A shipment of emergency food and relief supplies from a Seattle-based nonprofit to Spokane was delayed after a transport truck broke down Monday afternoon.
The supplies, stacked at Food Lifeline’s warehouse in Seattle, were scheduled for delivery to Spokane-based Second Harvest before the breakdown pushed the shipment back by at least one day.
Food Lifeline is coordinating relief efforts with Second Harvest, a Spokane-based food bank that has struggled to meet regional demands amid the fires.
According to execs at Food Lifeline, Second Harvest’s operations have been disrupted by the fires, with several staff members being displaced from their homes.
Second Harvest has also found some of its regular delivery routes or locations blocked or sealed off due to the wildfires and the efforts to contain them.
According to Food Lifeline, the food supply intended for Spokane was built up following an outpouring of community donations to Food Lifeline after severe flooding struck western Washington in December.
Food Lifeline CEO Stephen Davis said the fires have drastically increased the need for food.
“You have individuals that may have been food insecure prior to the fire,” Davis said. “Then likewise we have individuals who may not have been food insecure at all and all of a sudden overnight they’ve lost everything. Their car has been destroyed, their house has been destroyed, they’re trying to now figure out where am I going to live?”
The relief effort was meant to involve two semi-trucks loaded with emergency items at Food Lifeline’s warehouse. Davis explained that the organization is utilizing its regional network to coordinate support across the state.
“We’re able to leverage anywhere on the West Coast, and we’re sending this over to Spokane,” Davis said. “It’s water, it’s shelf-stable milk, it’s some other food items to help Second Harvest.”
Food Lifeline said additional shipments may be organized depending on incoming stockpiles or future resource requests from Second Harvest.
Meanwhile, local volunteers in Spokane have been delivering aid directly to first responders and affected residents. Brandon, a volunteer in Spokane who spoke to KIRO 7 crews within the last week, said he had distributed food and emergency items. He described the urgent environment faced by those on the front lines.
“The people who are in danger deserve to not have to stop and get a coffee or ask somebody to bring them a meal,” Brandon said. Brandon has been providing firefighters and residents with water, snacks, energy drinks and sanitation items.
“I figured the least I could do is bring some supplies up to them so they can have a snack, some clean water, some energy drinks if they’re tired,” Brandon said.
“I got baby wipes so they can wipe off and stuff if they need to because you’re not going to shower out here.” Executives at Food Lifeline noted that direct monetary donations to Second Harvest are currently the most effective way for the public to assist, as financial contributions help keep the organization operating and support workers displaced by the disaster.
The delayed shipment is expected to depart for Spokane once transport arrangements are finalized. Food Lifeline said it will continue evaluating stockpile levels to determine whether additional shipments can be dispatched to eastern Washington.