Food, Books for Children Donations Increase for Well Fed, Well Read Campaign

OLYMPIA — Washington state employees increased their non-perishable food, books, and money donations for the Well Fed, Well Read campaign during the 2025 Washington State Combined Fund Drive.

The Combined Fund Drive is a Washington state workplace giving program for active and retired public employees to give to the charity of their choice through payroll contributions and agency fundraising events. It is an Office of the Secretary of State program.

The campaign ran from April 1 – 15, and state employees donated more than 2,908 pounds of food, 6,901 children’s books, and $1,935 to benefit the Thurston County Food Bank and the South Sound Reading Foundation. Robert Lane, CFD program manager, said the totals for food and books are nearly double what was donated last year.

“I am proud that my office coordinates and participates in a program that benefits so many people with an emphasis on benefitting children,” said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. “One child in five is unsure where they will get their next meal, and reading just 20 minutes a day for a child promotes healthy brain development and family bonding. With the needs of our children growing in these unprecedented times, this drive for food and books is as important as ever.” 

The Well Fed, Well Read campaign is an annual food and book drive that brings thousands of food items, books, and monetary donations from state agencies across Washington. State agencies have a friendly competition to see which one will donate and collect the most during early April.