The Practice of Giving: Mitchell’s Story

By Khalid Mohamed, Donor Relations Manager

If you’ve been part of the Ballard Food Bank community for a while, you already know: food is just the beginning. It’s not just about getting meals on tables, it’s about creating a place where people feel connected, respected, and seen.

That’s what we see in Mitchell’s story.

Mitchell is a longtime supporter of the food bank. When he teaches yoga classes, he donates the proceeds to support our work. Sometimes, those donations arrive with thoughtful messages; grounded, generous notes that reflect the kind of person Mitchell is. And when we met him in person, he had that same steady presence. The kind that comes from years of caring for his community and himself.

“Supporting the food bank is important to me,” he said. “We all deserve to eat good food.”

That simple belief is at the heart of so many gifts we receive, gifts that come not just from people with extra, but from people who care deeply. From people who know what it means to show up for others.

Mitchell’s giving is rooted in his yoga practice, which he describes as a way of caring for his mind, body, and spirit. It’s not flashy. There’s no big campaign. Just steady, thoughtful action - one class, one breath, one donation at a time.

“Yoga is often the only quiet time people have to just be,” he shared. “It helps people feel more at peace with themselves.”

Mitchell at a yoga retreat in Machu Picchu

I’ve experienced that kind of peace, too. As someone who practices yoga and meditation regularly, I’ve seen how important it is to nourish not only our bodies, but our inner lives. Just like we need food to live, we need self-understanding and reflection to feel whole. Practices like yoga or meditation can give us that space - and from that place of inner calm, we’re better able to care for others.

“If you're hungry, you only think about food,” Mitchell said. “But if you're fed and connect with humans who care, a person has a better chance of living a fruitful life.”

At Ballard Food Bank, we see this every day. People come for groceries - but often stay for something more. A warm hello. A moment of calm. The feeling of being part of something. Whether it’s a client accessing services, a volunteer finding joy in helping, or a donor quietly making their monthly gift - it’s all part of the same fabric of care.

Mitchell gets that.

“A community is only strong if we pull together as humans,” he said. “Giving money to the food bank is something I can do - along with just smiling at others. Every little bit helps.”

And he’s right. It’s not about big gestures. It’s about consistency. It’s about presence. Mitchell’s easy smile reminded me how much those “little” things really matter - how tending to our own well-being helps us show up more fully for others.

One of the greatest tragedies in life is dying from starvation. And while global poverty has improved in recent decades, there is still so much work to do. If we want life to be good for everyone, food must be the foundation.

Mitchell’s story reminds us that generosity can be deeply personal. Some people give monthly. Others donate produce from their gardens. Some volunteer each week. Others drop off diapers or socks or handwritten notes. And some, like Mitchell, teach yoga, and quietly channel that energy into supporting their neighbors.

“At the food bank, so many people find connection here,” I’ve seen it again and again. “Whether it’s volunteers finding meaning, or clients feeling seen - it’s all a community here.”

So today, we invite you to pause and reflect:

What’s your version of giving?

It might be something you’re already doing. Or something you’ve always wanted to try.
It might be creative, quiet, consistent, or all three.

However you give, thank you. You’re a part of what makes this place more than a food bank. You’re a part of what makes it a community.