The COVID-19 pandemic more than doubled the need for food assistance in the Pacific Northwest just as Beef Counts marked its 10th anniversary, organizers say.
The industry-led program raises money to provide beef to families in need.
In recent years, the number of food-insecure people in the state has been about 800,000, said KayDee Gilkey, director of industry relations at the Washington Beef Commission. That number is now 2.2 million.
"The awareness is higher," Gilkey said. "The need became even more apparent. None of our food distribution events got canceled."