North Olympic Peninsula food banks are bracing for an influx of customers following the recently passed federal budget that includes deep cuts to social services.
“Our mantra right now at the food bank is, ‘We’re posturing for resilience, we’re bracing for impact,’” Jefferson County Food Bank Association Executive Director Patricia Hennessy said.
A recently passed budget reconciliation bill included $187 billion in reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next 10 years, according to The Seattle Times.
Food Lifeline counted the cuts as more than $200 billion earlier this month.
One piece, changes to work requirements, will commence in the 2027 fiscal year, according to Politico.
Almost 1 million Washingtonians rely on SNAP benefits to purchase food on a monthly basis, according to a July press release from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office.
Cuts could see 170,000 Washingtonians lose their benefits entirely, the Washington State Standard reported.
“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program previously required able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 54 without dependents to work at least 20 hours per week to access food stamps,” the Standard reported. “The megabill signed by (President Donald) Trump on July 4 raises the ceiling to age 64 and adds work requirements for parents whose children are at least 14 years old. Previously exempt veterans, former foster youth and people who are homeless would also need to work.”
In Washington state in April, more than 906,000 people were enrolled in SNAP and received a total of $167 million in benefits, the Standard reported. That averages about $6 per person per day.
“The changes that are happening in SNAP — frankly, the changes that are happening in Medicaid — these are going to have a very direct impact on the numbers of clients that we anticipate serving,” Hennessy said. “I mean, we don’t see our numbers going down. We see our numbers going up.”
The recent cuts to SNAP benefits also are going to affect the families that use the Sequim Food Bank, Executive Director Andra Smith said.
“Across the board, it’s probably $56 per month,” Smith said. “Families that are relying on SNAP benefits will most likely be seeking out support for food at their local food banks and food pantries which can cause additional stress on us at a time when we’re receiving less food from our emergency food partners as well as funding to purchase food.”
The Sequim Food Bank is spending more to buy food and buying more food than ever before, Smith said.
“Since 2020, the need has doubled,” she said. “On top of that, food costs more.”
The Jefferson County Food Bank Association (JCFBA) saw its service numbers rise from 3,100 households in June to 3,700 in July, Hennessy said. The Sequim Food Bank serves 1,500 people each week, Smith said.
“What I’ve found so far is that approximately 20 percent to 25 percent of residents in Clallam County are on SNAP,” Smith said. “That’s money that people were spending in our local grocery stores and farmers markets on food, so it’s going to cause an economic impact on our community as well.”
JCFBA serves 3,300 households per month, on average, and some fluctuation is common, especially over the summer. Hennessy said she hopes the steep increase was a fluke, but she added that jump is sobering.
“If we start seeing 600 (household increases) month over month over month, it is not sustainable,” Hennesy said. “Our supply is not going to be able to keep up with that level of demand.”
Hennessy said JCFBA had been looking at expanding hours and shifts, but the association has tabled that idea for now.
“We absolutely are wondering, was July the beginning of the tsunami?” Hennessy said. “What’s it going to look like in August? I don’t have a crystal ball, but with people having less money with SNAP benefits to spend on food, if they have a family to feed or people to take care of, absolutely, they will be coming to the food banks.”
JCFBA cannot turn people away if they qualify, Hennessy said. To qualify, residents must declare that they make less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, she added.
If demand outpaces supply, the food banks eventually would need to reduce how much food each household receives, Hennessy said.
“If we only have enough for 10 (people) and we’ve got 15 (in need), we’re going to have to give out less, it’s that simple,” she said.
In terms of funding, JCFBA is largely supported by individuals and private foundations, Hennessy said. The food banks do have a state contract supporting operations locked in until 2027, she said.
Separate funding cuts already have affected JCFBA.
“One of the initial cuts that we experienced is the Local Food Purchasing Agreement grant,” Hennessy said. “We lost $30,000 in food purchasing power when that funding was cut.”
The Sequim Food Bank lost $40,000 worth of funding for locally sourced produce, Smith said.
“Since then, we’re seeing fluctuations in availability in food from our partners,” Smith said.
The funding from the Local Food Purchasing Agreement grant allowed schools and food banks to purchase from local producers, Hennessy said.
“So a lot of local producers lost sales from schools and food banks,” she said.
National reports in March said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had canceled $1 billion in the grant.
In the high-production summer months, JCFBA is the beneficiary of the strong agricultural community in Jefferson County.
“It’s definitely the high season (now),” Hennessy said. “So we have beautiful produce. I think our food banks look better than some of the farm stands at Pike Place Market. It’s just lovely.”
That influx is seasonal, JCFBA’s warehouse space is limited and the organization does not have the ability to freeze dry food, Hennessy said.
JCFBA is investing in increasing capacity in its Tri-Area distribution center, she added.
Hennessy compared the possible near future use of food banks to their use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The world shut down and the government stepped up,” she said. “I don’t think it’s going to get to that extreme that quickly, but I don’t see the federal government stepping up and leaning in. I’m saying that if we start to see exponential increases in the numbers of people that we serve, it’s because the intentionally cruel, callous and calculated cuts that they have made to some of these safety net programs.”
Smith said the need for food is going to change again.
“We’re really looking at our existing programs, how we can expand those and really listening to our visitors and our community to understand what’s happening in the homes to identify additional needs,” Smith said. “We’re always trying to figure out how we can help the families.”
County governments won’t be able to shoulder the burden, Hennessy said. Food banks will rely more on the charity of the general public, she added.
To donate by check or credit card, visiting jcfba.org. For more information about the Sequim Food Bank, go to www.sequimfoodbank.org. For information on the Port Angeles Food Bank, which could not be reached for comment, go to www.portangelesfoodbank.org.
“For $25, we can feed a family of four for a week,” Hennessy said.
The food bank’s current food needs or a list of commonly desired non-perishables are located on JCFBA’s donation webpage as well.
“We really are emphasizing foundational nutrition,” Hennessy said.
The website also has the hours of operation at JCFBA’s Brinnon, Quilcene, Tri-Area and Port Townsend locations, for donation drop-offs.
Hennessy said increased food insecurity instantiated by higher usage of the food banks is a canary in the coal mine for society. It points to general insecurity, she added.
“Food is the common denominator,” Hennessy said. “We all eat. We need to eat.”
________
Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
