Nonprofit says millions of meals still needed to feed Western Washington

Food Lifeline, a Shoreline nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger in Western Washington, released the results of a "missing meals" research project today showing that more than 163 million additional meals are still needed each year to ensure low-income families have three nutritious meals a day.

According to the report, hungry families "must go to bed without dinner for two weeks out of one month."

"Until now, it has been unclear how many more meals are needed to address the problem and ensure that all low income people have access to three meals a day, 365 days a year," the report stated.

The group also found that only about one-third of the meals needed to end hunger in Western Washington are being provided through public nutrition programs and hunger relief organizations.

Some suggestions outlined in the report included volunteering to help sort food and donating money. Every donation of $1 provides five meals, the report stated.

Last year, Food Lifeline distributed 22 million pounds of food to 300 food banks, meal programs and shelters in 17 counties.

For more information, go to www.foodlifeline.org.