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Grace Yang is a recent graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Public Health, Global Health, and a minor in diversity. She volunteered with the UW Food Pantry for all four years of university. During her time with the UW Food Pantry, she learned about food systems and how important access to healthy and nutritious food is. She is passionate about food justice and is thrilled to continue in her passions of reducing food insecurity with FISH Food Bank in Ellensburg. 

FISH Food Bank serves Kittitas County with its food pantry, mobile pantry distributions, Senior Nutrition, Medically Tailored Meals for food insecure neighbors with chronic medical conditions, and more (Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce). There is a huge need for fresh and nutritious foods within Kittitas County where nearly 17% of the population is considered “food insecure” and has limited access to adequate food (Kittitas County). 

As the Food Rescue Program Coordinator VISTA with FISH, Grace is building a food rescue program that increases the amount of fresh foods at the pantry. Food rescue is the practice of “collecting edible food that would otherwise be wasted from places like restaurants, grocery stores, and farms, and redistributing it to those in need, like food pantries (Food Rescue US). Grace will coordinate the collaborative efforts of farm and restaurant donors, volunteers, and the staff at FISH to divert still good but unsellable food from landfills into the hands of the community. In addition, she will increase the amount of culturally sensitive food for underrepresented communities and for FISH programs. Her efforts will make a healthier Kittitas County!