Thousands of Pierce County families in need are expected to have less food as a local food bank struggles with fewer donations, a large funding cut, and an increase in the number of people asking for help.
Nourish Pierce County Food Bank, which has at least 21 locations across the county, is bracing for a significant funding cut.
Ken Gibson, deputy director, said the organization will lose its $120,000 funding from the City of Tacoma due to the government’s massive budget deficit.
The organization will feel the financial impact beginning January 1, 2025, he said.
To make matters worse, the deputy director said the food bank saw nearly 10,000 more people in need this year than last year.
He said the organization’s eight locations in Tacoma, which services around 30,000 people, will feel the pinch. However, this will impact people across Pierce County as many families drive to other cities to find food.
“We don’t blame the City of Tacoma,” he shared. “It may mean that we may have to reduce our footprint in the City of Tacoma because we just don’t have enough food to serve. We don’t have enough to go around.”
KIRO 7 News reached out to the City of Tacoma to get its response.
A spokesperson shared the following statement:
“The City appreciates the work of all service providers in our community and the City of Tacoma remains committed to investing in essential services like food access.
The Neighborhood & Community Services Department (NCS) released a competitive application for 2025-26 social service contracts on June 4 this year. Applications were due on July 2. In the area of food access, we received a total of 12 applications with a total of $3 million in requested funds, and available funding of $270,000 for that service area.”
Gibson said he believes the economy is impacting local families and organizations that the food bank relies on for support.
“We’re seeing donor fatigue. A lot of our, particularly our middle class donors are experiencing their own challenges in the economy. Food is more expensive for everyone. People have less money to give,” he said. “It used to be there were one in ten people needed food. Feeding America has recently done a study, and in Washington state, they’re estimating right now, it’s about one in four people. And we think that is the reason. It has to deal with the economy. It has to deal with inflation.”
“I am quite concerned and it will put pressure not only on Nourish, but all the sites. All of the food banks in Tacoma,” said Kate Wright, Edgewood Nourish Food Bank manager.
KIRO 7 News looked around the food bank in Edgewood and saw a significant shortage of protein, vegetables and fruit.
“We have no beans right now,” said Michelle Slagle, a volunteer. “I still have a half of an empty pallet. I never have empty pallets.”
“Years past, we would have pallets to the ceiling. I have empty spots now,” she added. “These three spots that are empty, I have never seen that in six years.”
Slagle, who has been volunteering at the food bank for more than half a decade, said she’s concerned for the families and children, who may go hungry due to the lack of resources.
“These kids need food to go to school and be able to learn. How do you learn when you have an empty stomach?” she asked. “Parents crying because they don’t have any food for their kids. I can’t even imagine it and I hope we don’t get to that point.”
Gibson said the organization is asking the public for food and monetary donations.
He said monetary donations will be more helpful as the organization can use the funds to buy food in bulk at a discounted price.
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