Oregon Public Broadcasting

Volunteer Marilyn Dawson fills bags at the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia

Food banks across the Northwest are experiencing a jump in business. That’s because of a faltering economy and rising food and gas prices.

In Oregon, demand is up especially in rural and coastal communities. In Washington, Congressman Brian Baird toured the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia. The Democrat says higher prices, not layoffs are driving people to seek help.

Brian Baird: “There’s a subset who have lost their jobs, but there are a lot who still have their jobs but the jobs just not meeting, I mean at the end of the day the gap that they used to get by they don’t have any more and this is what keeps them going.”

High fuel prices are also taking a toll on the food banks themselves. The Idaho Food Bank is dipping into reserve funds to keep delivery trucks on the road. The agency is asking for cash donations to help pay the diesel bill.