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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Company donates food, funds to Second Harvest

$127,000 gifts will go toward growing need

Jay Theiler, left, an employee with Agri Beef Co., helps distribute donated beef and pork Tuesday at the West Central Community Center in Spokane. (Colin Mulvany)

There was a little something extra in Tuesday’s food giveaway by Second Harvest Inland Northwest to West Central residents.

During a ceremony at the West Central Community Center, attended by Mayor Mary Verner, Agri Beef Co., of Boise, presented Second Harvest officials with a check for $50,000 and announced a donation of $77,000 worth of beef and pork.

“We are pleased to be able to donate 32,000 pounds of our products today to help feed Washington and North Idaho families in need,” said Rick Stott, executive vice president of business development for Agri Beef.

In the past five years, the company has donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to the Spokane food distribution warehouse.

The 20 emergency food pantries served by Second Harvest provide nutritious food to about 17,000 Inland Northwest residents each month.

This year, the pantries have reported a 20 percent to 30 percent increase the number in families seeking food.

It’s seeing 200 new families each month, Second Harvest spokesman Rod Wieber said.