Daphne Xia

For Edmonds Beacon

During the area’s most recent heat wave, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Edmonds cooling center provided relief for those looking to cool down.

It was the first time the church had organized a cooling center, and the church’s Dan Mullene said it will continue next year as well.

This event is meant for not just cooling, but for providing food as well. Edmonds Food Bank, which delivered food and drinks, has been the church’s collaboration partner for years. Before the food bank began to support the church’s food distribution, food arrived from church member donations.

Although the building lacks air conditioning, the cooling center was effective as all fans blew air throughout the church. Closed blinds helped to ease the heat.

At around 4 p.m., Merritt, who lives close by in the area and preferred to use just her first name, walked into St. Alban’s for the first time after seeing the sign for the cooling center outside. Shannon Duggan, a volunteer at St. Alban’s, served her iced water, some chips, and a sandwich.

St. Alban’s has been serving the community with food distribution for years. In 2021, it started a satellite food distribution, along with two other existing services – food drop-off and emergency food pantry.

The Edmonds Food Bank approached St. Alban’s for a satellite pick-up location, given the church’s willingness to do so, and it being on Community Transit’s 115 and 116 bus lines. It also has weekly coffee hours, which began five years ago, after every Sunday service.

The church maintains a record of feeding about 30 families through satellite food distribution per month, with last month’s number coming in at 35. The church’s food distribution started when church members noticed increased food insecurity in the community. No registration or any other formality is needed.

Founded over 70 years ago, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is also involved in the community activities with a preschool and scouting programs for boys and girls.

Mae Hochstetler, Junior Warden of the People at St. Alban’s, is also the care coordinator at Full Life Care, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving people’s lives and supporting caregivers. She shared thoughts on why charity events such as food distribution and hospitality are important.

“There are so many people who fell through the cracks of the system. They have either too much to be qualified, or don’t know what the qualifications are.”