Hazel Miller Foundation awards nearly $350K to nonprofit organizations in May

The Hazel Miller Foundation awarded $335,553 to 24 nonprofit organizations in its May 2026 grant cycle, supporting a broad range of programs addressing food security, housing stability, education, employment and environmental awareness across Edmonds and South Snohomish County.

According to a news release, this cycle’s grants reach neighbors at every stage of life — from children entering foster care and students navigating food insecurity to seniors receiving meals at their door and adults with disabilities building lasting careers. Organizations included Cocoon House, Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County, House of Wisdom and the Edmonds College Foundation

“This quarter’s focus was on poverty alleviation, hunger and the environment,” said Board Chair Maria Montalvo. “Unfortunately, we are seeing consistent and growing need in our community, and we are honored to do what we can to support the organizations supporting their neighbors.”

The grants continue the Foundation’s commitment to investing in the organizations doing the hard, essential work of caring for our neighbors.

Bethesda Community Services of Bethesda Lutheran Church received $7,500 for its Friends in Need Grant, which provides direct financial assistance to individuals and families in South Snohomish County facing urgent economic hardship. From rent and utility payments to gas and grocery gift cards, 100% of funds go directly to neighbors in crisis. BCS coordinates with partner organizations to ensure fast, effective responses to some of the community’s most pressing needs.

Cocoon House was awarded $10,000 to support its Lynnwood Neighborhood Center. This collaborative hub co-locates multiple nonprofits to reduce barriers and provide accessible, integrated services for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability. As Snohomish County’s only organization solely dedicated to serving young people ages 12-24, Cocoon House reaches more than 1,500 youth and families each year through outreach, emergency shelter, long-term housing, and education and employment programs. Funds will go toward staffing, youth apprenticeship wages and technology needs at the Center.

Edmonds College Foundation was awarded $46,833 across two initiatives supporting student parents and basic-needs resources at Edmonds College. A $36,833 bridge grant will provide last-dollar childcare tuition assistance for 15-30 student-parent households through the Center for Families — the only licensed childcare center on a public college campus in Snohomish County — as federal CCAMPIS funding comes to an end. An additional $10,000 supports the Safe Harbor campaign, which strengthens the Triton Student Resource Hub’s food pantry, emergency grants office and community advocacy services to triple the number of students served. Students who access the Hub already achieve an 84% course pass rate.

Everett Recovery Café received $10,000 to expand its Recovery Circle program into South Snohomish County, bringing peer-led, trauma-informed support to Lynnwood and Edmonds for the first time. Founded in 2015 and modeled after Seattle’s Recovery Café, the organization provides no-cost, membership-based services for adults navigating homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges. The Café has served more than 3,000 people to date. Grant funds will support weekly Recovery Circles offering peer connection, nutritious meals and access to holistic recovery services.

Edmonds Waterfront Center received $10,000 to support its Senior Lunch Program, which served more than 13,000 donation-based meals in 2025 to low-income and isolated adults in a welcoming, intergenerational setting overlooking the Puget Sound. Beyond the meal itself, the program combats social isolation and connects seniors with onsite health screenings, vaccinations and wellness services.

Edmonds Food Bank was awarded $18,000 to support its Edmonds Toy Shop, a seasonal program that provides new toys, books, and gift cards to children in food-insecure households within the Edmonds School District. An additional $25,000 will support the purchase of fresh dairy and eggs. The funds ensure that the more than 1,500 households the Food Bank serves each week have reliable access to these basics, with particular benefit for seniors, young children and individuals with health conditions.

Concern for Neighbors Food Bank was granted $15,000 to continue its Nutritional Food and Dairy Supplement Program, which ensures every household receives a weekly bag of fresh produce and dairy alongside its core food distribution. The organization has served individuals across Brier, Mountlake Terrace and south Lynnwood since 1971.

Homage Senior Services received $15,000 to support its Meals on Wheels program, which will deliver more than 71,000 meals to 405 homebound seniors and adults with disabilities in South Snohomish County in 2026. Beyond nutrition, each weekly delivery includes a wellness check, which helps vulnerable older adults to remain safely and independently in their homes.

Lynnwood Food Bank was granted $25,000 for its Focus on Nutrition program, which prioritizes high-quality protein and dairy. These items are highly requested, rarely donated and essential for children, seniors and those managing chronic health conditions. Serving nearly 48,000 households in 2025, with about 70% of clients identifying as BIPOC, immigrant, or refugee, the food bank has long centered dignity and cultural relevance in its work.

Foster Hearts received $5,000 to provide Care Kits to children entering foster care in South Snohomish County. These kits include backpacks and diaper bags filled with new clothing, hygiene items, blankets and comfort objects, often delivered within hours of a child’s placement. Every dollar goes directly to supplies.

