Originally published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
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.
Seattle Times staff reporter
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
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 09:46 AM
Exxon Mobil wins ruling in Alaska oil spill case
NEW - 7:51 AM
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview mill spills bleach into Columbia River
NEW - 8:00 AM
More extensive TSA searches in Sea-Tac Airport rattle some travelers

general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
Adorable Bull Terrier puppies for good home...
AKC Great Dane Puppies Ready
AKC PAL/ILP Registered Labs
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Washington men walloped by Oregon, 82-57
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
504 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
401 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
357 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
355 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
113 - Rough road again
108 - A few late-night notes
96 - USA Today further spells out how Mariners, handful of clubs next in line for huge cash windfall
76 - Marijuana legalization initiative set to go on Nov. ballot
74
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
