WAGAP FILLS GAPS
WAGAP fills gaps created novel coronavirus pandemic
By Philip L. Watness, The Skamania County Pioneer (August 19, 2020)
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
That adage applies to many efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the folks at Washington Gorge Action Programs must be pretty tough, because they’ve stepped up to the challenge of feeding and housing people.
The nonprofit agency which serves Klickitat and Skamania counties has been the go-to resource for people infected or impacted by the novel coronavirus. The agency has contracted with Skamania County Senior Services to deliver food and medicine for people in quarantine.
It also rented two houses at the Wind River Business Park from the county to house people affected by COVID-19 who are either homeless or can’t quarantine safely (for instance, they might live in a shared household). The agency has housed nine people while another seven households in isolation received deliveries of groceries and other essentials.
Cash donations have helped WAGAP to purchase food and patrons have been getting fresh fruits and vegetables as gardens begin producing.
“One positive thing that has come out of this situation is how quickly our community came together and formed partnerships to take care of our neighbors,” said WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore.
“The Stevenson Food Bank has also partnered with the local Skamania County 3 Squares program to help provide meals specifically targeted to keeping kids healthy,” said Janeal Booren, WAGAP Food Bank director.
The five foodbanks in Lyle, Bingen, Klickitat, Goldendale and Stevenson have received generous donations to support the free food program. The food banks are open regular hours for drive-up service.
“Staff is utilizing PPE and we also ask that clients please wear face masks when you arrive,” Booren said. “If a client has special needs, we may also be able to make arrangements for someone to pick up on the client’s behalf.”
Naramore said she expects to see more demand on the food banks because people are no longer getting enhanced benefits, like the $600 per week unemployment stipend.
“At the beginning of the shutdown, people saw an increase in benefits such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and unemployment, so the food banks actually weren’t being used as much as they normally would,” she said. “The demand is again increasing, as those benefits have since gone back down or ceased altogether.”
WAGAP has also provided more than $80,000 to households in Skamania and Klickitat counties which need assistance with rent, utilities, and other basic household needs.
The pandemic isn’t likely to abate any time soon, so WAGAP is bracing for the long haul.
“Unfortunately, I feel the effects of this pandemic will be felt for years to come; we do not yet know how bad things will get and our region could potentially be facing a serious increase in poverty,” said. “This concern is not unique to our area.”
WAGAP has received financial support through the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state Department of Agriculture, the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, the United Way of the Columbia Gorge, First Interstate Bank, the White Salmon Rotary Club, Insitu and Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH), as well as numerous churches, agencies and individual donors.
WAGAP received a $200,000 grant from USDA to increase the capacity of its food banks, so the agency obtained a refrigerated truck, put a walk-in freezer in the Bingen Food Bank, and purchased new, larger refrigerators for other food banks.
People who need assistance in Skamania County can call 509-427-8229 or 800-755-1192.
Photo: Troy Waiss with A&J Market in Stevenson delivers food to the Stevenson Food Bank in this file photo from 2013. Photo by Philip L. Watness