Taco Time is providing the region with much more than tacos. Last week the Pacific Northwest Mexican food chain announced that they would be giving over $100,000 to six local charities or organizations in Puget Sound that are providing access to nutritious food and educational programs supporting healthy lifestyles.

Among the beneficiaries is Ballard Food Bank, who will receive $20,000.

“The Ballard Food Bank was one of 26 groups we looked at, and we felt that they did a good job of providing healthy food and education for a healthy lifestyles,” said Gretchen Everett, Marketing Director for Taco Time NW.

The donations are being made through the Taco Time Northwest Foundation Grant, which is a collaborative effort between the Ballard Food Bank, Hunger Intervention Program, Queen Anne Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank to serve more young people nutritious meals through their Weekend Backpack programs during the school year. The program was established in April of 2014.

“All of our organizations, Ballard Food Bank, Hunger Intervention Program, Queen Anne Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank, greatly appreciate Taco Time Northwest Foundation’s passion for supporting collaborative community efforts that provide children access to healthy foods and support their success in school,” said Jen Muzia, executive director of Ballard Food Bank.

During last year’s school year the backpack programs provided more than 6,000 bags of food to children in 16 Seattle schools, which equates to 355 students each week.

According to Taco Time, the program levels the socioeconomic playing field for kids by reducing the disparity among low-income students so they can learn and succeed in school.

“Studies continue to show that hungry children cannot concentrate and perform in school or life,” said Gretchen Everett, marketing and advertising director of Taco Time NW.

“The Ballard Food Bank’s weekend backpack program is truly changing the lives of low-income kids in our area, by making sure they have nutritious food on the weekends. We are thrilled to be able to support this critical resource for kids in the Seattle area.”

“The Ballard Food Bank is doing incredible work and it needs to be done. There are people in the community that need access to healthy food and the Ballard Food Bank is doing exactly what we think what we needs to happen,” said Everett.

Everett said that the funds come from Taco Time's advertising funds and that they plan to do more fundraising through this year. Furthermore, over the past 17 years, Taco Time Northwest has donated more than $2 million to local charities.

For more information about the Taco Time Northwest Foundation and to get information about grant submission checkout the website visit www.Tacotimenw.com/foundation or email TTNW@SeattleFoundation.org