Donate to help the hungry in Tri-Cities without denting your own food budget

You can make a donation to help hungry people in the Tri-Cities area on Wednesday without making a dent in your own family’s food budget.

Numerica Credit Union will be offering $50 gift cards good at Yokes Fresh Market to people who donate $50 to Second Harvest, a hunger relief nonprofit, on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Numerica has a goal of raising $40,000 in exchange for 830 gift cards at events in the Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Wenatchee in Washington and Coeur d’Alene in Idaho.

It will be distributing the Tri-Cities gift cards in exchange for donations from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Numerica Pavilion at Southridge Sports & Events Center, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick.

Credit card or cash donations must be made in person to receive a grocery gift card, with gift cards given out while supplies last.

“We wanted to find a fun way to reward people for their generosity, raise awareness for the work of Second Harvest and make an impact in our neighborhoods,” said Amanda Swan, Numerica’s assistant vice president of community development and impact.

In the Inland Northwest, one in nine people struggle with hunger according to Feeding America’s 2022 Map the Meal Gap data.

Each $50 donation will provide food for 250 meals. If all 830 gift cards are given away in the four cities with events, Second Harvest can provide food for 207,000 meals for those in need.