Nonprofit serves hot meals in Granite Falls to those impacted by SNAP delays

EVERETT — Around 40 people created a winding line near the picnic tables at the IGA just before 3 p.m. Monday in Granite Falls. At the front, volunteers handed out hot meals, pet food and winter coats.

Within 15 minutes, the line was cleared, the last meal was distributed and the tables were empty.

When the government shut down on Oct. 1, Penelope Protheroe, president of the nonprofit Angel Resource Connection, knew many people in the community would be facing food insecurity.

“Right away, we said hungry people, hungry pets,” Protheroe said.

Angel Resource Connection is a nonprofit that provides support to individuals and their pets who are struggling with homelessness. The past two weeks, the nonprofit’s goals have included bridging the gap for people impacted by the shutdown and delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Late Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court extended its pause on full SNAP payments for November, according to multiple reports.

Monday was the second event the nonprofit held in collaboration with local restaurants to provide the community with nutritious meals for them and their pets. Two Granite Falls restaurants, Playa Bonita Mexican Restaurant and Teriyaki Wok 8, each donated 50 hot meals, adding up to 100 free meals. None of which remained by the time volunteers packed up for the afternoon. The event also offered a coat and pet food exchange, which provided 15 full-size pet food bags alongside five community member donated bags. Attendees could donate or take what they needed.

“Blessing to those who are cold and starving”

On Nov. 3, Jordan Cooley, 35, rode the bus from Everett to Granite Falls after she learned about the event on Facebook. On her way there, she called to ask them to save her a serving of the noodle stir fry that was being served, “which is delicious,” she said.

Cooley returned Monday with coats for donation to receive a hot meal. Cooley said she won’t get food stamps until Nov. 17 and even then isn’t sure she will receive the full amount.

Protheroe is a “blessing to those who are cold and starving,” Cooley said.

In the week between the event, it has expanded to include a second restaurant and other essentials. Protheroe said the turnout on Monday exceeded last week’s, attributing the rise to increased notice, whereas on Nov. 3, the public had 24 hours.

“We heard about it and then we just did it,” Protheroe said.

Alex Petrakopoulos, the owner of Teriyaki Wok 8, had worked with the nonprofit briefly in 2018. When Protheroe approached him about the Nov. 3 event, Petrakopoulos said he would cook whatever she brought him.

“There was a lot of people that I had no clue would be standing in line,” he said. “I’ve done jobs with some of the people, and it was nice that they took the courage to get up there, because it takes a lot of courage to stand in line and get food. But they know I’m not gonna look at them any different, right? I feel happy to be able to feed them food.”

Petrakopoulos said the most fulfilling part of feeding the community was knowing that for the next 30 minutes, attendees were “going to eat a good meal and feel warm.”

Attendee Maren Wilson, 62, said the community support and extra help are important during this time.

“There are a lot of people who are struggling every month,” she said. “It’s politics.”

Places to donate

For those in need or with the means to donate, food drives are occurring across the county. Here is a small sample of where you can help.

• Edmonds Police Department, in partnership with the Edmonds Food Bank, is collecting non-perishable, unexpired food items through Nov. 30. Individuals can donate items from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Edmonds Police Department lobby. Orders to the Edmonds Food Bank can be placed online starting at 5 p.m. each Friday or onsite up to 30 minutes before close.

• Volunteers of America Western Washington’s food banks are accepting monetary and non-perishable food donations at the Everett Community Food Bank from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, and the Sultan Community Food Bank from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

• Kia of Everett is accepting donations throughout November for the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition, which has a map of food banks across the county.

Correction: A previous version of this story said Alex Petrakopoulos had worked with Angel Resource Connection since 2018. Petrakopoulos worked with the nonprofit for a month in 2018 and returned this November to prepare food.

Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan