WSDA Joins the Fight Against Hunger

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

During the month of June Northwest farmers along with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Agriculture are working to raise food for the annual Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger food drive. Kim Eads, Program Manager with the WSDA Food Safety and Consumer Services Division explains why the month of June marks an increased need for food donations to local food banks.

EADS: In the last several months there have been some reductions in the federal level of food stamps, so that’s really impacting a lot of families. The other is that as kids are getting out of school they no longer are having either that breakfast or lunch that was provided by the school, which tends to be a really nutritious and balanced meal. So, we’re really looking at ways focus to increase the donations - really throughout the year, but since June is dairy month this is a great way to highlight it and be able to feed our kids throughout the summer.

This is the second year that the WSDA and the ODA are working together to raise food for the Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger food drive and employing a little friendly competition to see which state can generate the greatest participation in the food drive.

EADS: Last year the state of Washington was the winner, more importantly our low-income families were the winner. So this year our Director does have a very competitive spirit and he would like to see that trophy be retained here at the state of Washington.

Washington raised over 7,000 pounds of food last year during the drive, and Eads says that this year they would love to hit that 100 thousand pound mark. Tomorrow Eads will talk about the WSDA’s involvement and the various partners joining them to support the hungry.

That’s Washington Ag Today.

I’m Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.