Community Perspectives on Food Insecurity in Edmonds
Earlier this year, Koné Consulting collaborated with the Edmonds Food Bank (EFB) to launch a community-wide survey. The goal was to better understand not just what people think about food insecurity in Edmonds, but how they perceive the people impacted by it.
More than 560 community members participated, helping us paint a clearer picture of local attitudes, beliefs, and barriers. What made this survey especially unique was its focus on attitudes and perceptions, rather than solely measuring food access or service usage.
One of the survey’s clearest insights was the gap between people’s values and their actions. Many non-donors still identified food access as a top community priority and expressed concern about hunger in Edmonds. Yet compared to donors, non-donors were:
Less likely to see food insecurity as a major local problem
More likely to feel neutral or uncertain
Less personally connected to the issue
This suggests that awareness – not necessarily opposition – may be the biggest barrier to engagement. The survey identified a particularly promising group: people who have not yet donated but expressed interest in supporting the food bank in the future. Their responses closely mirrored current donors in terms of values and priorities.
The takeaway? Local stories, data, and visible community impact matter. When people better understand the realities of hunger in Edmonds, they are more likely to take action.
Another compelling finding came from questions about who people believe experiences food insecurity versus who they imagine using the food bank. For example: 51% of respondents believed children and youth experience food insecurity, but only 14% pictured them as food bank users. These differences reveal how invisible food insecurity can be, even in our own neighborhoods. Open-ended responses reinforced this theme. Some respondents who identified as food insecure shared that they own homes, operate businesses, or otherwise do not fit common stereotypes about hunger. Food insecurity affects people from many walks of life, often quietly and behind the scenes.
One of the most encouraging themes throughout the survey was gratitude. Many respondents expressed appreciation for the work of EFB staff, volunteers, and programs. We’re excited about the valuable information and momentum these findings provide to help guide EFB’s ongoing efforts toward a community where everyone has reliable access to nutritious, culturally relevant food.
This survey reminded us that food insecurity is not just an economic issue – it’s also a visibility issue. The more we talk openly about food access for everyone in Edmonds, the more we can reduce stigma, strengthen empathy, and inspire action.
Building on these findings, we will be conducting follow-up interviews and focus groups with community members in the coming months. This next phase of work will help deepen our understanding by elevating local stories, lived experiences, and direct quotes.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped bring these perspectives forward.
How to take action
This work continues with community support. Here are a few ways to get involved: