VIDEO: Food Lifeline offers a helping hand to those in need

SEATTLE -- The holiday season is fast approaching and once again Q13 Fox News is partnering with Food Lifeline and Les Schwab to bring food to the families who need it most.

“When the recession hit, the food banking system saw a 40 percent increase in the number of people who needed help, and that number has peaked but not even begun to come down yet,” says Linda Nageotte, CEO of Food Lifeline.

Last year alone, the non-profit distributed more than 36 million pounds of food to hungry families in Western Washington.

Food Lifeline provides food to over 275 local food banks, meal programs and shelters.

“If you think about our local food bank, odds are they are getting about a 1/3 of their food from the Food Lifeline warehouse.”

Every day, the warehouse distributes 81,000 meals.

“The people who are standing in line at the food bank look just like you and just like me.  In fact, they are probably standing in the same line as you at the grocery store, sitting in the same aisle at church,” says Nageotte.

Food Lifeline tries to fill that gap, but they need your help.

The Food for All Holiday Food Drive begins November 1st and goes through November 22nd.

Just stop by any of the more than 80 Les Schwab locations in Western Washington and donate.

“Giving to Food Lifeline means you are connecting with people in your own backyard and supporting people in your region.  If you would like to make a difference this holiday season, take can food items to Food Lifeline, help out Q13 Fox News and help us make a difference for people in this community,” says Nageotte.