SEATTLE — With monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) suddenly cut off because of the ongoing government shutdown, Seattle will vote on Monday to help bridge the gap.
On Monday, the Seattle City Council will vote to review a civil emergency proclamation to unlock local emergency funding. If approved, it could release $4 million in November and another $4 million in December for food banks, meal programs, school meal services, and emergency food distribution across the city.
Councilmember Alexis Mercedes-Rinck said Seattle must act now.
“When the federal government is stepping away from their responsibility and really stepping back away from people, Seattle is stepping up,” Mercedes-Rinck said.
In the meantime, thousands of pounds of food landed at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday.
Andrew Engelson, founder of Cascadia Democratic Action, organized Saturday’s food drive and said Seattleites filled cars and wagons with pasta, Spam, rice, beans, kid snacks, and shelf-stable meals.
“We’re estimating we have probably two thousand pounds of food that have been donated already,” Engelson said.
He says the donations reflect fear and frustration that the SNAP lapse even reached this point.
Engelson says this weekend shows what Seattle is capable of, and what it’s willing to do to protect neighbors in a crisis.
“It really says that this city cares about people. And it’s exciting to see that my city wants to help people,” Engelson said.
North Helpline in the Lake City neighborhood, Bitter Lake Food Bank, and West Seattle Food Bank are open on Saturdays.
Gloria Hatcher-Mays, executive director of Rainier Valley Food Bank, says they’re now looking at adding Saturdays because they expect new clients to start showing up immediately as SNAP dollars run short.
“We’re going to look at what that looks like in terms of numbers and potentially extend our hours, or add an additional day — potentially on Saturday,” Hatcher-Mays said.
Also, in neighborhoods across the city, “Free Little Pantry” boxes represent a hyper-local, front-yard level safety net.
Cash donations stretch farther than individual grocery items (Rainier Valley Food Bank says $1 = roughly $3 in bulk purchasing power). Local food banks need volunteers urgently for sorting + distribution, especially if the city sees a surge next week. Neighbors can donate to food drives, food banks directly, or refill free little pantries in their neighborhood.
트위터 공유: 시애틀 긴급 식량 지원 시동