County agencies respond to Second Harvest food delivery suspension

BREWSTER – As the need for food assistance increases and the resources to fill those needs decline in the face of low crop yields, supply chain shortages, and rising prices, the last thing county food banks needed was the loss – temporarily it is hoped – of a major partner. That is the dilemma confronting the Brewster Food Bank and other county pantries after Second Harvest of Spokane announced suspension of its monthly food deliveries last month.

A Jan. 10 OCCAC media release explained the development:

Last November, Second Harvest notified OCCAC that it would immediately stop food deliveries to Okanogan County.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) contracted with Second Harvest to supply food to dozens of locations in Eastern Washington.  With that contract now cancelled, WSDA is working to find solutions to the shortage which has left food pantries scrambling to make up for the loss.  In 2022, Second Harvest provided 511,000 pounds of staple foods like meat, poultry, and fresh produce to Okanogan County; an estimated monthly loss of $50,000-$100,000. Food prices have increased by 12 percent in the past year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Commissioners donate     

The Board of Okanogan County Commissioners responded with a $200,000 allotment of America Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Okanogan County Community Action Council (OCCAC) to help bridge the gap for local food providers.

“We want to do everything we can to respond to local need, while looking at the broader underlying systemic challenges causing this food shortage,” said Commissioner Chris Branch during a recent Commissioner’s public hearing.  Commissioner Branch, along with Commissioner Andy Hover and recently elected Commissioner Jon Neal, heard testimony from OCCAC Executive Director Rena Shawver on the need for the emergency funds.

Shawver also advised The Quad last week of actions that her agency is taking to address latest developments:

1. Our agency staff meets weekly on a call with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Northwest Harvest about the food shortage. We will be receiving more shipments of food from both agencies to help make up for the shortage caused by Second Harvest - Spokane.  WSDA has, for now, terminated their contract with Second Harvest-Spokane, and is trying to make up the difference. However, we still don’t know how much food we’ll be receiving and when.  During those meetings, aggregate numbers of food for those agencies supported by Second Harvest are given. Specific quantities for Okanogan County are still unknown.
2. Michellee Fox, OCCAC Food and Nutrition Manager, also meets with the Washington Food Coalition regularly.  Okanogan County is not alone in facing a food shortage which started long before the Second Harvest incident.  We’ve been working with food shortages for a while and will continue to work with food shortages.  Although I don’t go to those meetings, I’m sure they’ve talked about this issue as a national issue.  I googled, and found this CNN report which says:

About 65 percent of the 200 food banks in the Feeding America network reported seeing a greater demand for food assistance in March compared with the previous month, with an average increase of 15 percent more people, according to the latest data from the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. About 30 percent of food banks said they had served the same number of clients.

Source:  Inflation, higher prices and demand squeeze food banks to dangerous levels | CNN Politics.

We are not in the Feeding American network yet, but are looking into their grants, and other funding agencies that support hunger relief to supplement the in-kind food supply we get from

WSDA and NW Harvest, as well as our food recovery program from local grocers and contracts with local farmers for out Farm to Food Bank Program. 

OCCAC responds

The OCCAC media release noted that in addition to county funds, $60,000 in philanthropic grants from Save the Children and United Health Care were pledged and private donations in December reached an all-time high of nearly $20,000 with $5,000 coming from the 12 Tribes Casino.

Local grocers have increased food donations. Food drives held by some businesses and organizations have helped. Students from the Okanogan School District ran a Penny Drive for the food pantries and turned in a check for $352.29. Students in the Brewster School District and the Log Church School help support their local food bank with fund drives and food donations.

“We appreciate all the donations,” said Shawver. “Although this recent food crisis raised an eyebrow to a continuing issue, ongoing support is needed year-round.”

Citizens wishing to help can contact their local food pantry. The Brewster Food Bank is at 301 Fourth St. S. and can be reached by email at brewsterfoodbank@ccspokane.org, or by phone to Catholic Charity Services at 509-358-4250. OCCAC can be reached online occac.com to donate.