For the last five years, GoodRoots Northwest has done its best to remove barriers for people in need of food assistance in the Buckley area, pioneering the “grocery store” concept and a “no rules” experience.

Now, the nonprofit is taking a bold new step in its mission to address food insecurity — closing its storefront and focusing all its efforts toward delivering food into the communities it serves, said CEO Stacey Crnich.

“Closing the traditional storefront is emotional. [It] was a beautiful, welcoming space that reflected dignity and belonging,” Crnich said in a recent email interview. “But the real mission was never about a building. It was always about whether families could reliably get food when they needed it. The locker network keeps that dignity, removes the stigma, and expands access beyond anything a physical door could offer. It feels less like an ending and more like an evolution… a necessary one.”

Crnich’s mission, since taking over the Bonney Lake Food Bank, moving it to between Buckley and Bonney Lake, and renaming it “The Market,” has always been about expanding access to food aid.

Unhappy with the way food banks have traditionally operated (requiring personal information, pre-selecting food, etc.) Crnich instead wanted her operation to work more like a grocery store, complete with shopping carts, fully-stocked shelves, and even cashiers.

It was a convincing model, and when The Market first opened, some people wandered in thinking it was a store — until they realized they didn’t have to pay for their food.

This wasn’t about aesthetics, though; Crnich wanted her customers to feel as comfortable as possible, knowing that visiting a food bank can be a daunting experience for people uncomfortable with receiving aid or are afraid of the stigma of being food insecure.

That’s one of the reasons why Crnich and her team worked hard to start opening refrigerated food lockers around east Pierce County.

The first locker, located between Bonney Lake and Buckley at the former site of The Market, opened in 2022. Since then, lockers have opened in Carbonado, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Orting, South Prairie, and Wilkeson, plus Pierce College and Bates Technical College South.

“Some will always love the human connection of an in-person space, and I respect that deeply. But overwhelmingly, families have told us the lockers match their lives better,” Crnich said. “Parents aren’t rearranging work schedules. Elderly neighbors aren’t waiting in lines. People can shop at midnight or 5 a.m., in any language, privately and confidently. What they value most is relief from stress and the lockers provide exactly that.”

Crnich, quoting a 2025 Urban Institute study, said 64% of food insecure adults have trouble accessing food aid during the day due to work, “largely because of work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, mobility challenges, and transportation,” she continued. “That same 64% is almost entirely overlooked by a system built around midday hours.”

On average, GoodRoots Northwest processes between 250 to 350 locker orders every day — or more than 400, during peak months. The nonprofit estimates that more than 140,000 people visit its nine lockers every year, and building another four in the area will boost those numbers.

“GoodRoots NW is still growing. We’re actively working toward a self-sustaining model and planning to invest in local agriculture in a much more significant way,” Crnich said. “Washington is an abundant, year-round growing state, and we believe the future of food security lies in strengthening those local connections.”

HOW TO USE GOODROOTS LOCKERS

People who want to utilize GoodRoots Northwest’s lockers can do so online at goodroots.org/shop.

First, you have to register and receive a shopping ID before you have access to the nonprofit’s products.

Once you have that ID, you pick your items, chose a locker location, and a pickup date.

After you complete your order, you’ll receive a text or email with a code for picking up your order.

If you don’t have access to the internet, you can also call or text 253-303-5909 to place an order or ask for assistance.

You can only order from GoodRoots Northwest once per week.

Locker locations are:Carbonado WA, Post Office – 250 Coal Ave

Bonney Lake WA, Library – 18501 90th St E

Buckley WA, Market – 24015 State Route 410

Buckley WA, Rainier Fresh – 29290 State Route 410

Orting WA, Orting Foodbank – 224 Washington Ave SE

South Prairie WA, Fire Station – 350 WA-162

Wilkeson WA, Fire Station – 501 Church St