EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS, VOLUNTEERS, FEEDING SENIORS, MOBILE MARKET – MARCH 31
A SURGE IN NEED
Second Harvest’s partner food pantries are reporting a 30-50% increase in visits for food assistance over the last two weeks. As more people lose income due to business closures, more people are seeking food assistance from their local food pantries. That means Second Harvest must source more food to meet the increasing demand during a time when the supply chain is experiencing several disruptions due to COVID-19.
Read more about the growing need in the Tri-Cities here.
PARTNERSHIP WITH SPOKANE FOOD FIGHTERS
Second Harvest kicked off its partnership with Spokane Food Fighters this week. Second Harvest will supply up to 125 emergency food boxes each day to Spokane Food Fighters, whose volunteers will deliver them to people who can’t leave their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food boxes will include about 15 pounds of assorted fresh and non-perishable items, providing food for approximately 12 meals. This program serves people within the city of Spokane. Read more about the partnership here.
“STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY”
On March 30, the Washington State Department of Agriculture released a letter affirming that hunger-relief volunteers and staff are performing essential services that are permitted to continue during the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation period. Second Harvest remains open and continues to seek volunteers to help get critical food supplies to people who need them during the COVID-19 crisis. Sign up for a shift here.
FEEDING SENIORS
Seniors are at higher-risk for COVID-19 complications and therefore are especially avoiding trips to the food bank or grocery store right now. Second Harvest is bringing food right to seniors to help maintain their health and safety. On March 30, our Mobile Market bus rolled up to the Vintage at Spokane senior apartments to bring 120 residents a mix of fresh and nonperishable foods. The residents were grateful not only for the food but also for not having to leave their homes to restock their pantries. Later today, the bus will deliver food to residents of Appleway Court, a senior apartment complex in Spokane Valley.
MOBILE MARKET
To protect the health and safety of the people we serve and our volunteers, we are facilitating all large Mobile Market events in a drive-thru style. This distribution method has been going very smoothly and allows all event participants to comply with social distancing recommendations. Below are some photos of yesterday’s Mobile Market event in Kennewick.
To sign up to receive our updates to COVID-19 via email, please click here.
Turkey Drive Recap – November 24
As we reflect on this year’s turkey drives, we want to share our gratitude. A community of volunteers, food pantries, agriculture partners and donors joined hands to distribute 6,800 Thanksgiving meals to neighbors in need in Spokane, the Mid-Columbia and Yakima Valley. To each of you, we say thank you.
A Thanksgiving Thanks – November 17
Thanksgiving, known for bringing together cherished ones over a festive meal, embodies not only the joy of togetherness but also serves as an occasion to express and spread gratitude. As we reflect on gratitude, we at Second Harvest want to send heartfelt thanks to the pantries and meal programs that tirelessly serve our communities.
Service to Country and Community – November 10
The Bite2Go program rallies people from a diversity of backgrounds around the simple belief that no child should go hungry. Our donors and volunteers come from the business world, the faith community and a variety of civic groups and clubs; they range in age from 9 to 90.
As Nov. 11, Veterans Day, approaches, we’d like to take time to thank a special group — our veterans — and acknowledge the multiple ways they serve our program and our communities as they once served their nation.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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