Food agency wants help paying 520 tolls

A non-profit agency that distributes millions of pounds of food every year to the needy in Western Washington, is now asking for help paying tolls on 520 bridge.

Food Lifeline says its delivery trucks must pass through the bridge toll as many as 16 times a week. They expect to pay about $3,000 in tolls this year. If they agency didn’t have to spend that money on tolls, it could use it to provide 9,000 meals.

A local firefighters union has already offered to cover the costs of January tolls, which amounted to $250. Now they’re looking for support in paying the remaining $2,750 for the year. If you want to help, here’s a donation link.

Food Lifeline has a network of 300 food banks and meal programs in the region.

Northwest Harvest , which has 325 food banks, says they don’t use the 520 bridge often because their warehouse is located in Kent. The amount their trucks paid for for tolling last month was only about $10.

Dennis Rwomwiyhu stacks food at a Food Lifeline warehouse in Seattle. Elaine Thompson/AP photo