From the Sequim Food Bank: Coming together in times of uncertainty

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 15, 2025

By Andra Smith

Executive Director

On Sept. 27, the Sequim Food Bank hosted its first Everyone At the Table (E.A.T.) event. What started as an ambitious idea with a short planning timeline became a beautiful evening of food, music, and connection. Together, our community exceeded all expectations — raising over $70,000, well beyond our $50,000 goal.

The funds raised will help us purchase food, keep programs running, and meet urgent needs — but perhaps even more importantly, the event sparked momentum for a future where everyone in our community has a place at the table. E.A.T. is not a one-time celebration, but the beginning of an ongoing movement of generosity, collaboration, and awareness.

Growing Crisis, Call to Action

Even while we are celebrating this success, the need continues to outpace resources. Demand for our services continues to climb. Through September, we have already seen a 35% increase in households seeking food assistance compared to last year. Rising grocery costs, cuts in federal nutrition funding, and higher living expenses are stretching families thin.

Now, a new challenge looms: the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1. While October SNAP benefits are expected to be delivered, future months remain uncertain. Programs like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) may exhaust contingency funds within weeks. A prolonged shutdown will deepen the strain on food banks nationwide, just as families here in Clallam County are already struggling.

For families already living paycheck to paycheck, even a short disruption can mean choosing between rent, utilities, and groceries — a choice no one should have to make.

We’ve also seen this locally before. During past shutdowns, furloughed federal employees and contractors came to the Sequim Food Bank for the first time — neighbors who never expected to need food assistance suddenly found themselves without a paycheck. That reality is likely to repeat if the shutdown continues, adding to already record levels of demand.

This is both a crisis and an opportunity. A crisis because the need is real, urgent, and growing. An opportunity because we know what Sequim can do when it pulls together — E.A.T. proved that.

Meeting needs in new ways

As the holiday season approaches, we’re also adapting how we provide traditional holiday meals. For the past five years, our Family Holiday Meal Program meant one-day gatherings at Carrie Blake Community Park with pre-packed meal boxes. While those gatherings became a tradition, they were resource intensive and limited to one day. This year, we’re expanding access in a way that offers families more dignity, choice, and flexibility.

We’re bringing the program back home — to our main site at 144 W. Alder Street — and expanding access through our Mobile Food Pantries. Holiday foods like turkeys, sides, and staples will be available during our choice-based distributions on Nov. 21, 22, and 24, as well as at Mobile Pantry stops on Nov. 20, 21, 25, and 26.

By integrating holiday foods into our regular food distribution model, families can choose what best fits their traditions, and more neighbors can access meals across multiple sites. The cost of food for November’s holiday distributions alone is $62,000. If any individual, family, business, or community group would like to help with this program, you’ll be ensuring not only that we can fully cover November but also that we have the resources to continue offering holiday meals in December — either from remaining foods or with additional support.

Season of giving

October is the beginning of the giving season, a time when generosity makes the biggest difference. This year, with community need surging, this generosity is more critical than ever.

Here’s how you can help:

• Donate: Every dollar stretches further when pooled with others. Consider becoming a recurring monthly donor — steady, reliable support allows us to plan ahead and meet needs year-round.

• Volunteer: Join us in packing, distributing, or delivering food. Extra hands will be especially needed as we prepare for the holidays.

• Spread the word: Share our story with your networks. Awareness fuels action.

• Advocate: Let state and federal leaders know that food access programs like SNAP, WIC, and our local food banks are lifelines that must be supported.

At the Sequim Food Bank, our mission has always been about more than food — it’s about community, belonging, and making sure no one is left behind. We aren’t going anywhere. We will continue serving our neighbors at the capacity they need us, and we cannot do it alone. With your support, we can keep pulling more chairs up to the table — ensuring that everyone has a place, no one goes hungry, and our community meets even the toughest challenges together.

To learn more about the Sequim Food Bank and how you can help, visit sequimfoodbank.org or email us at info@sequimfoodbank.org.