Gates Foundation Awards $1.4 Million to Provide Food Relief in Pacific Northwest
Gates Foundation Awards $1.4 Million to Provide Food Relief in Pacific Northwest
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced grants totaling $1.4 million to three emergency food relief agencies in the Pacific Northwest for both immediate aid and to support long-term improvement of the region's food-assistance infrastructure.
Awarded through the foundation's Pacific Northwest initiative, the grants will be used to increase the amount of emergency food distributed in the region by more than 23 million pounds, providing more than 18 million meals to individuals in need, over the next several years. Foodbanks across the Pacific Northwest are reporting increased demand as thousands of at-risk families seek assistance to address an immediate crisis or preserve enough of their monthly budget to pay for other basics such as rent, utilities, and medical bills.
Grantees include Food Lifeline, which will receive $900,000 to develop a revolving food purchase program, mobile food pantries, and a free shopping center for perishable food items serving western Washington; the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest, which will receive $300,000 to increase the number of staple items in its food purchase program and establish a new food donation program with local farmers; and the Oregon Food Bank, which will receive $200,000 to increase its emergency food purchases and move its regional Washington County distribution center to a larger facility.
"We have a shared responsibility — especially in such tough economic times — to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are able to provide food for their families," said David Bley, director of the foundation's Pacific Northwest initiative. "By expanding important emergency food relief services, our partners at Food Lifeline, the Oregon Food Bank, and Second Harvest will be able to help more at-risk families weather hardships that otherwise might lead to deeper economic or housing instability."
“Foundation Grants Will Help Ease Food Crisis in Pacific Northwest.”
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Press Release
12/11/08.
Primary Subject: Human Services
Secondary Subject(s): Agriculture/Food, Economic Crisis
Location(s): Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Portland, Washington
FC012791
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