ACTION ALERT: Food is Political. So Are the Solutions. Here’s What You Can Do.

Federal cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and food bank funding are no longer just threats or headlines—they’ve been signed into law. And their impacts are showing up in grocery aisles, empty fridges, and overwhelmed food banks across Washington. 

Nearly 1 million Washingtonians who rely on these programs are already feeling the pain. Food banks are seeing rising demand and have fewer resources to meet it. And the people most affected—seniors, working families, people with disabilities—are being forced to do more with less. 

This isn’t about scarcity. It’s about priorities. 

That’s why, as part of our Meaning of Food campaign, we’re focusing this month on the theme Food is Political. Because, while hunger is shaped by many forces, policy is one of the most immediate levers we can pull to make change. 

Seven Things You Can Do Today

1. Urge State Lawmakers to Act: Ask your state legislators to help close the gaps left by federal cuts—by protecting and expanding local food access programs.  → Find your legislators >
2. Show Up Locally: Attend a town hall, community forum, or public event where your elected officials will be. Ask them how they plan to respond to these cuts. → Find upcoming town halls and public meetings near you>
3. Engage in Advocacy Led by Impacted Communities: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), rural communities, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities are among those most impacted—and often least heard.  → Help center and amplify marginalized voices > 
4. Support Community-Based Solutions: Donate to, or volunteer with, food banks and mutual aid networks in your area. These organizations are on the front lines.  → Search our statewide partner map for solutions near you > 
5. Connect & Build Community: Whether it’s through a local food justice group, a community garden, or a mutual aid network, connection is powerful. Collective care and shared learning help sustain this work—and each other. →  Browse mutual aid and grassroots food justice groups in your area > 
6. Commit to Learning More
   Explore our Food is Political page to learn more about this month’s community conversation, and check out this recent article from the Washington State Standard: Washington Food Banks On the Brink → Learn more about how Food is Political > 
7. Share Your Story
   Have you or someone you know been impacted by cuts to food banks, SNAP, and Medicaid? Share your voice and help shift the narrative.  → Share your Impact Story > 

Why It Matters 

When federal safety nets are slashed, state and local action becomes more important than ever. The decisions made in Olympia, in county council meetings, and in city halls across Washington will determine whether our most vulnerable neighbors weather this storm—or get left behind. 

Together, we can push for policies that reflect our values: dignity, equity, and the right to food. And each of us has a role to play—whether that’s contacting a legislator, sharing a story, volunteering locally, or simply learning more. There’s no one way to show up. What matters is that we do. 

PS: For a deep dive into how cuts made in the “other Washington” are impacting us here at home, read our Federal Funding Cuts Impact Survey.