Verdant Health Commission Awards $190,000 to FESD to Support Student and Family Wellness
Lynnwood, WA — The Foundation for Edmonds School District (FESD) has been awarded two grants from Verdant Health Commission totaling $190,000 to strengthen student and family well-being across the Edmonds School District. The grants will fund $50,000 for the Whole Families, Whole Communities (WFWC) afterschool program emphasizing student mental health, and $140,000 for Nourishing Network programs that provide food during out of school times which includes: weekend meals, pop-up pantries, holiday meals, and summer meals and camps.
Verdant Health Commission is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of South Snohomish County residents. Through strategic investments and partnerships, Verdant addresses community needs such as access to healthcare, food security, mental health, and physical wellness.
“We’re pleased to partner with the Foundation for Edmonds School District to ensure that no student goes hungry, and has access to holistic programs and services that can help them succeed,” said Verdant Health Commissioner, Jim Distelhorst, MD. “With over 21,000 students in the Edmonds School District, supporting these families is an important part of Verdant’s mission to improve the health and well-being of South Snohomish County residents.”
“We are deeply grateful for Verdant’s continued partnership,” said Deborah Brandi, Foundation for Edmonds School District Executive Director. “Their investment ensures that children in our community have the nutrition, stability, and mental health support they need to learn and thrive.”
Launched in 2017, Whole Families, Whole Communities was created to ensure that every student has the foundation to learn, grow, and thrive. The program provides vulnerable students and families with coordinated, wraparound supports that address the interconnected barriers to learning, including food and housing insecurity, access to health care, and mental health challenges. Over time, WFWC has evolved into a robust afterschool initiative that brings these essential services directly to students where they are, combining academic support with social-emotional learning, wellness education, and family engagement.
With Verdant’s support, FESD will expand its Student Wellness initiative, an extension of WFWC designed to respond to the growing need for mental health and behavioral supports, particularly among middle school students who are facing increased stress, anxiety, and social pressures.
Piloted at Alderwood Middle School (AMS) in spring 2025, the afterschool program provided mental health support and social-emotional skill development to 30 students each week. With the new funding, FESD will continue offering programs at AMS, ensuring students have access to the care and connection they need to stay engaged in school and build resilience for the future.
Since 2014, the Nourishing Network program has provided food access to students and families facing food insecurity. Nearly half of Edmonds School District students are economically disadvantaged, and more than 800 students experience housing instability. Nourishing Network meets these families where they are by delivering weekend meal kits, hosting pop-up pantries, and offering summer meals to ensure no child goes hungry when school is out.
Last year, the program distributed more than 350,000 food items and reached over 800 students and families weekly. Through close collaboration with school-based Family Resource Advocates, Nourishing Network also connects families to personalized support such as housing, employment, and health resources, helping them move from crisis toward stability.