2nd Harvest to give out 600 more food boxes in Tri-Cities

A few weeks after Washington’s stay-home orders began, Second Harvest Tri-Cities was gearing up efforts to meet increased need.

When volunteers gathered to distribute 250 food boxes from its Pasco warehouse a few weeks ago they were stunned by the demand.

By noon — more than two hours before boxes were set to be handed out — hundreds of cars already were lined up, said Drew Meuer, chief of staff at the food relief network.

“People are needing more of everything,” he said. From protein to produce, many people are seeking help for the first time because of the new coronavirus pandemic.

In response, Second Harvest along with Food Lifeline and Northwest Harvest formed a coalition to create the WA Food Fund.

With support from Gov. Jay Inslee’s office, the site is raising money for the three food resource agencies to buy food for food banks in every county in the state.

Meuer said that those in need are not just those facing new unemployment.

Many are households that have gone from two to one income, as well as senior citizens and parents who have relied on schools to help feed their children.

“We are facing a resource shortage, an increase in demand as well as a labor shortage ... many volunteers are in the at-risk population,” Meur said.

The WA Food Fund relief effort aims to reduce the strain felt on a local level by a food supply chain that has been disrupted across the nation.

“We (as a community) are really good at caring for one another. This is a good opportunity for folks to contribute,” he added.

To donate, go to philanthropynw.org/wa-food-fund.

Food box giveaways

Second Harvest plans to distribute 600 free boxes of food at two locations this week.

A South Richland distribution of 300 boxes is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the parking lot of Bethel Church at 600 Shockley Road.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, another 300 boxes will be given out at Bruce Mechanical, 5003 W. Brinkley Road, Kennewick.

No appointment is needed, but the events will last only until the boxes are gone.

People are asked to stay in their cars and drive up to have a food box loaded into their vehicle.

Hanford contractors donate

Amentum and its local companies at the Hanford nuclear reservation have donated $30,000 to allow Second Harvest and United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties help more families suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amentum, formerly Aecom, owns Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford site tank farm contractor, and also owns the primary subcontractor at the Hanford vitrification plant.

“Second Harvest is in the front lines in the battle against hunger,” said John Eschenberg, president of the tank farm contractor. “The demand for food bank support will continue to increase as the financial impacts of the pandemic grow.”

Second Harvest, which supplies dozens of food banks in the Mid-Columbia, received $20,000 of the donation.

Social distancing shirt sales

Keep your distance — that’s the message being conveyed on shirts being sold as a fundraiser.

Atomic Screen Print is Kennewick is selling T-shirts and more that say “Six Feet Bro” to raise money for Second Harvest Tri-Cities.

Options include tanks, hoodies, long- and short-sleeve shirts and sizes range from extra small to 4X. Orders are being accepted on Atomic’s pop-up sale page until May 18.