2nd Harvest and BFT Present FOUR FREE FOOD Bus Stops Wednesday

The need continues and the struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table is real.

Sad to say we continue to see more and more people in need of basic food items, but flipping the script, we feel so grateful we are all able to pitch in and help.

Ben Franklin Transit is once again teaming up with Second Harvest Tri-Cities this week for FOUR free food distribution events in conjunction with their drive-thru mobile market for transit riders.

350 boxes will be distributed and just like last week, this week’s food boxes will also include reusable face coverings (while supplies last).

Face coverings are REQUIRED on all transit vehicles and facilities (including transit centers).

Events will begin at 11am and continue while supplies last.

Transit riders can ride the bus or take BFT CONNECT for FREE to one of the following transit centers:

• Three Rivers Transit Center (Kennewick)
• 22nd Ave Transit Center (Pasco)
• Knight Street Transit Center (Richland)
• Stacy Avenue Transit Center (Prosser, starting at 11:15am)

The food will be packaged in a box with handles so you can take it on the bus. However, we encourage people to bring a hand cart or something to help carry the boxes and make traveling a little easier.

For assistance planning your trip by bus:

• Use the Transit trip planner app to determine the best bus route available in your area
• Check out www.bft.org for route schedules
• Call Customer Service at 509.735.5100

For assistance booking with BFT CONNECT:

• Check out www.bft.org/ConnectOnDemand to learn how to use BFT’s new on-demand ride service
• Use the Via app or call BFT CONNECT Customer Service at 509.204.4189 to request a ride

Second Harvest Tri-Cities’ Mobile Market will be from 11a – 1pm (or until supplies last) in the Toyota Center parking lot.

LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND FOOD INSECURITY INFO:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s website:

• Preliminary data shows that Tri-Cities’ unemployment rate in May 2020 was 12.3%
• Source:  https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.wa_kennewick_msa.htm#eag_wa_kennewick_msa.f.3

Recent research by Feeding America shows:

• Pre-pandemic:  93,380 people, including 38,570 children in the Second Harvest Tri-Cities nine-county service footprint did not have adequate access to nutritious food to live a healthy life
• The above numbers are likely to grow this year by 41,450 people, including 20,470 children, because of the severely strained economy
  
  • That’s 44% more food insecure people in our nine counties, including 53% more children
  • Approximately 134,830 people in the region (1 in 6) may experience food insecurity in 2020, including 59,040 children (1 in 4)
• Source:  https://www.feedingamericaaction.org/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-food-insecurity/