Advocacy

Across Washington state, more people are struggling to pay their bills, make rent, and put food on the table. More families than ever before are coming through the doors of foodbanks in the communities Food Lifeline serves. While we have increased our output to meet the growing demand, ending hunger once and for all requires partnership with local governments and elected officials. We are working to communicate with elected leaders about how people experience hunger in their own communities.

Across Washington state, Food Lifeline agency partners in communities serving military installations have reported a significant uptick in active duty and retired service members, their families, and veterans needing access to emergency hunger relief.

Washington’s legislative session in Olympia began on January 11^th, and we’re growing our grassroots team to advocate for hunger relief resources to protect vulnerable communities across the state this year. Join the movement of advocates ready to fight hunger during the state legislative session. While there’s a lot of uncertainty right now, one thing is for sure – too many Washingtonians go hungry every day, and we’re going to need your help to make a difference.

Last year, the federal government launched the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program to support families facing hunger while schools were closed to in-person classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Funds were issued to families whose K-12 students qualified for school meal benefits for the 2019-2020 school year. In fall 2020, the federal government passed continuing resolution H.R. 8337 that extends the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for the 2021 school year.