Whitman County Food Coalition forms

When Council on Aging (COA) Executive Director Paige Collins moved from western Washington to eastern Washington and assumed her post at the COA, she was surprised this area did not have a food coalition.

“Most of the state, as far as I know, has food coalitions,” she said. “Whitman County has never had one.”

That changed recently. A League of Women Voters poverty study and subsequent community conversation in Pullman led to the formation of the Whitman County Food Coalition, which had its first meeting July 6.

“It was people who were interested in making sure there was food access for all,” said Collins. “Finally it was just more than me thinking about it.”

Collins said the formation of a coalition will help more people to be involved with meeting the needs of Whitman County.

“The benefit for everybody is going to be better access for food,” she said. “And we can network together.”

One of those networking benefits, she said, might be able to be seen on the other side of the state.

“If 10 of us go to Olympia for Hunger Action Day in January and if they see that we formed a coalition, it might give us some pull,” she explained.

Collins said that earlier this year there were only two people from Whitman County who attended Hunger Action Day, herself included. But as more people take an interest in the coalition and in the lobbying day, her hope is to see that extra pull.

“It's so far for us, and it's hard, but I'm hoping maybe we could get a bus load,” she said. “There's not very many from the east side of the state who go.”

At the July 6 meeting, the coalition outlined a mission statement and brought up concerns and focus areas the group sees as important. Collins highlighted that unlike most coalitions, this one consisted of emergency food providers – the Council on Aging and Community Action Center – as well as community providers, such as the library system, Backyard Harvest and the WSU Center for Civic Engagement.

“It's going to be a really nice representation of people,” she said.

The group's mission statement is, “Working together to provide access to food for everyone in Whitman County.”

Collins said the next meeting of the coalition will be Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Colfax Food Pantry (former Elk's space). All are invited to attend.

“Anyone interested in everyone in Whitman County having access to food is invited,” she said. “It's all inclusive.”

This meeting, she said, has been deemed “a bigger picture meeting.” She said several people and groups have already confirmed they will be in attendance, including Backyard Harvest, Rosalia Mayor Nanette Konishi, the libraries and Ninth District Representative Mary Dye.

Collins said the coalition expects to discuss the exact of the who, when, where and what of the coalition as well as appoint an executive committee at the meeting.