OLYMPIA – Washington state employees increased their donation levels of non-perishable food, books, and money during the Washington State Combined Fund Drive’s 2025 Well Fed, Well Read campaign.
The Combined Fund Drive, a program of the Office of the Secretary of State, is Washington state’s workplace giving program for active and retired public employees to give to the charity of their choice through payroll contribution and agency fundraising events.
During the April 1 – 15 campaign, Washington state employees donated more than 2,908 pounds of food, 6,901 books for children, and $1,935 in money 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.
“Once again, state workers continued to go above and beyond their roles as public servants by offering critical nourishment and reading materials to one of our most vulnerable populations: children,” said Lane. “By supporting Well Fed, Well Read through the Combined Fund Drive, we’re helping to build a future where every child is ready to thrive.”
Well Fed, Well Read began in the 1990s with the Office of the Printing beginning a food drive to assist the Thurston County Food Bank, and Washington State Lottery facilitating a food drive which included a book drive for the South Sound Reading Foundation. In 2002, the two efforts combined into one campaign.
“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 in 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.
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Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.