Ahndrea Blue is 2025’s Citizen of the Year.
“Food is so much a part of people’s culture,” says Eloise’s Cooking Pot founder Ahndrea Blue, her sense of compassion prevalent in the warmth of her voice. “They should always be able to eat what they want to eat, versus what we deem is appropriate.”
Blue, who also is the CEO and founder of the Making a Difference Foundation, has run Eloise’s Cooking Pot food bank since the operation’s 2009 launch. Because of her work giving back to the community, Blue has been named South Sound’s Citizen of the Year.
Eloise’s Cooking Pot began humbly. After realizing that some of the tenants in a building she owns had small children who appeared to not be eating regularly, Blue sought to change that. Blue named her budding food bank after her grandmother, whose doors were always open to anyone hungry. Eloise’s started offering food-donation services whenever possible and got a license for the growing food bank when demand increased. The original location was in an alleyway, a place Blue thought might be a safe option for people wanting to avoid any possible stigma that comes from food insecurity. After a meeting with Washington Rep. Marilyn Strickland — who, at the time, was a Tacoma city councilmember — Blue was encouraged to move to a bigger space.
Once she moved Eloise’s, Blue was able to provide more food offerings and a place where many people felt they could pick up their food with dignity.
“(Strickland) reminded me that no one should have to sneak in to get food. They should be able to come in pride,” Blue said. “While my intentions were good of having it located there (the alley), people should be able to walk into a place with pride.”
Eloise’s Cooking Pot now operates its food bank at 3543 E. McKinley Ave. in Tacoma, where one can regularly spot a line stretching down the block. Here, people can shop for food in rooms filled with bins of fresh produce such as lettuce, leeks, pears, apples, and more. Blue provides food her clients want and need, not just what she can get her hands on. She works hard to secure requests — from canned goods to lobster and oxtail.
“Lobster is not a need, but a want. But why can’t I have the stuff that I want? When we go to the grocery store, does anybody tell us not to get the Hot Cheetos?” Blue said. “No one tells us what to put in our baskets. No one judges what we have in our basket. We’re free to choose. I think that food banks should be free to choose.”
The need for Eloise’s services has grown since COVID and has continued its upward trajectory. The food bank serves about 75,000 clients weekly through pick-up, delivery, and regular drive-through services, which began in January 2024. The free drive-through grocery giveaway is held on Wednesdays at the Tacoma Dome’s Lot G.
Blue is particularly grateful for the organization’s drive-through component, since some people may not be able to stand for long periods in food-bank lines.
Sheree Staples, an Eloise’s client for the last two years, recently went through a major surgery and is appreciative of the option to sit in her car and pick up her needed food staples.
“(Eloise’s) serves so many people. You have no idea how many people don’t have (food) and are just getting by,” Staples said. “This is a lifesaver for people. It’s very important for this community.”
David Schweinler, a volunteer at the Tacoma Dome pick-up stand, considers Blue’s efforts undersung.
“I think the work (Blue) puts into it behind the scenes doesn’t get appreciated enough,” he said.
Blue is proud to serve the Tacoma community and is excited for the future of the food bank, which is expecting to open two more locations.
“I just love Tacoma,” Blue said. “Those are my people; that’s my place. You couldn’t get rid of me if you wanted to. I just love the impact that we’ve been able to make here.”