Attorney General dishes up $570,000 to food banks

Attorney General Rob McKenna handed out an early holiday gift for Washington food bank programs today: nearly $570,000 in assistance.

“A wholesome holiday meal is something people often take for granted but 1.6 million Washington residents, including many children and elderly adults, rely on food banks,” McKenna said. “Today, I’m thankful to be able to provide money from our settlement with vitamins companies to help community food programs in their mission to fight hunger.”

McKenna is sending checks for almost $190,000 each to three area hunger relief programs: Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline and Second Harvest.

“The need for food is at an all-time high throughout the state,” said Northwest Harvest Executive Director Shelley Rotondo. “Client need is up 35 percent since the recession. This check for nearly $190,000 will provide more than 860,000 meals for our neighbors in need. We are tremendously grateful."

The money comes from a $25 million multistate settlement with companies that banded together to fix prices on vitamins between 1988 and 2000. For more information about the food bank programs and the lawsuit, read today's news release.