The Blog

Governor Chris Gregoire

07/01/08

Squeezed by escalating food and gas prices, the number of Washington families using food banks jumped this year by 15 percent after being steady for the past several years. It’s true all over — from Bellingham to Vancouver, Spokane to Seattle.

Last week I announced the release of $200,000 from the governor’s emergency fund to help food banks offset rising fuel costs. This money will be distributed by the state Department of General Administration to food banks to pay gas bills so they can continue to pick up and deliver food for families.

With record-high gas prices, food banks now must weigh whether it is worth picking up donations when they pay $5 a gallon for diesel. They haven’t had to make that hard choice before. Our grant will help food banks close that gap.

I am pleased to announce unprecedented new funding in food stamp support programs, including $1 million in state funds and $15.5 million in federal funds, for people in need. This funding will allow food stamp programs, such as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program), to serve 23,000 more Washingtonians.

I urge Washingtonians to help in any way they can. Food banks especially need donations of cash, food and volunteer time to serve our residents in need.

For the Washington state food bank locator Web site:
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodProg/Map/

For Northwest Harvest: http://www.northwestharvest.org/