Thanks to your relentless advocacy throughout this year’s state legislative session, we have good news to share: food won in Washington State.
On May 20th, Governor Bob Ferguson signed a budget that nearly fully funds every priority of the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition—and not a single anti-hunger program saw cuts. Your emails, phone calls, and testimony helped protect food access for families and individuals across Washington.
Here’s What Your Advocacy Made Possible:
$93.25 million to extend funding for food banks and pantries
$27.96 million to fully fund Senior Nutrition Programs
$11.83 million to continue SUN Bucks to fight summer child hunger
This is an enormous win—and we’re celebrating with you. Nevertheless, while we hold this victory on the one hand, we must act with the other: threats at the federal level now endanger everything we’ve worked for.
Right now, hunger relief programs that thousands of our Pierce County neighbors rely on are being dismantled in Washington, D.C.
SNAP Cuts Could Flood Local Pantries
The House recently passed a bill that would cut billions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and shift more costs to states—potentially reducing or eliminating benefits for millions of Americans, including the over 114,000 people in Pierce County who currently rely on SNAP (according to the 2022 census).
When SNAP is cut, hunger doesn’t disappear. It shows up at food banks. EFN and our 75+ food pantry partners anticipate providing service for over 3.1 million visits across Pierce County. If these proposals go forward, we will be expected to absorb the unmet need—with no additional funding or infrastructure to do so, while anticipating more federal cuts in the future.
FRAC: House Republicans advance deep cuts to SNAP
Here’s What You Can Do:
1.Contact your elected officials
Let them know that our communities cannot afford to lose SNAP, senior food boxes, or critical nonprofit support.
2.Share this alert
The more informed our community is, the stronger we are. Forward this message to your friends, family, and colleagues.
3.Give to EFN
Your support is more critical than ever — not just to provide food, but to protect the system that makes care possible.