Help from Seahawks, Safeway will fight college hunger and seek to cut food waste in half by 2030

(PULLMAN)– Washington wastes more than 295,000 tons of edible food each year, but new partnerships in the state’s food system are providing avenues to rescue waste-bound edible food and divert it to feed hungry people. Perhaps surprisingly, some of those facing food insecurity are college students.

This year, a partnership between the Washington Department of Ecology, Safeway, and Washington State University (WSU) will come together to help fight college hunger during this year’s National Food Waste Prevention Week April 7-13.

College students are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. A 2024 study conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office points out that one-in-four college students don’t know where their next meal is coming from – or if they’ll eat at all, according to a news release from Ecology.

On Thursday, April 10, representatives from Ecology, Safeway, and WSU will gather at the Cougar Food Pantry on the WSU Pullman campus for a ribbon cutting ceremony to re-launch the pantry with new equipment and resources. The pantry provides free food and basic needs items to students experiencing food insecurity.

Safeway, supported by the Seattle Seahawks’ 50th season community engagement initiative, is stocking the pantry and donating $20,000 dollars to buy new refrigerators and freezers and other upgrades to extend the life of food donations. The effort is also part of the company’s Million Hour Volunteer Rally.

Following the ceremony, WSU Executive Chef Solon Pietila will host a food tasting with recipes that show students how to effectively use food from the pantry to make meals, while reducing food waste.

Guided by the Use Food Well Washington plan and the 2019 Food Waste Reduction Act, the state is committed to a goal cutting food waste in half by 2030.

“Food insecurity is a growing problem in Washington – and at the same time, we throw away enough edible food to provide over 100 meals a year for every single person in our state,” said Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller. “In order to support a more sustainable food system for everyone, it is critical we work together to connect edible food with the people who need it most.”

The drive to prevent food waste is gaining momentum in Washington. Current registrations show more partners than any other state signed up to participate in this year’s National Food Waste Prevention Week.