Fuel prices affect Second Harvest

 

Even though food and fuel prices are high, Second Harvest Inland Northwest continues to rescue food donations from farmers and grocery stores. To transport and store that food, they rely on financial gifts from individual donors.

On May 13, Second Harvest team member Eric Williams of Spokane rode with driver John Fisher to Gebbers Farm in Brewster to pick up a semi-truck load of apples.

It was one of two semi loads—80,000 pounds combined—of apples Gebbers donated that day. One went to the Pasco warehouse and the other to the Spokane warehouse.

Gebbers' donation of more than 1 million pounds of fruit last year makes them a major donor," said Eric. "They run an efficient, caring, sustainable operation.

"It was rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of the farm operators as they loaded several pallets of apples," he commented. "The bounty shared by the ag community renews my faith in humanity.

"We work with about 65 farmers who, like Gebbers, are on the cutting edge of the generosity that fuels our ability to get good, nutritious Washington-grown food to people in our 26-county network of 21 counties in Central and Eastern Washington and five in North Idaho," he remarked.

When Eric returned to the warehouse in Spokane, John filled the diesel tank.

It cost $744, one-third more than it cost a year ago.

"Our fiscal year 2026 fuel budget—mostly diesel—is $134,000, and we're currently projecting a 4 percent increase for FY2027, aware it may exceed that," he commented. "Fuel is only one part of our expenses."

Other costs include salaries for the 58 staff who are at the Pasco and Spokane warehouses.

"With the increase in fuel costs, we have to figure out ways to stretch every dollar. We drive many miles to retrieve donated food. We rely on the generosity of other folks who donate money so we can buy diesel and distribute the millions of pounds of food farmers donate," Eric explained.

"Last year, we distributed 37.5 million pounds of food, a bit more than the previous year. That's the equivalent of just over 31 million meals," he said, clarifying that they pick up about 17 to 18 semi-truck loads a week.

"Nearly 90 percent of that was privately donated," Eric added.

When the boxes of apples arrive in the Spokane and Pasco warehouses, volunteers are on hand to check and sort them.

"While Gebbers gives us quality apples, volunteers double check each," he said.

Eric said that if they find any bad apples they pull them out. A hog farmer comes to pick them up.

"We get out every ounce of nutrition from the farmers' donations, including feeding hogs," Eric commented.

Once the boxes are sorted, Second Harvest distributes them to their partners, down the street in Spokane at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center or to food pantries in Bonners Ferry, Cusick or Curlew.

"We distribute apples quickly into the network," said Eric, who will have been with Second Harvest six years in August.

The food donations from farmers vary with the season.

In the late spring, they usually receive fresh squash, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Later, they receive carrots, onions and potatoes.

"We receive many potatoes because Idaho is the first in production of potatoes nationally and Washington is second," Eric noted. "We also are given many apples because Washington produces more apples than the rest of the U.S. combined."

Farmers also donate pears, cherries and watermelons.

"The apples picked up from Gebbers were from last fall and had been stored in climate-controlled facilities that keep them fresh," he said.

To rescue and distribute food donations, Second Harvest has a fleet of three semi-trucks, six straight (or box) trucks and nine vans.

The semi-trucks are driven by staff who require special training and licenses. The other vehicles are driven by staff and volunteers.

Straight trucks are used for grocery store pick-ups and mobile markets.

Last year, Second Harvest served more than 500 mobile markets, which target underserved areas that do not have grocery stores or pantries—rural areas or lower income urban neighborhoods.

Food pantries are offered by a variety of nonprofits and congregations and staffed by volunteers.

"We could not do this work without the help and devotion of reliable volunteers in the warehouse and food distribution sites," Eric observed.

"The need has been steady in recent years, but steady is too high. There has been a high level of anxiety about access to food," he said. "Part of our job is to reduce that anxiety for folks so they know they can get good healthy food."

On the giving side are people who know friends and neighbors who need help. That motivates them to pitch in and give.

For information call 534-6678 or visit 2-harvest.org