Current Actions

• Thank Your State Legislators!

  State lawmakers voted to pass a budget that maintains funding for vital anti-hunger and nutrition programs, including school nutrition, the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), and State Food Assistance!

  
  Please take the time to thank your lawmakers for funding these important programs. In a time of competing interests and a serious budget deficit, we appreciate their hard work and commitment to feeding those in need.

  
  Please click on the link to send a “Thank You” to your state lawmakers.

• SFA in Danger Once Again. Share Your Voice and Save Meals for Thousands.

  Last Friday, the state Senate passed a budget that eliminates the State Food Assistance Program (SFA).  While we very much appreciate the efforts made by the House and several members of the Senate to preserve this program, it is now clearly in danger of elimination.

  
  As budget negotiations continue, we are reaching out to you once again to voice your opposition to eliminating SFA.  Elimination means that 14,000 individuals will no longer have this program as a first line of defense against hunger as they struggle to provide food and nutrition for their families.  It also means more pressure will be placed on area food banks, meal programs and shelters who are already straining to keep up with increased need.

  
  Time is running out. Contact your lawmakers TODAY to oppose elimination of the SFA!

• A Need to Preserve SFA and Increase Revenue in the 2012 State Budget

  The state house released its budget this week and the senate is expected to release theirs soon. Funding was maintained for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, school nutrition, the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, and for the State Food Assistance Program (the food stamp look-alike program for legal immigrants). Unfortunately, State Food Assistance has only retained funding at 50%.  This is inadequate to serve the increasing numbers of legal immigrants and their families who rely on this program as their first line of defense against hunger.
  The legislature also failed to find adequate sources of revenue. We believe these cuts could have been avoided, and programs and services preserved, with a more concerted effort to find additional revenue sources this session. By foregoing this discussion, the important and necessary decision of additional revenue and a more balanced approach to solving our current and long-term budget challenges is only delayed. It merely places a band-aid on a hemorrhage that none of us can stop with spending cuts alone. Increases in revenue would minimize cuts to vital safety net programs and create a more balanced approach to solving our state budget deficit.
  Please send in an email to your legislators thanking them for supporting important anti-hunger program.  Please also ask them to fully fund SFA at a time of increased need, and to find more sources of revenue to support important programs that are helping struggling families.

  
  

• 2012 Washington State Legislative Session Has Begun

  The 2012 Washington State Legislative Session has begun! There are a number of vital hunger relief programs on the chopping block. We have 60 days to impress upon our legislators the importance of funding for these programs, which include the State Food Assistance Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, School Nutrition Programs, and the WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program. Please lend your voice while we have the chance to share our priorities with lawmakers. Follow the link above!