Tri-Cities Braces for SNAP Pause as Food Banks See Surge

Most of my family is on SNAP, and it's looking a little scary for them, as November SNAP benefits might not be available to them because of the government shutdown.

Food Banks in Tri-Cities Prepare for SNAP Benefit Halt

As a poor kid growing up in Washington State, I remember having to peel out a coupon from the book. Times have changed, and now it's a card that you take to the grocery store.

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As you might be stressing out due to the lack of SNAP benefits in November, Washington State will start infusing $2.2 million a week into the SNAP program, but that might not be enough to cover all Washington State residents.

Tri-Cities Food Banks Brace as SNAP Aid Runs Out

Do you realize that one in six households in the Tri-Cities use SNAP? That's over 17,000 people, according to Yahoo News.

So that means our local food banks will feel the pinch if the SNAP doesn't resume promptly over the next few months.

The newspaper report states that Tri‐Cities food banks are bracing for a surge of clients as SNAP (and related programs) are at risk of stopping.

The state infographic shows that 33% of those at risk of losing benefits are children, and 1 in 3 are elderly or disabled. While that’s statewide, the demographics in Eastern WA may mirror those trends.

How can you help?

Feel free to donate to our local food banks; they are going to need the help and donations over the next few weeks.

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