Standing Together!

When a family's food budget is disrupted, the impact is immediate — stress rises, options shrink, and the ripple effects are felt throughout the home.

Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the SNAP program — which supports roughly 42 million Americans — is facing a funding cliff. Here in our community, we believe in togetherness, compassion, and action.

We also want to acknowledge the generosity within our own Seattle Amistad School community. Our on-campus Family Pantry, created by our families for our families, continues to stay stocked thanks to your donations and care. It's a reflection of what makes Amistad so special: when one of us needs support, we show up for each other.

We want you to know: you are not alone.

What's happening and why it matters

• SNAP benefits for October were generally processed as usual.
• The federal shutdown threatens November's benefit payments; many states have warned households may face delays or no payments until funding is restored.
• Even if benefits are later paid retroactively, that doesn't solve the immediate gap many families face.
• During this gap, families may have little to no SNAP support and will likely turn to food banks, community food programs, and local outreach.

Local and immediate support

• Toasted Bagels & Coffee (Seattle) — free meals with no questions; join the "neighbor's tab" fund.
• Radnor's Burgers & Beignets (Tacoma) — donated meals for SNAP-impacted families; donations welcome.
• United Way of King County — home grocery delivery program and food-resource portal.
• Food Lifeline — supports food-bank partners across the region; good for referrals.
• Hopelink (Redmond / King County) — food-bank services and additional assistance for low-income families.
• ChuMinh Tofu & Vegan Deli (Seattle – ID) — weekly free vegetarian meals.
• Northwest Harvest — statewide network of food banks.

Add to the list

If you are, or know of, restaurants or organizations offering assistance to families during this period, please reach out to erica.carraway@seattleamistadschool.org. We'll continue to update this list as new community resources come in.

Together, we can make sure no family goes hungry.