Coastal Harvest: Fighting Hunger on the Frontlines

United Way Grays Harbor Supports Regional Food Security

“We’ve delivered over 8.2 million pounds of food since my last presentation, yet we’re still not meeting the need.”-Brent Hunter, Executive Director, Coastal Harvest

During this year’s Community Program Presentation Day, Brent Hunter returned to speak on behalf of Coastal Harvest, the largest hunger relief organization on Washington’s coast. Serving Grays Harbor, Pacific County, and beyond, Coastal Harvest is often the last-and only-line of defense against hunger for the most rural parts of our community.

This year, Brent’s update came with urgency and resolve. His team has continued delivering millions of pounds of food, expanded outreach to homebound seniors and veterans, and even replaced their long-haul truck to reach more areas across Western Washington and Oregon. That truck-funded in part by United Way of Grays Harbor in 2024-is now essential to their day-to-day operations.

Beyond the Food Banks

Coastal Harvest serves much more than just food banks. Their network reaches mobile home parks, veterans in isolated areas, unreported homeless communities in logging camps, and low-income seniors who can’t leave their homes.

“Food banking has replaced grocery shopping for some families. There’s just no other way.”

They’ve seen the disappearance of once-reliable resources like eggs—Washington’s Department of Agriculture recently canceled all egg purchasing contracts due to cost. Coastal Harvest has had to get creative: tracking down powdered and liquid egg alternatives, sourcing from local farms, and doing everything they can to keep protein on people’s plates.

And they don’t work alone. Programs such as Feed the Hungry and South Beach Christian Outreach rely on Coastal Harvest to stock their kitchens and pantries. These grassroots partners are on the front lines of feeding neighbors—and Coastal Harvest is often their main source of support. “Some of the very organizations presenting today—they depend on us,” Brent shared.

Facing the Cuts

In the last two weeks alone, Brent shared, federal and state programs are discussing devastating cuts to hunger relief:

• The Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program—which allowed Coastal Harvest to buy directly from local farms—will end in June.

• That single program alone represents a loss of over $205,000 in annual food purchasing power.

• More cuts to federal commodities and statewide hunger relief programs are expected.

“It’s not just us. It’s happening everywhere. But we’re serving thousands of people over here—and this is a real blow to our farmers, too.”

Coastal Harvest has built relationships with local dairies, produce farms, meat processors, and beekeepers. These partnerships not only supply fresh food year-round, they also stimulate the local economy. One family dairy even relocated to Grays Harbor after working closely with the program.

“They came here because of the work we’re doing,” Brent said. “Now I have to look them in the eye and say, we can’t buy from you anymore.”

Big Challenges, Bigger Vision

Brent’s long-term dream? A self-sustaining system: Coastal Harvest’s own dairy, farm, and egg processing operation.

“We need to build a network that doesn’t rely on outside systems-especially in a disaster. If the roads are cut off, we have to be able to feed our people.”

Even while navigating cuts and instability, the team is still exploring future staging areas and backup warehouses to keep food moving in the event of an earthquake or other regional emergency.

Why We Do-What We Do!

At United Way Grays Harbor, we fund the partners that not only understand the crisis—but are doing something about it. Coastal Harvest is not just distributing food. They are building food security.

Brent closed with a reminder that while funding may be cut from the top, hunger remains at the bottom—and it’s growing.

“Please remember the service we provide. Not just to food banks, but to the programs you’ve heard from all day. They rely on us, too.” We support Coastal Harvest because food is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

And here in Grays Harbor, we know:

We are stronger when we stand together. We’re supporting our neighbors. We’re building a resilient Grays Harbor where everyone has the chance to thrive. We are better together. United IS THE WAY!