Dear friends and neighbors,
I have been working for more than decade in the Legislature to end hunger and increase access to nutritious food in our community. That’s why I am so concerned that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are now disrupted due to the federal government shutdown. The roughly one in ten Washingtonians who rely on the program are now facing hunger and financial hardship. In this newsletter, I want to share information on how to connect our neighbors to available food resources in our community.
Packing food at Second Harvest this spring.
What is happening
The USDA announced that the nearly 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits (also known as EBT) will go without their benefits starting Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown. That includes roughly 83,000 people in Spokane County.
Late last week, two federal judges ordered the Trump Administration to continue funding SNAP benefits, but uncertainty remains on when and how the funds will eventually reach eligible recipients.
Stores will continue to accept EBT benefits after October 31. Any funds already on EBT cards will stay on your EBT card, and unused funds will continue to roll over into the next month. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program will be able to provide food benefits through mid to late November.
Where you can find help
In Washington state, we will continue to do all we can to support farmers, working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and people in need. Gov. Bob Ferguson announced last week that he is directing nearly $2.2 million per week to provide additional support to Washington’s food banks. Here is where you can find resources:
- For up-to-date information on the status of SNAP benefits in Washington state and helpful resources, please visit DSHS.wa.gov
- You can find local resources at 211.org or by calling 211.
- For a map of food banks near you visit www.foodlifeline.org/find-food
- Washington Connection can help you find services and benefits. For more information, visit www.washingtonconnection.org/home/exploreoptions.go
Here is a list of locations in our county where people can find food assistance as compiled in the Spokesman-Review article linked here:
- Calvary Baptist Soup Kitchen
203 E. 3rd Ave.
Saturday 10 a.m.-noon - Mending Fences Fellowship
1906 E. Sprague Ave.
Monday 10 a.m. – noon
Tuesday 8 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. – noon - St. Ann’s Sunday Lunch
2120 E. First Ave.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Shalom Ministries
518 W. Third Ave.
Monday 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. - The Salvation Army Spokane
204 E. Indiana Ave.
Monday & Tuesday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Women’s & Children’s Free Restaurant
1408 N. Washington Ave.
Wednesday 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. (September to May)
Thursday 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. (Walk-up distribution) - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Food Bank
500 S. Stone St.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. - Latinos en Spokane
1502 N. Monroe St.
Last Saturday of the month 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Call 509-558-9359 for distribution information - Mid-City Concerns
1222 W. Second Ave.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Geared to ages 60 and up - Our Place Food Bank
1509 W. College Ave
Wednesday 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Find Solutions Organization
1201 W. Spofford Ave.
Friday 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. (biweekly) - American Indian Center
1025 W. Indiana Ave.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. – noon, 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. - Better Living Center
25 E. North Foothills Dr.
Tuesday 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Off Broadway Family Outreach
2225 W. Mallon Ave.
Monday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. - Family of Faith Church
1505 W. Cleveland Ave.
Tuesday 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. (Food pantry)
Friday 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. (Meal programs) - Southside Food Pantry
2934 E. 27th Ave.
Saturday 11 a.m. – noon - Northeast Food Pantry
4520 N. Crestline St.
Tuesday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. - New Hope Ranch
2524 E. Queen Ave.
Monday & Wednesday noon – 2 p.m. (Pantry distribution and meal service)
Friday 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Pantry distribution first and then meal service) - Audubon Park Food Bank
3908 N. Driscoll Blvd.
Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (biweekly) - Caritas Outreach Ministries
4718 N. Ash St.
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Revive & Help Ministries
3909 W. Rowan Ave.
Friday 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – noon - Serve Spokane
8303 N. Division St.
Tuesday and Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Biweekly) - Partners INW
10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley
Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Spokane Christian Center Pantry
8909 E. Bigelow Gulch
By appointment only at 509-924-4888 - Dream Center Resource Center
2128 N. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley
Tuesday and Wednesday 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Mead Food Bank
12509 N. Market St., Mead
Sunday 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday 4 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. - Airway Heights Baptist Church
12322 W. Sunset Hwy., Airway Heights
Saturday 10 a.m. – noon (First and third Saturday of every month) - Cleone’s Closet
13114 W. Sunset Hwy., Airway Heights
Monday and Friday noon – 2 p.m. - East Valley Baptist Church Food Pantry
14516 E. Wellesley Ave.
Saturday 10 a.m. – noon (Last of every month) - Spokane Valley Assembly of God
15618 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley
Wednesday 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Otis Orchards Food Bank
4308 N. Harvard Rd., Otis Orchards
Tuesday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. - North Bridge Food Bank
22421 Euclid Ave., Otis Orchards
Thursday 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Cheney Cupboard
624 Third St., Cheney
Monday 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. - Medical Lake Food Bank
207 S. Washington St., Medical Lake
Thursday 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (First Thursday of every month)
Friday 10 a.m.-noon
This is the first lapse of SNAP food aid benefits in modern history, including during shutdowns. SNAP benefits do not only help people in need put food on their table, but they benefit our farmers and our economy. According to the USDA, $1 in SNAP benefits equal $1.54 in economic activity. I remain hopeful that benefits will resume quickly.
Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at Marcus.Riccelli@leg.wa.gov.
It is an honor to serve you!
