Hunger in Pierce County is not just a local challenge—it is a national story playing out in our neighborhoods. Federal decisions about food assistance are reshaping who has enough to eat, how much emergency food is needed, and whether organizations like Emergency Food Network (EFN) can keep up with demand.
Demand Is Surging at Home
So far in 2025, Pierce County residents have made more than 2 million visits to local food pantries—a 168% increase since 2019. EFN has already distributed 9.7 million pounds of food as of July, while the countywide network has delivered over 42 million pounds into the community.
EFN’s ambitious goal to distribute 20 million pounds of food in 2025 is more than a benchmark; it is a lifeline. Reaching that goal would ensure that tens of thousands of families, children, and seniors across the county have consistent access to nutritious food. Failing to meet it would leave significant gaps—gaps created not by local mismanagement, but by national policy decisions.
What’s Next for SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the cornerstone of food security in America. In Pierce County, as everywhere, it keeps families afloat. But its future is being debated in ways that will directly impact how many of our neighbors show up at food pantry doors.
Proposed Cuts: Legislation tied to H.R.1(the “Big Bill”) would slash SNAP by 20% nationwide, stripping away more than $187 billion in benefits over the next decade. In Washington State, this would translate to tens of thousands of households losing critical food support, pushing even more people to rely on food banks.
Proposed Increases: In contrast, new legislation has been introduced to increase SNAP benefits, restoring purchasing power to families and reducing pressure on food banks.
Loss of Nutrition Education: At the same time, SNAP-Ed—the program that taught families how to stretch benefits, shop smart, and prepare healthy meals—has been eliminated, leaving a gap in nutrition education just as families face tougher choices at the grocery store.
Why Pierce County Must Make Food Security a Priority
Food is not charity; it is infrastructure. Like roads, schools, and hospitals, a secure food system sustains the foundation of our community. Hunger undermines student learning,
workplace productivity, and public health. Every pound of food EFN distributes strengthens Pierce County as a whole.
But no matter how efficient EFN becomes, the math is simple: if federal benefits shrink, local need skyrockets. Without robust SNAP benefits, EFN’s 20-million-pound goal becomes the bare minimum required to keep families afloat.
What We Must Do Together
Stay informed about the legislation moving through Congress: The choice between cuts and expansion of SNAP will have lasting consequences for Pierce County families.
Advocate: Contact your representatives to support policies that expand food assistance. The “Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025” is one such measure that would strengthen SNAP and ease pressure on local food banks. You can use the FRAC Action Network to easily send a pre-populated email, or craft your own, to communicate directly with your Members of Congress.
Support EFN’s mission: Local donations remain critical. When government programs fluctuate, community contributions keep EFN trucks moving and shelves stocked. Every dollar helps secure bulk food purchases, culturally relevant staples, and delivery routes that reach homebound neighbors.
The Crossroads Ahead
National policy is shaping local hunger in real time. If SNAP is cut, Pierce County’s emergency food lines will grow longer, and EFN will be asked to do the impossible. If SNAP is strengthened, families will have the resources to meet their needs, and local systems will be able to focus on stability and dignity.
Pierce County cannot afford to treat food security as optional. It is fundamental to our shared future—and it must remain a priority for policymakers, local leaders, and every member of our community.
Sources:
· “Democrats Introduce Legislation to Boost SNAP Benefits,” Civil Eats, September 5, 2025.
· Impact of H.R.1 – SNAP Cuts in Washington, Northwest Harvest, 2025.
· Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025, FRAC Policy Brief.
· “SNAP-Ed Is Gone—Now What?” Food Bank News, 2025.