SPOKANE, Wash. — Local food banks in our area are facing severe food shortages this holiday season.
“We’re really struggling to fill the racks here, particularly going into the future,” said, Eric Williams with Second Harvest Inland Northwest.
Second Harvest Inland Northwest estimates that it provides more than 80,000 meals a day.
“Under normal circumstances, we have about two and a half million pounds of food in inventory. Right now we’re at about one and a quarter million pounds. That sounds like a lot of food, but that’s actually half of what we would have under normal circumstances,” said Williams.
Racks, shelves and even the cooler are nearly empty at Second Harvest’s food warehouse. The little amount of food that they have is supposed to feed thousands of people in our community who may not know where their next meal is coming from.
This has a trickledown effect as Second Harvest supplies food to over 250 organizations throughout the region, including Salvation Army Spokane’s food bank.
“We’re seeing the availability for food in our region decreasing, and so we’re reaching out to the community. We’re asking for help,” said Captain David Cain with Salvation Army.
Shelves at the foodbank are also bare, showcasing the extreme need in the region.
Salvation Army fed over 6,000 households last month and Captain Cain said their demand continues to rise.
“They’re relying on our help, and it is so difficult for us, because we want to make sure that everyone has something when they leave here. And our supply is smaller and smaller. Our food boxes are smaller and smaller as these families are leaving our food pantry,” said Cain.
Items needed include new and unopened shelf-stable food like peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned meals like ravioli, canned vegetables, canned fruit, non-perishable pasteurized milk, cereal, oatmeal, spaghetti, pasta sauce, and snacks.
The food shortage comes just two weeks before Christmas when families are already trying to buy gifts for their children while keeping a roof over their heads and paying their utility bills.
For those who would like to help make a difference and make a donation to Second Harvest click HERE.
The public is invited to coordinate food drives or donate food individually and then deliver the food items to The Salvation Army between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays at 204 East Indiana Avenue in Spokane.
Financial gifts can also be donated in person at the above address, or online at www.makingspokanebetter.org to help purchase the needed items.
For more information on setting up a food drive, call Mansoor at (509)325-6821, ext. 2212.
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