Distributing perishable foods to low-income families

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Abstract

The Spokane Food Bank was receiving thousands of pounds of fresh produce and other perishable foods that could not be distributed to low-income households quickly enough before being discarded. The food bank implemented an alternative distribution program, which delivered fresh food items to low-income housing complexes. The program enabled the food bank to serve more low-income families and drastically cut down on the amount of food that was being wasted. This paper, by AmeriCorps*VISTA Diane Hanson, won second place in the 1999 Northwest National Service Symposium, hosted by NWREL.

Issue

The Spokane Food Bank was receiving about 500,000 pounds of produce and approximately another one million pounds of perishable food (refrigerated and frozen) a year. An average of 15,000 pounds of produce and other perishable products that could have been used by low-income families was simply discarded every month. Many of the regular food bank outlets are not able to take fresh, refrigerated, and frozen produce because it can't be conveniently stored.

Action

To move perishable foods quickly, the decision was made to distribute food to unconventional sites. The Spokane Food Bank (SFB) scouted out low-income, HUD subsidized apartments to participate in the alternative distribution program.

To participate, the apartment complexes had to serve more than 80 percent low-income households. The site manager had to direct and facilitate distribution of products to individuals, keep a signature list of those who received the food, and work with the SFB staff in the scheduling of the date and time of the delivery or pickup of food.

These alternative distribution sites act as the SFB's agent or distribution site, which eliminated the paperwork usually needed to qualify and prove residence and income, as a regular food bank must do. Also, unlike a food bank, the tenants may receive food as often as their sites are given the food.

At the Richard Allen Apartments, tenants take a number (except for the disabled and wheelchair-bound residents who always go through the line first) to access food. The site serves about 30 families every Wednesday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the food is gone. The distribution site serves the entire community, not just residents of the apartment complex.

Context

The SPF serves low-income families and individuals in eastern Washington. Twelve-and-a-half percent of families in Spokane County live in poverty, compared to 7.8 percent within the state of Washington. Of those working in Spokane County, 45 percent are considered "working poor" who earn less than $14,000 a year.

Citation

Hanson, Diane. "The Spokane Food Bank Perishable Food Distribution Project." Fourth Annual NW National Service Symposium. Portland, Oregon: Northwest Regional Education Laboratory, May 1999.

Outcome

The alternative distribution of perishable foods to low-income housing allowed for the timely distribution of good, perishable food and helped to alleviate malnutrition by increasing the quantity of highly nutritional food products to very poor families, individuals, and seniors.

Evidence

The amount of produce distributed between August 1998-January 1999 increased by over 350 percent compared to the same time the previous year. Additionally, the rate of disposal of perishable products due to spoilage decreased from over 80 percent to less than ten percent.