Get Involved

Here’s how you can help.

SNAP benefits are currently delayed for Washington families.

The federal government shutdown is causing delays in SNAP benefits, also known as Basic Food, for Washingtonians. This program helps hundreds of thousands of households in our state afford groceries each month, and many families are now facing uncertainty about how they will put food on the table. Across our state, communities are stepping up to help. Here’s how you can, too.

Support your local food bank.

Food banks are doing everything they can to support their communities through this lapse in benefits. They are seeing rapidly rising demand, and need help to keep up. Find your local food bank here.

  • Donate Money

    The fastest and most effective way to help is through a monetary donation. Food banks know exactly where their gaps in stock are and can use your gift to meet the most urgent local needs. They are also able to stretch every dollar further through strategic and bulk purchasing.

  • Donate Food

    You can also help keep shelves stocked by donating food. Check your food bank’s website for information on donation drop-off times and locations, their most-needed items, and any constraints on what they are able to accept. Many food banks also accept other household goods including including diapers, hygiene items, pet food, and more.

  • Volunteer Your Time

    Many food banks are operating with limited staff and can use extra hands for things like sorting donations, packing boxes, and distributing food. Visit your local food bank’s website to see how you can get involved. If you are able to commit to a regular volunteer shift, that consistency is especially helpful in keeping operations running smoothly!

  • Host a Food Drive

    Can you get others involved, too? Organize a community food drive to collect donations for your local food bank. Be sure to coordinate directly with the food bank first to ensure they are aware of your efforts, to learn about their top needs, and to ensure they are prepared to accept the large volume of food.

Advocate for SNAP.

SNAP is one of the most effective tools we have to fight hunger, and it helps over 900,000 Washingtonians to cover grocery costs and put food on the table. It needs to be funded.

  • Learn more about how the government shutdown is impacting food benefits for Washingtonians.

  • Make your voice heard. Contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture and your members of Congress and tell them that SNAP benefits must be paid in full during the government shutdown.

  • Share your SNAP story. This helps advocates and legislators understand the importance and impact of SNAP benefits for Washington households.

Share information about available resources.

Help spread the word about the importance of programs like SNAP and the resources available to support families right now. The more people understand how federal nutrition programs work, and what’s at stake when they’re disrupted, the better.

  • Explore our social media toolkit for ready-to-share posts.

  • Explore digital materials about resources that are available during the government shutdown.

  • Follow us on social media to stay up to date and help amplify important messages.

Connect through schools.

If you have students in your household, check in with their school community to see how you can help. Schools often serve as local hubs for community food efforts, and may have information about a food drive, weekend backpack program, or other meal distribution effort you can contribute to with your time or resources.