Emergency funds allocated to get donation trucks to food banks

As food banks around the state struggle with rising fuel costs and higher demand, Gov. Christine Gregoire announced Thursday she would immediately allocate $200,000 from her emergency fund to help the organizations pay for gasoline.

Trucking food from California to Washington food banks cost $1,200 per trip a few months ago, said Shelley Rotondo, executive director of Northwest Harvest, a statewide hunger-relief organization that distributes food to more than 290 food banks. The same trip cost $3,800 a few days ago.

For Spokane-based Second Harvest Inland Northwest, which supplies food to 300 banks in Eastern Washington, fuel expenses have doubled in the past three years. At times, the agency can't afford to accept donations from the Midwest or Eastern U.S.

"One of the challenges we've had for the past couple of years is moving donated food," said Jason Clark, executive director of Second Harvest Inland Northwest. "That has certainly gotten significantly more expensive in the past couple of years, and we're certainly feeling it this year."

Second Harvest's shipments have dropped by 2 million pounds in two years, Clark said.

The governor's emergency funds will be distributed to food banks based on size and need.

Food-bank officials said the money should help but they don't know how far it will go.

"I wouldn't want to discount the value of $200,000, but given the size and scope of the transportation that we rely on, I think $200,000 will only go a small way," said Joe Gruber, executive director of the University District Food Bank, which serves about 900 families a week.

Prices are rising and more people are seeking out food banks. Rotondo said Northwest Harvest's Cherry Street location has seen a 30 percent rise in people seeking food — a figure similar to what Clark has seen at banks he serves.

To help alleviate such demand, Gregoire also announced the state will alter qualifications for food stamps starting in October.

To be eligible for food stamps in Washington, household income can be up to 200 percent of the poverty line, which equates to an annual income of $42,000 for a family of four. The current cutoff is 130 percent, or $27,000 for a family of four. Federal law allows states to extend the income qualification up to 200 percent.

Gregoire said she estimated the program will serve an additional 23,000 people.

Washington will receive $2 million from the federal government as a bonus to recognize its management of the food-stamp program. That money is expected to arrive in the fall and will go back into the program, said a spokeswoman for the governor.

Gregoire also announced her office has launched a Web site to help people locate food banks statewide: www.governor.wa.gov/feedingwashington.asp.

Sean Rose: 206-464-2292