EVERETT — Snohomish County is set to provide $300,000 to support food access as uncertainty looms over funding for federal assistance programs that keep people fed.
Of that money, $200,000 will be divided evenly between 10 family resource centers — defined in state law as a single point of entry where people can obtain information and referral to other services — across the county. Another $100,000 will go toward the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition, as food banks have seen a recent surge in demand.
The move comes after Snohomish County also received $120,000 in state funding that will go toward food banks, after federal delays to paying out to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, due to the ongoing government shutdown. SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — distributes benefits to about 42 million low-income Americans nationwide to buy food. On Friday, the United States Department of Agriculture anounced it would release full SNAP benefits for the month of November, States Newsroom reported.
About 77,000 people in Snohomish County are enrolled in SNAP, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said in a press release Thursday.
“Local government cannot come close to fully bridging the gap left by a lack of funding during the federal government’s stalemate,” Somers wrote in the release. “However, we are committed to doing what we can to meet basic needs of our residents. If you are able to donate and help your neighbors, I urge you to do so.”
People who need assistance can find support at a nearby food bank. The Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition has 18 locations across the county that can be found at snocofood.org/locations. Snohomish County also has a number of family resource centers that can provide support and connect individuals with SNAP to additional resources. A list of those centers is available at tinyurl.com/mu3274v4.
Food banks are also looking for donations and volunteers to meet increased need. Community members can support at snocofood.org/donate.
“This is the time for our community to come together,” wrote Casey Davis, the director of the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition, in a Wednesday press release. “If you’ve ever thought about helping, now is the time when your support would make a significant difference. Your generosity directly supports local families and seniors who are feeling the strain of rising costs and benefit disruptions.”
Food banks in Snohomish County include:
• Arlington Community Food Bank, 19118 63rd Ave. NE, Arlington. Donate: arlingtonfoodbank.org/contribute/
• Casino Road Food Pantries, 805 W Casino Road, Everett; 14 E Casino Road, Everett. Donate: voaww.org/donate
• Darrington Food Bank, 1080 N Sauk Ave., Darrington. Donate: darringtonfoodbank.com/donate
• Edmonds Food Bank, 828 Caspers St., L100, Edmonds. Donate: edmondsfoodbank.org/donate/
• Everett Community Food Bank, 1230 Broadway, Everett. Donate: voaww.org/donate
• Westgate Chapel Emergency Services, 22901 Edmonds Way, Edmonds. Donate: westgatechapel.com/giving/
• Granite Falls Community Coalition, 307 N Adler Ave., Granite Falls. Donate: granitefallscommunitycoalition.org/needed-items
• Lake Stevens Food Bank, 9428 4th St. SE, Lake Stevens. Donate: lakestevensfoodbank.org/donate
• Lynnwood Food Bank, 5320 176th St. SW, Lynnwood. Donate: lynnwoodfoodbank.org/get-involved/give
• Maltby Food Bank, 21104 86th Ave. SE, Snohomish. Donate: maltbyfoodbank.org/donate-and-volunteer/
• Marysville Food Bank, 4150 88th St. NE, Marysville. Donate: marysvillefoodbank.org/donate
• Mountlake Terrace Concern for Neighbors Food Bank, 4700 228th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace. Donate: concern4neighborsfb.org/donate
• Hope Creek Charitable Foundation, 4326 148th St. SE, Mill Creek. Donate: hopecreekcf.org/fund-hope/
• Salvation Army, 2525 Rucker Ave., Everett. Donate: everett.salvationarmy.org/everett_corps/ways-to-give/
• Sky Valley Food Bank, 233 Sky River Pkwy., Monroe. Donate: svfoodbank.org/support-us/
• Snohomish Community Food Bank, 1330 Ferguson Park Road, Snohomish. Donate: snohomishfoodbank.org/support/
• Stanwood-Camano Food Bank, 27030 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. Donate: stanwoodcamanofoodbank.org/about/
• Sultan Community Food Bank, 617 1st St., Sultan. Donate: voaww.org/donate
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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