Wal-Mart is partnering with South Coast Food Share to help feed needy Bay Area families.

As part of Wal-Mart’s new zero-waste initiative, its Oregon stores have joined the Fresh Alliance, a coalition of  stores that donate fresh and perishable food products to food banks.

 “The additional food donations we’ll be receiving from Wal-Mart will mean we can provide food to more families in need, at a time when our region needs it the most,” said Mary Schoen-Clark, CEO of Oregon Coast Community Action, in a press release.

South Coast Food Share, a program of Oregon Coast Community Action, already receives nearly 2,000 pounds of food a week from Fresh Alliance partners, including Fred Meyer stores in Brookings and Coos Bay, Albertsons in North Bend, and Rays Food Place stores in Coos and Curry counties.

Food Share expects the volume of Fresh Alliance donations to double when Wal-Mart joins the program in January.

Food Share distributes food to 33 local food pantries and meal sites in Coos and Curry counties, and last year provided 1.5 million pounds of food in the region.

The increased donations will be welcome. Food pantries in Coos and Curry counties have experienced a 16 percent increase in demand, according to Community Action. More than 1,000 additional food boxes were distributed this October as compared with October 2007.

In the first quarter of 2008, food-box distribution throughout Oregon climbed 13 percent in comparison to the same period in 2007. In some parts of Oregon, distribution has increased more than 40 percent.

“Emergency food box needs in Oregon have skyrocketed in the last few months, as more Oregonians have faced greater financial struggles — and the South Coast has been hit harder than most,” Schoen-Clark said. “Layoffs, foreclosures and other economic disruptions are taking a terrible toll on our neighbors and our local pantries have experienced a big increase in requests for food boxes.”

The Wal-Mart Foundation also announced a $275,000 donation of cash and food to Oregon Food Bank to meet the surge in requests for emergency food around the state.

Local food donations from individuals and government products are distributed to pantries at no cost, according to South Coast Food Share spokeswoman Hallie Winchell. However, the program passes on about half the cost for food received through Oregon Food Banks or large corporate donations.

South Coast Food Share buys food for 30 cents a pound through Oregon Food Banks and charges local pantries 14 cents per pound for it. The same charge applies to large corporate donations, offsetting transportation costs.

In December, money received through a Ford Family grant will waive food distribution costs to pantries, and the food will be provided at no charge, Winchell said.