(The Center Square) – Snohomish County is sending nearly $3 million in federal dollars to the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition with Christmas Day coming soon.
The funds stem from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation. According to the county, addressing food security was one of its top six priorities last year. The Snohomish County Health Department found that about 9% of county residents are lacking in food security.
The county’s Healthy People 2030 Goal aims to reduce food insecurity to 6% of households.
“No one should go hungry, especially during the holiday season,” Snohomish County Councilmember Megan Dunn said in a statement. “I’m proud that our County prioritized funding for our food banks to support our social safety net and ensure access to healthy and culturally appropriate food all year long.”
There are 18 food banks across the region that are a part of the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition. They serve around 650,000 residents.
According to the county, the nearly $3 million supports the distribution of roughly 26.5 million pounds of food.
The county also provides food assistance through its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food stamps for lower-income households to meet their food needs. In 2020, 8.9% of Snohomish County’s population was enrolled in the program.
Notably, 45% of Snohomish County’s food-insecure population makes too much money to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other food assistance programs.
“The holiday season can be especially difficult for those with food insecurities,” Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring said. “I am proud of Snohomish County’s investments in our local food banks and hope that our communities continue to support those making sure every family and individual has food on their plate.”
