EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA.
CRISIS RESPONSE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND STORY OF HOPE – JULY 24
CRISIS RESPONSE FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Higher food insecurity rates continue to be a symptom of the economic crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Second Harvest and our network responded quickly to keep pace with the tremendous spike in need since the pandemic unfolded in March.
Over the past 12 months, Second Harvest distributed 43 million pounds of food, or food for 35.8 million meals, to people facing hunger throughout the Inland Northwest. That’s 11 million pounds more than the 12-month period ending June 30, 2019. Much of this increase occurred after the onset of the pandemic. In fact, Second Harvest distributed nearly double the amount of food from March to June compared to the same period in 2019. Second Harvest believes the escalated level of distribution will continue for the foreseeable future, especially with the uncertainties of the pandemic, including the enhanced unemployment benefits slated to expire on July 31.
You can read the stories of some of the people receiving food from Second Harvest during this time here. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, you can find a food bank or Mobile Market distribution near you here.
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STORY OF HOPE
“It is very gratifying to hear that my donation is going to make it possible for food that otherwise would have been wasted to help people in the community. That’s exactly what we hoped and intended.”
When a community member found himself with an extra freezer, he knew it could be put to good use as so many people turn to neighborhood food banks for help. It just so happened that the freezer at Off Broadway, one of Second Harvest’s partners serving the high-need West Central neighborhood in Spokane, had just stopped working. The man, who wished to remain anonymous, donated his freezer to Off Broadway, which prevented them from having to turn down frozen food donations and allowed them to distribute more food to people in need. Read more about how this donor made a difference to people facing hunger during the COVID-19 crisis here.
Off Broadway is currently in need of a refrigerator as well. If you or someone you know is willing to donate a fridge, please contact Second Harvest at 534-6678.
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Partner Agency Spotlight: Hope House – May 3
We wanted to take a moment to shine the spotlight on a local partner agency dedicated to making a difference in the lives of homeless women. Hope House offers a compassionate and respectful environment for up to 100 women seeking shelter each night. Part of that environment includes building community and friendships over the three meals offered daily.
Feed365: Fighting Hunger Year-Round – April 26
What do three warehouses, 250 food banks, and 50,000 square miles have in common? The short answer: A LOT of moving parts! The slightly longer answer? They all have or need cold storage, fuel for vehicles, and a dedicated army of volunteers. Oh, and they’re all part of the daily operations here at Second Harvest that members of Feed365 support year-round!
Feed365, Second Harvest’s recurring giving program, is an opportunity to not just sustain, but consistently grow many of the key programs here at Second Harvest.
Food Safety First: – April 19
In January and March, AIB International conducted audits of our facilities – the Pasco Distribution Center, the Spokane Distribution Center and the Wolff Family Child Hunger Solution Center. As has been the case for more than a decade, we received scores of 930 or higher, out of a possible 1000. Anything above 900 is considered exemplary.
While receiving high scores from AIB is important, we are equally proud of the fact that any day of the year, our team is always working to keep our buildings clean and our food supply safe. This speaks to the strong food safety culture we have here at Second Harvest.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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