Food Assistance program manager
Food pantries across Washington saw fewer new clients last year and fewer clients made return visits, according to data collected by WSDA’s Food Assistance programs. The one exception, the figures show, was for the state’s senior population, which saw an increase in return visits.
“The need remains high in specific segments and regions of our state, but for seniors, this is particularly true,” Kim Eads, Food Assistance program manager said. “For seniors, they visited a local food pantry an average of nearly 9 times a year, which is 2 more times annually than the average for every other age group. Our numbers don’t show why that is, but clearly food insecurity is a significant issue for a population that often relies on a fixed income.”
The complete data is in the annual report, “Emergency Food Assistance Program: Closeout Report for State Fiscal Year 2017,” which is posted at www.agr.wa.gov/FoodProg for
viewing.
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| Thurston County Food Bank |
In the last fiscal year, from July 2016 through June 2017, our state’s food pantries provided a pound of food to each client served, at an average cost of 29 cents per pound. By comparison, the fair market value for a pound of food is $1.73. This is a 6 to 1 return on investment.
Some other facts from the food assistance report for the 2017 fiscal year:
- Food pantries distributed 140.47 million pounds of food.
- Food pantries served 1.16 million clients.
- Clients visited a food pantry an average of 6.91 times per year.
- Each client received an average of 17.51 lbs. of food per visit.
WSDA’s Food Assistance programs provide funding to support both tribal food pantries and voucher programs. In the past fiscal year, several tribes used some or all of their food assistance money to fund their own food pantries. Generally, these pantries also saw declines in total client visits, a decrease in pounds of food provided per client and fewer total pounds distributed.
Tribes provided food vouchers to 8,349 new clients, a decline of 8.9 percent from the previous year. However, there was a slight increase in returning clients.
Looking ahead
While there have been improvements in Washington’s economy, the data shows a continued need among those who rely on the emergency food system as shown through the continued elevated level of returning client visits since the recession.
In the coming year, WSDA Food Assistance programs plan to focus on increasing the variety and nutrient density of foods available to clients by continuing its Farm to Food Pantry initiative as well as working with the Food Assistance Advisory Committee, the agricultural community and tribal partners to develop strategies for addressing the continued need for food assistance in our state.