The City of Seattle is dedicating up to $8 million in emergency funding for local food banks and meal services to ensure food security for residents facing disruptions in federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The announcement follows the unanimous confirmation by the City Council of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Limited Civil Emergency.

The City plans to allocate up to $1 million per week in assistance, continuing this support through the end of 2025 or until the federal government fully restores SNAP funding. This action comes as uncertainty looms regarding the amount and timing of federal SNAP allocations.

“While Trump and his Republican allies in Congress have created uncertainty around SNAP funding, Seattle is stepping up to ensure no family goes hungry,” said Mayor Harrell. He thanked the City Council for their unanimous action, committing the funds to the city’s “trusted network of food banks and meal service partners who are on the front lines serving our community”.

The emergency funding aims to help meet increased demand for food through the end of the year. The assistance will support approximately 30 food banks and over 20 community meal programs. This network also includes support for home grocery delivery, Farm to Preschool & Farm to Childcare programs, and school-based food programs in highly vulnerable neighborhoods, in partnership with Seattle Public Schools (SPS).

The urgency of the situation was heightened by recent federal actions. On Friday, two federal judges ruled against the Trump administration due to "unnecessary delays" in allocating billions of dollars in contingency funding to SNAP participants. More than 50,000 households in Seattle rely on these benefits to meet basic food needs. Although the Trump administration indicated it will make partial SNAP payments in November, the timing of those payments remains uncertain. The Mayor’s Office is actively monitoring the implications of these judicial rulings and administrative actions to address any disruptions in SNAP payments.

The City of Seattle has also launched a consolidated SNAP webpage at seattle.gov/food-assistance. This new resource includes a search tool to help residents find the nearest food bank or meal program, information on other available resources, and ways the public can help.

Mayor Harrell encouraged community members to act, stating, “I encourage everyone who is able to donate to their neighborhood food bank—every dollar makes a difference in keeping our neighbors fed during this challenging time”.

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School Meals Update

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) clarified that free school meals for children, including breakfast and lunch, are not impacted by the federal government shutdown. Children who receive SNAP benefits are eligible for free meals at school. Additionally, over 50 schools in the district already offer free meals to all students. For more information on student meal programs, resources are available on the SPS website.