Video: King County's biggest food bank in danger of closing

Larger screen

SEATTLE – The biggest food bank in King County could soon close due to cost overruns from a recent remodel.

Operational Emergency Center in south Seattle has been serving the needy for 35 years. Now, it's desperately struggling to stay alive.

OEC is where Cheryl Petersen gets most of her food. The frail 61-year-old who suffers from several serious illnesses, including lupus, says OEC is her lifeline.

"I don't think I'd be here. I know I wouldn't be here," said Petersen.

But with cost overruns and delays on a recent remodel of the charity's once dilapidated building, OEC is now $150,000 in debt. They may have to shut down as soon as next month. That means no more free food or clothing, help with utilities, health care, transportation or employment.

"If I had a lot of money, it would go to them," said Petersen.

The closure of OEC combined with skyrocketing costs for food, fuel and just daily life in our area could form a sort of perfect storm of poverty for the hundreds of people who depend on this place every day.

OEC officials say forcing people with disabilities or very little money for gas to travel farther for critical services could cause some to slip through the cracks.

"I don't know what other agency could fill the void that we do as an agency in the low cost way and the way in which we offer our services that make people feel good about it," said OEC's Dian Ferguson.

OEC is in good standing with the United Way. The Secretary of State says at last report, the charity spent 98 percent of its funding on its clients.