Thurston EDC Seeking Proposals for Weekly Distribution of Food Assistance Boxes – Sourcing and Aggregating Product from Local Farms and Delivering to Food Assistance Organizations

September 3, 2021

The Thurston EDC is actively seeking the professional services of a business entity to provide food aid relief to those who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the weekly distribution of up to 150 boxes of local farm food to an established list of at least 5, and no more than 15, food assistance organizations located within Thurston County that serve Thurston County residents experiencing food insecurity.

Applying businesses must also be able to demonstrate their ability and experience to procure, aggregate and deliver food from predominantly Thurston County farms.

More information about the RFP is available here:
https://thurstonedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/TStrong-Food-Aid-Distribution-RFP.pdf

Thurston County received $28.2 million in American Rescue Act funding on May 19, 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The County will receive a similar amount in addition at approximately the same time next year. Of these funds, $100,000 has been allocated by the Board of County Commissioners to purchase food from local and Thurston County farmers for distribution to eligible food aid organizations.

The Thurston EDC is administrating this funding through the Thurston Strong pandemic recovery and response coalition. This coalition consists of public agencies and private organizations that have worked to create a rapid coordinated response to the significant disruption of the region’s economy created by COVID-19.  The EDC is the principal fiduciary for this effort.

For more information, contact Tina Sharp, Thurston Economic Development Council, [email protected], (360) 218-2662.