$100,000 donation to feed the Tri-Cities hungry during coronavirus pandemic

Battelle, the contractor that operates Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, is donating $103,000 to feed those at risk of going hungry during the new coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the money will go to Tri-City programs.

“We are helping address a critical need arising from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Steven Ashby, PNNL director and Battelle senior vice president.

“It’s one way we can support the communities where we live and work — and those who have been so supportive of us over the years,” he said.

A majority of the donation will go to Second Harvest in Pasco, which will distribute food to some of the food banks and meal centers in its distribution network.

Additional money will go to Meals on Wheels and the food banks in Prosser and Sequim, Wash. Battelle operates PNNL’s Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sequim.

The donation is part of Battelle’s typical annual contribution of about $400,000 to STEM education, health and human services, and civic and arts organizations in communities where PNNL employees live and work.

Battelle will also be working with local caterers to provide meals to first responders over the coming weeks.

This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 3:10 PM.