Food banks across the Peninsula are struggling and expecting things to get worse.
In a year that has already seen a tremendous cutback of billions of dollars reduced from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and high inflation, raising costs, the federal government shutdown is coinciding with the stopping of SNAP benefits entirely as of Saturday.
In Port Angeles, the number of households visits to the food bank grew from 10,000 in 2017 to 45,000 in 2024, according to the agency. That number is expected to rise another 25 percent.
That reflects increases seen across the Peninsula: the Sequim Food Bank has seen an increase in need of 35 percent, Executive Director Andra Smith said, and in Jefferson County, Jefferson County Food Bank Association Executive Director Patricia Hennessy said they’re expecting a 25 percent increase in client load.
“This is our situation regardless of the shutdown and what’s happening with SNAP,” Port Angeles Food Bank Executive Director Emily Dexter said. “The timing is colliding.”
Hennessy said the food bank association hasn’t seen increases in need like this since the pandemic.
“This is a crisis,” she said. “The last time we saw numbers go up like this was COVID, but the government was giving us money. This time, the government is taking away funds. What is happening in the federal government is cruel, it’s callous, and it’s very intentional. This is not America.”
Some additional help is coming from the state.
On Tuesday, Gov. Bob Ferguson directed the state Department of Social and Health Services to transfer nearly $2.2 million each week to the state’s Department of Agriculture for grants to food banks, according to the Washington State Standard.
What that means for the Peninsula, Dexter said, is an additional $34,000 a week for Clallam County and $26,000 a week for Jefferson County.
In Clallam County, the money to purchase food will be distributed among the Port Angeles and Sequim food banks along with the Forks food bank, New Hope Food Bank, Salvation Army and Lutheran Community Services.
The extra funding for Jefferson County will go to the food bank association.
“It’s a lot of work,” Dexter said. “He’s sending money, but to be able to figure out what’s the right thing to purchase with it takes time to figure out how much of each item, how much it’s going to cost, is it a useful amount to give to each pantry?”
Although SNAP benefits are set to end Saturday, Dexter said federal food commodities still will be distributed.
Smith said the additional state funds will help but won’t be enough to close the gap.
“This crisis, we’re going to need a combination of support from our community, local and regional agency support,” Smith said. “This is affecting a lot of our neighbors and friends.”
The Port Angeles Food Bank is facing a $30,000-a-month gap in income and likely will need to reduce services starting in January. The Sequim Food Bank has been using operational reserves for the last four months to purchase food. It takes about $65,000 a month to operate the Sequim Food Bank. The Jefferson County Food Bank Association costs about $56,000 a month to run, including the purchasing of food, trucks, buildings and utilities.
Local help also has been announced. In a Thursday news release, the Port Angeles Farmers Market said it would provide food vouchers to SNAP recipients during the federal government shutdown.
“Starting Saturday, Nov. 1 and continuing each week during the shutdown, all Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholders who visit the market will receive $10 in Market Match vouchers and $5 in Protein Match vouchers — usable immediately or on future market days to purchase fresh foods directly from vendors,” the release stated.
The food banks are all in need of even more help.
“We need money, and we need food,” Hennessy said. “Our purchasing and procurement are not going to be able to keep up with demand.”
The Sequim Food Bank has seen an increase in donations of about 9 percent, Smith said, but that’s compared to the 35 percent increase in need that has occurred.
“We are extremely grateful always for our community, and the Sequim community has always supported us and helped out when we need it, and this is no exception,” Smith said.
In Port Angeles, a reduction in food bank services will mean fewer market hours, Dexter said. During Wednesday’s market, the food bank served a record 376 households, she said. That doesn’t include the 50 new households the food bank has been serving.
For more information on the food banks, go to www.portangelesfoodbank.org, www.sequimfoodbank.org or www.jcfba.org.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
