Hunger relief agency Northwest Harvest today announced it received a $10,000 grant from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation to purchase high-demand foods critical to a well-rounded diet such as protein and grains. Northwest Harvest’s network of partner food programs serve about 600,000 clients each month throughout the state of Washington.

“A generous grant such as this one from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation makes our food purchases possible,” said Shelley Rotondo, Northwest Harvest’s executive director. “By purchasing food, we are able to respond quickly to the special needs of our clients across the state, whether cultural, medical, age-related or otherwise.”

Northwest Harvest purchases more food, proportionally, than any other non-profit hunger relief agency in the state. In the last fiscal year they purchased nearly 6 million pounds of nutritious, diverse and desirable food – about 25 percent of what they secured for distribution in all.

“The Puget Sound Energy Foundation is honored to support Northwest Harvest whose work, especially during the holiday season, is more important than ever during these challenging economic times,” said Bert Valdman, interim acting chair and vice president of the Puget Sound Energy Foundation. “We are fully committed to helping programs that help PSE customers, communities and our region with timely resources.”

Puget Energy, the parent company of PSE, created the Puget Sound Energy Foundation in 2006 to continue PSE’s legacy of leadership and support of worthy, community-based programs. The foundation’s charitable grants place emphasis on human services, environmental stewardship, education and workforce development, arts and culture, and community development. The foundation’s grants derive from $20 million in shareholder endowments; none of the grant funds involve payments from PSE’s utility customers.