SNAP Is the Safety Net—And They’re About to Cut Holes in It
At Emergency Food Network (EFN), we witness the difference SNAP makes every single day. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program doesn’t just help people buy groceries—it keeps families afloat. SNAP is the cornerstone of food security in our country, and in Pierce County, it’s the first layer of protection against hunger. EFN and our 75+ food bank partners are the second.
Together, we form a system that helps people survive.
Last year, EFN distributed 13.8 million pounds of food across Pierce County. We’re proud to support this network—but we can’t replace SNAP. No food bank can. In Washington, food bank visits topped three million in the past year, a 17% increase from 2023. Families are turning to us in record numbers, and we’re already stretched thin.
SNAP provides modest help: about $6 a day per person. But that small amount makes a big difference. It reduces food insecurity by up to 30%, especially for households with children. It helps people avoid crisis, keeping them out of emergency rooms, shelters, and deeper poverty.
What’s more, SNAP is an economic engine. Each dollar in benefits generates an estimated $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity. That means grocery stores, farmers, and small businesses all benefit when families can afford to buy food.
Despite its effectiveness, SNAP is once again on the chopping block in budget negotiations. Washington received over $2.6 billion in SNAP food benefits last year—money that went straight to feeding people and supporting local economies. The food is federally funded; states share only the administrative costs. If that changes, Washington can’t afford to make up the difference—and neither can we.
SNAP isn’t a perfect program. But it works better than most. And without it, we’re looking at a hunger crisis.
Find your representative and tell them- do not cut SNAP. Not now, not ever. Visit www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative to look up your member of Congress. Send them a message and tell them: Protect SNAP. Food is a human right— and that our safety net should hold.
To learn more check out the summary of SNAP Strengths from the Food Research and Action Center.
Thanks for your support.
The EFN Leadership Team,
Michelle, Lianna, Roger, Sam, Jeremy, Claire
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Sources:
Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition. (2025, May 6). E-newsletter update.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2024). Chart book: SNAP helps struggling families put food on the table. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/chart-book-snap-helps-struggling-families
Food Research & Action Center. (n.d.). SNAP Map: SNAP matters in every state. https://frac.org/research/resource-library/snap-map-snap-matters-every-state