Washingtons food banks are on the brink

Washington's food banks anticipate a surge in demand as new work requirements threaten food stamp benefits for 170,000 residents. With high grocery prices and dwindling resources, these organizations face tough decisions about food distribution and hours of operation. The West Seattle Food Bank has started offering cheaper protein options and can only provide milk every other week. Advocacy director Aaron Czyzewski compares current needs to another pandemic, but without the support of the federal government. In April, more than 906,000 people in Washington participated in SNAP, receiving an average of $6 per day.

The new legislation could cut benefits for many, including 33,000 refugees and asylees, while reducing federal nutrition program funding by $186 billion over the next decade. The changes also raise the work requirement age to 64 and include new requirements for parents. Food banks in rural areas, such as the Toppenish Community Chest, report similar challenges, as families often rely on multiple food banks to meet their needs.