Northwest Harvest, a Seattle-based non-profit organization, was founded in 1967 by The Ecumenical Metropolitan Ministry (EMM), an interfaith organization committed to identifying and addressing the primary problems of the poor and disadvantaged. The organization created Neighbors in Need and opened 34 food banks in what was initially conceived of as a short-term solution to an employment crisis in Seattle. As widespread need for food assistance continued, the organization grew and became a separate, secular entity named Northwest Second Harvest. Today, Northwest Harvest secures approximately 32 million pounds of food each year for distribution through a network of 375 partner food banks, meal programs, and high-need schools.

This image of Northwest Harvest co-founder and executive director Ruth Velozo was taken as she sat by the near-empty collection shelves. At the time, the organization was distributing just over 1 million pounds of food annually.

Ruth May (Maier) Velozo (1929-2015) was raised on a farm in Minnesota during the depression, and moved to California, then to Washington as a young adult. Ms. Velozo was a passionate social advocate, and with her husband raised five children in the Seattle area. As a member of the Ecumenical Metropolitan Ministry staff, Velozo (then Ruth Sterling) co-founded Northwest Harvest, and served as its executive director from 1980 to 2001. She prided herself on Northwest Harvest's reputation of serving free meals to anyone who is hungry without requiring proof of address, history, or income from those they served, a common practice among aid organizations.

Caption information source: "Ruth Velozo, 86, a founder of Northwest Harvest," The Seattle Times, October 9, 2015, section Local.
Caption information source: https://www.northwestharvest.org/history
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.