Ferguson, Larsen serve free lunch in Lynnwood, highlighting food aid crisis

Gov. Bob Ferguson and U. S. Rep. Rick Larsen distributed free lunches to over 100 children at Lynnwood Elementary School, addressing the urgent food assistance crisis caused by federal cuts.

They criticized the Trump Administration's policies that threaten the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which currently supports about 1 million residents in Washington. Larsen highlighted that 137,000 people risk losing their SNAP benefits, while local food banks face rising demand and dwindling resources. The Lynnwood Food Bank, which has seen a fourfold increase in service since 2019, struggles with limited capacity and budget constraints. Executive Director Alissa Jones stated that many working families cannot afford food, exacerbated by rising housing costs. The Washington State Department of Agriculture anticipates a 26% decrease in food from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, significantly impacting local food banks.

In March, the Trump administration canceled $1. 5 billion in funding for schools and food banks, hindering their ability to serve the community. Despite facing a $16 billion budget shortfall, Ferguson and Larsen remain committed to pursuing legislation for universal free lunch in schools statewide.