dignity and convenience. By leveraging game changing technology, multi-sector collaboration, and sustainable practices, the non-profit creates systems that are not only effective but also adaptable for the future. Learn more at goodroots.org.