Washington National Guard soldiers are sorting, packaging, and distributing food at a new emergency response center set up by Food Lifeline as a result of the growing need for food in Washington prompted by the coronavirus outbreak.

The 166,000-square-foot Food Lifeline Covid Response Center was filled with 250 Washington Army and Air National Guardsmen on Tuesday as they boxed up items like cheerios, peanut butter, and juice along assembly lines.

“What makes this particular response different is just the very steep increase in need in our communities,” said Amythst Shipman, director of operations strategy at Food Lifeline.

“As a result of the impact of Covid-19, food needs throughout the state have grown drastically as a result of layoffs and business closures,” Shipman said.

According to a Food Lifeline press release, the need has nearly doubled since the Covid-19 outbreak while food donations have dropped by 70%.

The new facility along East Marginal Way South will allow Food Lifeline to “more than double its staffing to better meet the community’s needs, which are outstripping current capacity,” according to the release.