Lynnwood
Representatives from food banks, schools, and various local organizations convened Thursday to examine the consequences of federal reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In July 2025, lawmakers enacted legislation reducing SNAP funding by more than $180 billion over the coming decade. The program provides food assistance to low-income individuals across the nation.
The legislation also revised employment eligibility standards. Previously, individuals aged 55 or older, as well as those caring for children under 18, were exempt from the requirement to log 80 work hours per month. Under the new provisions, this waiver applies only to those aged 65 or older or caring for children under 14. Veterans and individuals without housing no longer qualify for this exemption.
Data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that 57,000 Washington residents have lost SNAP coverage since last year. Governor Bob Ferguson's office projects that 130,000 people in the state will lose benefits over the next decade due to the updated work requirements.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, hosted the gathering at the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.
Larsen stated that food insecurity remains a persistent issue in the Pacific Northwest. He noted that while the problem is not new, the implementation of these cuts across the country and the region has intensified the severity of the situation for congressional representatives to address.
According to Snohomish County data, approximately 9% of households received SNAP benefits as of 2025. Figures from Feeding America show that just over 12% of the county's population faced food insecurity in 2024.
Jill Harrison, the operations manager for food and nutrition services at the Edmonds School District, reported that 20 schools in the district are currently designated as free meal sites through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Due to changes surrounding SNAP, fewer families are meeting the criteria for free and reduced-price meals. Consequently, Harrison stated that 14 of those schools will lose their designation for the upcoming school year, affecting as many as 4,000 students.
Harrison emphasized the importance of students being able to eat alongside their peers. She explained that when children feel shame regarding their family's financial situation, they often choose not to eat, making universal free meals a means of bringing them together.
The district is facing these changes while demand for assistance is rising. The Edmonds School District Foundation distributes thousands of free meals to students annually. Deborah Brandi, the foundation's executive director, stated that when cuts took effect in October, the number of children served weekly increased from about 200 to 800, a level of demand that has persisted.
Alissa Jones, executive director of the Lynnwood Food Bank, reported that the organization served 43,000 people in 2019. By 2025, that figure had risen to nearly 192,000.
Jones remarked on the view within some government sectors that SNAP and food banks serve the same function, stating that they do not. She asserted that food banks lack the capacity and infrastructure to replace SNAP.
Food assistance programs and community food banks are grappling with rising demand as federal nutrition benefits face potential cuts.
Jones explained that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allows recipients to determine their own shopping schedules and select specific groceries, an option not always available at a food pantry. This flexibility is particularly vital for individuals with dietary restrictions or those relying on public transit who must transport perishable items without refrigeration.
Jay Kang, CEO of Homage Senior Services, reported that roughly 13% of the organization's Meals on Wheels participants could lose SNAP eligibility due to newly enacted work requirements. In response, Homage is collaborating with Volunteers of America on a pilot initiative designed to transport seniors from Snohomish County's outlying areas to the food bank in Sultan.
John Glennon, who oversees hunger prevention services at Volunteers of America Western Washington, noted that the Everett food bank has recorded a 12% rise in individuals seeking assistance and a 9% increase in households. He stated that approximately 90% of the facility's funding relies on private contributions.
Glennon expressed concern that as rising grocery and fuel costs affect a broader segment of the population, individual donors may lack the financial capacity to continue their support.
Volunteers of America also operates two food pantries on Casino Road in Everett. Glennon reported that clients and employees have voiced anxiety regarding the presence of immigration enforcement officials in the vicinity. He recounted a recent visit to one pantry when immigration authorities were nearby.
Glennon stated that the Casino Road location serves a significant immigrant population, and the fear among clients and volunteers was evident. He noted that this anxiety is an everyday reality for residents on Casino Road, though it should not be.
Silvia Alvarez, founder and executive director of Triumph Teen Life Center in Skagit County, said the organization's services are now being requested by families from Snohomish and Whatcom counties as well. Recently, the center has provided food and support to teenagers whose parents were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or whose families are afraid to leave their homes due to enforcement actions. Alvarez reported that the organization has assisted roughly 20 to 30 families affected by ICE detentions.
Alvarez stated that the goal is to prevent families from reaching a point of crisis before receiving assistance. She emphasized a desire for federal programs like SNAP to remain robust and for community organizations like Triumph to supplement these initiatives rather than replace them.