TRI-CITIES, Wash. — For decades, 2nd Harvest has been helping local pantries and food banks across Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho keep their shelves stocked. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, much like the need for food and work, food banks saw a decrease in the number of volunteers. 2nd Harvest was one of the many seeing the need in its warehouse. 

Eric Williams with 2nd Harvest tells me many of the volunteers are retired and unfortunately weren’t able to help during the pandemic. Williams tells me during this time, the National Guard came in to help with sorting the different food items. 

Williams says, “For like nine to ten months we did not have volunteers on site. We were very fortunate that the National Guard actually came to both of our warehouses.” 

2nd Harvest is commonly referred to as the food bank for food banks. It’s a big warehouse where local donors, farmers and volunteers come together to store bulk food items before being broken down into reasonable sizes for the small food banks. 

For example, the biggest things that are sorted are apples, onions, beans and even rice. Rice is taken from massive thousand pound bags and separated into 2 pound bags for mobile markets, pantries and food banks. 

Williams says while the food bank has its regular set of volunteers and paid employees that help, companies are able to set up a team building event. This makes for easy sorting while also getting to know your co-workers. He tells me oftentimes, people will come and volunteer alone then make a friend and before they realize, they’re full time volunteers.

With over 250 partners, the food bank’s goal is to always have their shelves stocked.

Keeping them stocked means it can help food banks in the 26 counties across North Idaho and Eastern Washington 2nd Harvest helps. It helps five counties in North Idaho and 21 in Eastern Washington. 

Over the years, Williams says the Mobile Markets are special because of the connection volunteers and staff build with those participating. 

“You can see in some people’s faces their struggling,” Williams says, “It’s really heartbreaking to see that, yet you’re able to put 40lbs of food in their trunk and wave to them. That’s really heart warming.” 

Williams encourages people to find your nearest mobile market, food pantry or simply sign up to volunteer sorting food.