Kwik Lok invests in education, equity, food security, and food justice

YAKIMA, Wash., (July 27, 2022) –Kwik Lok Corporation has provided $100,000 in grants to four nonprofit organizations as part of our ongoing philanthropy program. Organizations chosen for grants are working on food justice, food access and educational programs in the Pacific Northwest. They demonstrate inspirational efforts that align with Kwik Lok’s ongoing commitment to:

• Unlocking Opportunity
• Improving Well-being
• Protecting Resources
• Fostering Innovation

“Kwik Lok has been working diligently to grow our impact and transition from a traditional, financial return focused company to a company that embraces positive impact, community engagement and problem-solving as a core to our business operations. By supporting these important organizations, Kwik Lok aims to help make vital changes in our communities.”

– Kwik Lok Co-owners, Stephanie Jackson, Kimberly Paxton-Hagner and Melissa Steiner.

Kwik Lok continues to support organizations that are working to meet the challenges of food security, food justice and inequity through support of Black farmers and communities that have a history of being disproportionately impacted by economic stresses and lack of access.

• The Black Food Fund, an organization founded and led by a collective of Black women, works to gather resources and fuel transformative change in the food system of the Pacific Northwest. A $25,000 grant will enable the Black Food Fund to implement the second round of the Black Farmer Fund in 2022. It will provide funding for Black farmers and land stewards across the Pacific Northwest including those who have disabilities, are femme, gender-nonconforming, trans, queer, poor and/or working class, immigrants, refugees and hold other intersecting, marginalized identities.

“With the support of Kwik Lok, we’re thrilled to be able to expand the reach of the Black Farmer Fund.  Kwik Lok’s partnership enables us to continue to support Black land stewards across Oregon and Washington, helping them increase the viability of their businesses and preserve Black agricultural traditions. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work in partnership with Kwik Lok to advance this work.” – Tiffany Monroe, Co-Founder, Black Food Fund

• Clean Greens aims to make organic produce widely available and easily accessible to all people in their community located in Seattle’s Central District. To support this work, Clean Greens will receive a $25,000 grant to support activities related to their youth farm and education curriculum including:
  • Transportation to and from the farm along with field trips
  • Gardening, harvesting and composting supplies
  • Learning supplies
  • Food and nutrition supplies for cooking and food prep
  • Stipends for youth
  • Staff

“Clean Greens is committed to creating and sustaining access for families in need. We believe in order to have a healthy community and partnership with our community we must work together by lifting up others who are not in position and help them until they are in position to help others. Working together builds a healthy community, which helps build a healthy world.” – Brione Scott, Clean Greens Director

• Rainer Beach Action Coalition (RBAC), is a grassroots, Black-led organization in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle is devoted to locally driven development. RBAC will receive $25,000 to support:
  • Staffing salaries for the Farm Stand Team and an entrepreneurship program as part of the Food Justice Fellow Program.
  • The farm stand food distribution program which supplies low-cost/free food to people in need.

“This grant is a welcome boost that will allow us to continue our commitment to providing Rainier Beach residents access to free, fresh and culturally-relevant produce, while partnering with local BIPOC farmers and creating job opportunities for young adults in the community.” – David Sauvion, RBAC

• ?Heritage University, located in the lower part of the Yakima Valley, empowers a multicultural and inclusive student body to overcome the social, cultural, economic, and geographic barriers that limit access to higher education. Rooted in the homeland of the Yakama Nation, the University embraces transformational student-centered education that cultivates leadership and a commitment to the promotion of a more just society. Eighty-five percent of the student body are the first in their families to attend college. Kwik Lok’s grant of $25,000 will provide funding to support:
  • A staff person to oversee a new student and community foodbank which will supply much-needed food and sundry items for use by both students as well as community members.
  • Loan forgiveness in the amount of five thousand dollars for three students involved in STEAM programs.

Heritage is grateful to be a recipient of this wonderful gift from Kwik Lok.  Even as Kwik Lok is transforming its business, so too will this gift transform the lives of Heritage students and the surrounding community.  Kwik Lok is a Yakima company with a worldwide presence, and we are honored to work alongside the organization to achieve meaningful outcomes. — President Andrew Sund, Ph.D.

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About Kwik Lok

Founded in 1954, Kwik Lok is the global market leader in bag closures. The company produces billions of bag closures every year for baking and produce industries and the machinery for customers to print and apply closures. Kwik Lok brings nearly 70 years of expertise to deliver advanced engineering and trusted design. Kwik Lok is owned by third generation family leadership, with a vision to drive greater sustainability in the industry. Learn more at www.kwiklok.com.