Board approves CDBG contract for weekend food bags after public health questions on allergies and homeschool access

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a CDBG subrecipient contract with All Kids Win to support a weekend food bag program for approximately 200 K–12 students in South Thurston County.

Dr. Jen Freyheit, director of Public Health and Social Services, said the award is part of the county’s annual CDBG entitlement and that subrecipients must follow federal rules under HUD and the executed grant agreement. In her presentation staff said the program will serve roughly 200 students in South Thurston County.

A resident, Heidi Barrientes, urged the board to require medically compliant, allergen‑friendly food bags for students with celiac disease or other severe allergies and to ensure homeschooling families are not excluded from distribution. Staff told the board they had not yet discussed program implementation details with All Kids Win but were willing to do so and report back. Tom Webster (Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention) said staff would contact the service provider to determine whether accommodations already exist and, if directed by the board, could include contract language.

The motion recorded in the meeting text authorized the director of Public Health and Social Services to execute the contract and any amendments not exceeding 10 percent; the motion text recorded the contract amount as $52,067.25 and the board approved the motion on a voice vote. (Staff presentation earlier in the meeting referenced $62,067.25; the record shows the motion adopted $52,067.25.)