An agency serving Washington's poor found itself in need of the capability to move larger amounts of food.

Bread for the City provides food, clothing, medical care and legal and social services to needy individuals and now utilises a Crown pallet truck.

"In 2012, Bread for the City moved over 15,000 lbs. (6,750 kg) of food per week around the DC area," says the agency's Jalyn Henton. "That amount is equal to 7.5 T., 50 people, two Ford pickup trucks or one large African elephant. This year, we are planning to increase our total to 20,000 lbs. (9,000 kg)."

Henton indicates the increase "is critical as demand for our food program is already up 20%, and we're aiming to feed an extra 8,000 people in 2013".

The agency faced a challenge. "In order to move this food, we could do one of two things: hire a team of mules and driver ... (or) buy a forklift."

Bread for the City chose option two, "started an email campaign to raise funds, and, thanks to our wonderful donors, we raised almost USD4,000 over the course of just two weeks".

A coalition of downtown Washington churches created Bread for the City in 1976 as an extension to a volunteer-run free medical clinic.

For the fiscal year ended 30 June, "we received USD7,838,740 of financial support and in-kind donations of goods and services totaling USD904,663", the agency says. Of the support, 73% came from private sources, including individuals and foundations and 27% came from government agencies.