A storm is gathering over Pierce County’s food security. The safety net that holds so many families steady is tearing under the weight of the federal shutdown. What was once “just enough” is now perilously thin, shockwaves are being felt at dinner tables across our community.
What’s Unfolding Right Now
Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed that SNAP benefits for October will continue as scheduled — but funding for November is not guaranteed. If the shutdown continues, DSHS may lose the ability to issue benefits after October 31, and some staff who support these services may be temporarily laid off starting November 4.
Across the country, states are sounding alarms. Ronald Ward — the acting head of SNAP – stated, “If the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals.
In Pierce County, food banks were already under strain due to inflation, rising demand, and baseline federal and state funding cuts earlier in 2025.
November may look very different and more frightening than October.
WIC: A Vital but Fragile Lifeline
While SNAP has some built-in resilience, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program) does not. WIC is already running on contingency funding.
Washington State currently projects WIC can only sustain operations until mid-November without new federal funds.
Unless states step in (many cannot afford to), the program may have to reduce or eliminate services entirely.
WIC is more than groceries. It supports maternal and child health, breastfeeding counseling, nutrition education, and healthy starts for babies. Disruption here is disruption to life itself.
On the Ground: Who Will Show up at Food Banks?
Every time the federal safety net trembles, our community-level safety net must brace itself:
- Washington State unemployment claims have risen during the shutdown, including 1,184 federal workers (about 79 per day) applying for benefits as of mid-October.
- Pierce County is home to approximately 11,442 federal employees, many who now face wage disruptions or furloughs.
Many of our neighbors may be entering food bank systems for the first time due to these disruptions.
Our Mutual Responsibility – Not Silent, Not Passive
We can’t afford to allow hunger to be hidden behind convenient narratives. In Pierce County, in your neighborhood, in your social circles, hunger is real.
What we must do now:
Get the word out, host community conversations. Talk about what’s happening to SNAP and WIC. Use social media, share at PTA meetings, houses of worship, or workplaces to help break through silence.
Support local food banks. Assist EFN partners and other local pantries by volunteering or giving.
Use the EFN map on our website to find a food bank near you. Encourage neighbors, coworkers, or new acquaintances to access services.
Reach out to elected leaders. Urge them to demand that Congress and the White House prioritize SNAP and WIC funding to prevent any disruptions in benefits. If you’ve never done this before now is the moment.
Why We Can’t Look Away
It’s easy to lose sight of the silent crisis happening in our own community but hunger doesn’t wait for funding. When millions of dollars and months of federal decisions are stalled, the impact is real, immediate, and profoundly personal. If someone says, “I never imagined needing help,” we respond: “We welcome you. You aren’t alone.”
We all share responsibility: neighbors, faith communities, nonprofits, businesses, and local officials. We must bring hunger’s hardships into the light so they cannot be ignored. Find your nearest food bank using the EFN map on our website and share this resource with your community.
Please act now share this alert, spread the word, support your local food bank, and help us ensure no neighbor falls into silent hunger. What will it take to ensure no one goes hungry in Pierce County?
Note: This article was created on 10/23 and reflects information available at that time. Circumstances may change, and updates could occur as new information becomes available.
Sources:
1. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Partial Federal Government Shutdown Alert. https://www.dshs.wa.gov/alert/partial-federal-government-shutdown
2. Washington SNAP benefits threatened by shutdown. Seattle’s Child. https://www.seattleschild.com/washington-snap-benefits-threatened-by-shutdown/
3. Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). Political Will and Administrative Priorities. https://frac.org/blog/political-will-and-administrative-priorities
4. WA unemployment claims rise amid government shutdown. KOMO News. https://komonews.com/news/local/wa-unemployment-claims-rise-amid-government-shutdown-mass-layoffs-at-private-companies-employment-security-benefits
5. Government shutdown threatens WIC food aid program used by millions of families. KOMO News. https://komonews.com/news/local/government-shutdown-threatens-wic-food-aid-program-used-by-millions-of-families-washington-state-king-county-seattle-low-income-mothers-children-infant-formula
6. Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Shutdown Resources. https://wfse.org/local-1054/news/shutdown-resources
7. Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM). Federal Shutdown Impacts on State Government. https://ofm.wa.gov/about/news/2025/10/federal-shutdown-impacts-washington-state-government