Lines were much longer last week at the Sequim Food Bank leading up to the Nov. 1 stoppage date for funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that affects thousands of Clallam County residents as part of the federal government shutdown.
The food bank at 144 W. Alder St. provided food to a record 200 families on Monday, Oct. 27, according to Executive Director Andra Smith.
She said the food bank averages about 140 families served on its distribution days — 1-4 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m.-noon Fridays and Saturdays.
While it’s not uncommon for vehicles to queue along Alder Street, Sequim Avenue and onto West Fir Street, on Oct. 31, Halloween, vehicles were lined up much farther than usual along the streets prior to the food bank opening.
As lawmakers continue to debate about issues related to the shutdown, including Affordable Care Act funding, the Associated Press reports that two federal judges ruled on Oct. 31 that the federal government must pay for SNAP with emergency reserve funds, but they did not designate SNAP to be fully or partially funded.
On Monday, Nov. 3, President Donald Trump’s administration stated they will partially fund the program with details still being worked out by the Gazette’s press deadline.
Approximately one in eight Americans receive funds through the program, and local agency leaders report about 7,500 households in Clallam County receive SNAP benefits.
While Sequim Food Bank staff and volunteers don’t ask visitors if they receive SNAP, Smith said with those funds now stopped or only partially funded, it’s assumed patrons will go to area food banks and pantries to help feed their families.
“A lot of agencies are referring people to us and asking for our hours and mobile site times,” she said.
“We’re already seeing it.”
Smith said agency leaders estimate that the food bank provides one meal for every nine that SNAP provides.
“If you look at those numbers… there’s no way we can make up that deficit and revenue,” she said.
“We need to help each other right now. For us to get through this crisis, we’re going to need the support of neighbors, regional partners, and our food banks across Clallam County to weather this.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sequim Food Bank saw a record number of visitors on Oct. 27, and lines remained long on Oct. 31, pictured, due to various factors, including cost of goods and concerns over an interruption to SNAP funding on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown.
Previous changes
The date of Nov. 1 was already circled on Smith’s calendar prior to the government shutdown, she said, due to previous changes to SNAP benefits going into effect, including new work requirements, and changes to exemptions.
One Mobile Food Pantry visitor in her 80s told staff that she was receiving about $80 a month in SNAP benefits and between those funds and what she received from the pantry, she was making it work. However, a few weeks ago, Smith said the woman told staffers her SNAP benefits were being reduced to around $20 a month.
“She told our coordinator, ‘I brought a bigger bag today. I hope that’s OK,’” Smith said.
“Our response to her was ‘absolutely, you can get what you need from us’ and that’s what we’re going to say to anyone who comes to the Food Bank.”
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said in July that one million residents receive SNAP benefits and that President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” reduces SNAP benefits to the average household under the Thrifty Food Plan by about $56 per month and decreases the maximum allotment per household.
Atop the USDA’s website is a notice that reads, “Senate Democrats have now voted 13 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
This week, Washington food banks will receive approximately $2.2 million weekly through the state Department of Social and Health Services following an Oct. 28 order from Ferguson.
Port Angeles Food Bank Executive Director Emily Dexter told the Peninsula Daily News that each week $34,000 will be distributed among the Port Angeles and Sequim food banks along with the Forks food bank, New Hope Food Bank, Salvation Army, and Lutheran Community Services.
Dexter told the PDN that the Port Angeles Food Bank is facing a $30,000-a-month gap in income and likely will need to reduce services starting in January.
Smith said the Sequim Food Bank’s usage increased 35% through September compared to 2024.
Donations in Sequim have gone up about 9%, she said, but they’ve also been using reserves for four months now.
Smith said they’ve been considering strategic changes for a while now as costs and demand have risen.
“We’re grateful for our reserves, but they’re not meant to be used as a long term solution,” she said.
Thanksgiving meals
As previously reported, the Sequim Food Bank’s Family Holiday Meal Program will shift from a one day event in Carrie Blake Community Park to November 21, 22, and 24 — at the facility, 144 W. Alder St., along with regularly scheduled Mobile Food Pantry Stops for Thanksgiving.
Visitors will be allowed to choose the foods they’d like, similar to regular distribution days.
A specialized Christmas meal program will not be offered unless holiday items are still available.
Smith said the park distribution event, started during COVID-19, cost about $62,000 to do, which compares to about nine months of milk purchases for the food bank.
“We have to be careful with what we purchase, especially knowing now SNAP will not be there when money is so tight,” she said.
Children and essentials
Mary Budke, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, said the impact of hunger on children came especially to light about three weeks ago in the Port Angeles club when kids were asking to take home food – broccoli and apples.
“That’s when the red flags went up,” she said.
They’re also asking for coats, sweatshirts and shoes.
One student asked for a new pair of shoes, Budke said, because since the beginning of the school year, the student had been wearing the same pair of Crocs that were slit down the top and cracked through the toe. When they received new shoes, the student told staff it was “perfect timing because I haven’t been able to run in P.E,” Budke said.
“When times are tough, that’s when we really get flooded,” she said, emphasizing the importance of the Sequim and Port Angeles clubs’ annual auction on Nov. 8 helping fund a large part of operations.
School meals free
Sequim School District students that attend in person can eat breakfast and lunch at no charge to families through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) & Provision 2 National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs for the school year.
Families are asked to fill out “The 2025/2026 Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit” to help the school district receive all of the available funding it is entitled to for other state-funded education programs.
For more information, visit sequimschools.org/departments/nutrition_services/all_students_eat_free_24-25, call your child’s school building, or the district office at 360-582-3260.
Smith said the Sequim Food Bank’s hundreds of free weekend meal bags provided to Sequim School District students will continue unhindered, as will the Mobile Food Pantry dates and locations.
Further info
For more information and to donate to the Sequim Food Bank, visit sequimfoodbank.org.
Smith said donations can be left inside bins at QFC, Safeway and Walmart, and there is a grocery list on the food bank’s website.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash/ Sequim Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry continues through inclement weather to stop at six spots for one hour Tuesday-Friday in the Sequim area, including Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Tuesdays, Seabreeze Apartments and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe campus on Wednesdays, Elk Creek Apartments and The Vintage on Thursdays, and Suncrest Village Retirement Community on Fridays.
Mobile Food Pantry
The Sequim Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry continues to offer staples to the Sequim community, except for the Vintage Apartments, which is for residents only.
• 1-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1055 N. Barr Road
• 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Wednesday, Seabreeze Apartments, 525 McCurdy Road
• 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe campus, 70 Zaccardo Road
• 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Thursdays, Elk Creek Apartments, 90 S. Rhodefer Road
• 1 p.m.-2 p.m. The Vintage, 1009 W. Brackett Road
• 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Suncrest Village Retirement Community, 251 S. Fifth Ave.
Image courtesy WSU Extension Office/ Here are the Little Free Pantries in the Sequim area.