Foundation for Edmonds School District was granted $5,000 for its Nourishing Network program, which distributes more than 275,000 food, clothing and hygiene items annually to students across the Edmonds School District through weekend meal kits, school-based pantries and summer meals. With weekly demand growing from 800 to 1,100 families, these funds help ensure no student goes without necessities between school days.

Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County received $10,000 to support Willow Path Cottages, a development of eight sustainable, modest homes in Lynnwood designed to expand affordable homeownership for low- and moderate-income families. As the only organization in Snohomish County providing homeownership opportunities at this scale, Habitat addresses the systemic barriers that keep stable housing out of reach.

House of Wisdom was granted $10,000 to expand free academic tutoring and mentorship for more than 150 immigrant and refugee students in Lynnwood and Edmonds. Refugee-founded and community-led, the organization pairs K–12 students with bilingual volunteers for one-on-one support in math and English. The nonprofit meets a critical gap in a district where Multilingual Learners graduate at a rate of just 71%. Demand continues to outpace capacity, and these funds help ensure more students get the support they need to succeed.

Seattle Veterinary Outreach received $13,720 to host four free veterinary clinics at the Lynnwood Hygiene Center, providing preventive care, pet food and supplies to pets of residents experiencing homelessness, poverty or housing instability. For many vulnerable households, keeping a pet healthy is inseparable from keeping a family stable.

Work Opportunities was granted $10,000 to support inclusive employment services for adults with disabilities in South Snohomish County. Founded in 1963 by Edmonds-area parents, the organization provides individualized job coaching, on-site training and long-term retention support. In 2025, clients collectively earned more than $1.8 million in wages.

YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish received $20,000 to fund a second Child Advocate serving children and families across its South Snohomish County housing sites. The role is mobile and trauma-informed, providing after-school programming, education advocacy, and behavioral-health navigation for children ages 0–17 in households facing homelessness, disability or language barriers. Expanding beyond a single shelter, this investment ensures more vulnerable children have a consistent, caring presence supporting their stability and success.

League of Women Voters of Snohomish County was granted $2,000 to support a public education campaign raising awareness about the ecological value of Snohomish County’s mature state forests. Through short videos, social media and community event materials, the nonpartisan organization aims to reach up to 90,000 South County residents with science-based messaging about how these forests protect salmon habitat, store carbon and provide climate benefits that far outweigh the value of timber harvest.

Edmonds School District was granted $3,500 to bring the Art with Heart program to Spruce Elementary, where developmental kindergarteners join general-education peers for monthly art sessions designed to build empathy, belonging and social connection. In a school where families speak 34 languages and most students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, the program ensures every child has access to high-quality art materials and multilingual SEL resources.

Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI) received $30,000 to support the launch of its Early Childhood Bilingual Center, a new, culturally responsive childcare and early learning program for 20 children ages birth to five in South Snohomish County. With construction underway and licensing expected by fall 2026, funds will cover start-up operating costs including staff hiring, training, and licensing preparation.

Ballinger Shakespeare Company was granted $5,000 to bring a free, two-weekend production of Twelfth Night to Mathay-Ballinger Park, making classical theater accessible to families and individuals in South Snohomish County who might otherwise lack access. Founded in 2025 and entirely volunteer-led, BSC covers actor stipends, stage management  and ASL interpretation.

Ballyhoo Theatre received $5,000 to fund scholarships and travel stipends for students who cannot afford tuition for its 2026-27 Summer Intensive and student productions. The Edmonds-based, queer-led theatre company has for decades provided a stage where LGBTQIA2+ and neurodivergent youth can learn and belong. These funds ensure that cost is never the reason a young person misses out.

Union Arts Center was granted $4,000 to bring its Wooden O Shakespeare in the Park program to Lynndale Park and Edmonds City Park this summer, offering free, professional performances of Macbeth to South Snohomish County residents. Part of a regional tour spanning 13 cities and 30 performances, Wooden O transforms public parks into cultural gathering spaces.

Mountlake Terrace Community Foundation received $25,000 to develop a public food forest and community garden in Ballinger Park, creating free, open-harvest access to fresh produce alongside individual garden plots, educational programming, and seed-sharing events. Entirely volunteer-run, the Foundation is partnering with the City to transform a beloved public space into a hub for food security, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood connection.

National Museum and Center for Service was granted $5,000 to launch Edmonds Serves, a year-round network of rotating exhibits across schools, public spaces, and businesses that celebrates the many forms of service that strengthen community life — from volunteerism and caregiving to public safety and mutual aid. Founded in Edmonds by former Congressman Brian Baird, the organization aims to make service visible and valued, connecting residents with opportunities to contribute and inspiring the next generation to do the same.

The Hazel Miller Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the citizens of Edmonds and South Snohomish County. For more information, go to www.hazelmillerfoundation.org.