Snoqualmie Valley community members who access food through SNAP have had their benefits delayed due to the government shutdown, starting on Nov. 1.
On Nov. 3, the Trump administration announced they will partially fund SNAP for November, following two rulings on Friday, Oct. 31, that required the government to continue funding the food program.
According to the Associated Press, “it’s not clear exactly how much beneficiaries will receive, nor how quickly they will see value show up on the debit cards they use to buy groceries,” and “November payments have already been delayed for millions of people.”
Cash benefits for November 2025 will still be distributed as usual, but it is unclear how food benefits will be issued after Oct. 31, according to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
The staff of local organizations like the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank and Reclaim are seeing the impact firsthand. Executive Director of Reclaim Jen Kirk shared an appeal to community support in a letter on Oct. 29.
“When SNAP funding halts, the burden shifts directly to local food banks and human service providers who are already stretched thin and constantly struggling to meet the need. Food bank shelves aren’t bottomless, and local budgets alone can’t fill the gap. The result will be longer lines, empty shelves, and exhausted community workers trying to do the impossible,” Kirk said.
“This is not just a food problem,” Kirk continued. “Empty fridges mean declining health, missed work, interrupted schooling, and instability that ripples through every part of a person’s life. No community should have to watch its neighbors go hungry simply because resources are stretched too thin.”
To respond to this community challenge, Kirk said that “by supporting local food banks and human service agencies, donating what we can, volunteering our time, and spreading awareness, we can help ensure that no family goes hungry when the system falters. We can fill shelves and protect the dignity of our neighbors in need.”
The government shutdown is centered on a stalemate between Republican and Democrat Congress members over a healthcare subsidy called the enhanced premium tax credit that was introduced in 2021.
The 200,000-plus Washingtonians who received these tax credits last year found their healthcare costs decreased by an average of $1,330, according to the office of the Insurance Commissioner for Washington State.
Open enrollment for healthcare on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange also began Nov. 1. The expiration of federal tax credits at the heart of the government shutdown are already causing increased costs of an average of 21% for next year, according to the commissioner.
An estimated 80,000 Washington residents are expected to no longer be able to afford healthcare coverage if the subsidies are not renewed.
This means that Snoqualmie Valley residents, like those throughout the country, could face both the loss of their food benefits this month and skyrocketing health insurance costs starting in January.
About 1 in 8 Washingtonians use SNAP, which means almost a million people are dealing with the uncertainty of the freeze on the funds.
Gov. Bob Ferguson announced on Oct. 28 that nearly $2.2 million per week will be directed to provide additional support to Washington’s food banks.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown also filed a lawsuit on Oct. 28 against the USDA, arguing the suspension of SNAP is unlawful.
For those who are looking to help their neighbors, the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank has outlined some tips on their website.
In a statement on their website, the food bank reminds the community of the special relevance the farming community has to the SNAP program.
“SNAP was first created during the Great Depression to connect farmers with families who were hungry. (history.com) That same spirit lives on here in the Snoqualmie Valley, where local farms continue to donate fresh produce and neighbors lift each other up every day. Their generosity, paired with the compassion of volunteers and donors, keeps healthy food flowing to every corner of our valley,” Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank Team said on their website.
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn announced in a press release on Oct. 30 that $52,000 in food security grants were released in the upcoming biennial budget. The awards will go to three local organizations: The Covington Storehouse, Plateau Outreach Ministries in Enumclaw, and the Maple Valley Food Bank.
“Our local nonprofits are stepping up every day, and it’s our job to make sure they have the resources to meet the moment,” Dunn said in the press release. “I’ll be fighting throughout budget negotiations to make sure this announcement is the first of many as we work to ensure that families are fed, regardless of what the federal government does or doesn’t do.”
For the most accurate and up to date information about both SNAP and cash benefits, visit the DSHS website.
Local resources
• Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank: 122 E. 3rd St., North Bend. 425-888-7823.
• Tolt UCC: 4851 Tolt Avenue, Carnation. 425-333-4254.
• Preston Food Bank: 31104 SE 86th St., Preston. 425-222-5573.
• Holy Innocents Food Pantry: 26526 NE Cherry Valley Rd., Duvall. 425-788-1400.
• Fall City Food Pantry: 4326 337th Place SE, Fall City. 425-269-8098.
