“STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY,” FOOD BANKS, MOBILE MARKET, VOLUNTEERS – MARCH 24

Posted on: March 24, 2020

COVID-19, The Blog

EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA.

“STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY,” FOOD BANKS, MOBILE MARKET, VOLUNTEERS – MARCH 24

“STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY” ORDER

Second Harvest is an essential service, and we will remain open during the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order in Washington. We are still distributing food to partners and through our direct service programs. We are also still in need of volunteers to help sort and repack food for distribution.

FOOD BANKS

Food banks are considered an essential service, like grocery stores, and can remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need food assistance, you can still visit your local food bank for help. Please call first, as some food banks are modifying their hours of operation to comply with social distancing recommendations.

If you can’t leave your home because you are quarantined or part of a high-risk population, please call your local food bank to ask how they can help you or if a family member or friend can pick up food for you. Many food banks are making adjustments to protect everyone’s health and safety. Please call your local food bank to inquire about any accommodations.

To find your local food bank, click here.

MOBILE MARKET

As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic leaves more people needing food assistance across the Inland Northwest, Second Harvest’s Mobile Market is rolling to respond. These free food distributions bring groceries directly to people in need. We’re working with our partners to assess service gaps throughout our service territory and bring the Mobile Market to high-need communities. We’ve modified our distribution model to help keep everyone safe and allow for social distancing.

Here’s how we’re using free food distributions to meet the increased need due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

On March 23 and 24, the Mobile Market bus brought groceries to kids and families at Pope Francis Haven Apartments, Lidgerwood Elementary, Logan Elementary and Planet Kids Daycare in Spokane. The food that families took home helped fill gaps while schools are closed and while some families re experiencing decreased incomes and increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second Harvest’s hunger solution center in Pasco scheduled drive-thru food distributions on March 24 and 26, making it possible for up to 250 families each day to take home pre-packaged boxes of more than 20 pounds of fresh, frozen and shelf-stable food.
Beginning March 28, Second Harvest will provide food for weekly food distributions of Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) in Walla Walla. BMAC is a longtime partner of Second Harvest and typically hosts several Mobile Market distributions. Given the increased need during this crisis, BMAC will host a weekly distribution every Saturday to help provide food to people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on our Mobile Market, click here. To see the when the Mobile Market is coming to your area, click here.

VOLUNTEERING

Second Harvest has been identified as an essential business and is able to continue our operations during the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for Washington. Our volunteer workforce is also exempt from this order and is more important than ever to help pack food for distribution to our communities most in need.

We have made modifications to our shifts in our volunteer center and warehouse to ensure we are following the CDC’s recommendations. The health and safety of our volunteers, clients, partners, staff and entire community is paramount. In keeping with CDC guidance, we ask that adults 65 or older, people with serious underlying conditions or who are exhibiting symptoms of any illness, anyone who has traveled internationally, or is in any other high-risk group stay home at this time.

Our shift schedule is available on our website, and you can sign up here.

To sign up to receive our updates to COVID-19 via email, please click here.

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ABOUT US
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PROGRAMS

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We’re just getting started

We’re always cooking up new ways to fight hunger and strengthen our community. See the impact in local communities and how you can be part of what’s next.