The six primary companies cleaning up the Hanford site came together to donate to the Tri-Cities Food Bank at a time when food assistance nonprofits are struggling to meet demands. 

The federal contractors presented their joint $25,500 donation on Nov. 5, according to the food bank.  

They include Bechtel National Inc.; Central Plateau Cleanup Company, or CPCCo; Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, or HMIS; Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure, or H2C; Inomedic Health Applications and Navarro-ATL. 

“We recognize the great need in our community right now and, as part of that community, 

we want to be sure our neighbors and friends continue to get the support they need,” said 

Bob Wilkinson, CPCCo president and project manager, in a statement. “Our Hanford contractors are proud to partner with the Tri-Cities Food Bank to support their important mission to help get us through this challenging time.” 

The food bank serves 40,000 families each year, distributing 22 tons of food a week via its distribution centers in Kennewick, Richland and Finley. 

“We need the community’s support now more than ever,” said VJ Meadows, the food bank’s executive director, in a statement. “It’s amazing to see our Hanford partners stepping up in a big way that will allow us to fill our shelves for the coming winter and make a real difference in the lives of area families.” 

In late October, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the state would give food banks $2.2 million per week as they deal with the potential end of food stamp benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.  

In May, the most recent month for which federal data is available, over 905,000 Washingtonians received a total of $167 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, according to the Washington State Standard. 

Food banks are already seeing heightened demand and preparing for broader Republican-backed cuts to SNAP that are still to come.