Take Actions for SNAP!

Budget committees in the House and Senate will be marking up proposals this week and the Food Research and Action Center anticipates floor votes will come next week. Please take a moment to join in the following three actions:

1.       Contact Senators Murray and Cantwell and your member of Congress and ask them to oppose any efforts to cut or alter the structure of SNAP. Be sure to let them know that the words “enhanced state flexibility” is code words for block granting SNAP.

2.       Please sign your organization (if you are allowed to do so) and yourself as an individual onto this petition opposing SNAP cuts: bit.ly/1FUaioE Please also share the link with your networks—on Twitter, tag @fractweets and use #SNAP.

3.       Please also participate and share the word about Rep. Jim McGovern’s virtual paper plate campaign. Write a message about what SNAP means to you and it will go on a paper plate on his website and he is reading messages in his weekly 5 minute #EndHungerNow speeches on the House floor. When you share information about the campaign, use #FillUpYourPlatehttp://mcgovern.house.gov/FillUpYourPlate

A message from Northwest Harvest 

Job Announcement: Harvest Program Coordinator at Hopelink

The Hopelink Harvest Program (formerly called Sno-Valley Harvest) increases access to healthy and locally grown food at Hopelink and other food banks in their service area. The Harvest Coordinator is responsible for coordinating Hopelink's efforts to bring fresh produce from local farms, gardens, and farmers markets into the food bank. This position also helps to develop and coordinate educational opportunities about food and healthy eating for Hopelink program members. This positions will report to the Associate Director of Food.

Click here for more information and to apply!

Department: Client Services
Location: Carnation, WA
Compensation: $15.50 per hour, DOE
Work Schedule: Full Time, M-F, 8:30-5pm (some evenings/weekends required to attend community events, host gleaning events, etc.)
Benefits: Eligible 
Opening Date: March 2015 
Closing Date: When Filled

Meet Our Members

The Port Angeles Food Bank

The Port Angeles Food Bank has been located in a City owned building for the past 14 years. Jessica Hernandez, Executive Director, has been with the food bank since January 2014. 



The food bank is open three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-3:30 p.m. and serve on average 150 to 200 families each of their service days. They have no geographical restrictions to their program. 



When clients come into the food bank they are greeted by a newly painted mural by local tattoo artist Jimbo Cutler which depicts the journey of fruits and vegetables from being planted to harvest to consumption. 

Clients first receive a “line bag” which contains basic food items such as canned fruit, vegetables, pasta and a protein item like tuna. As clients move through the space they can chose from bakery products, add miscellaneous canned or boxed items to their bag, as well as protein and dairy items.

Then they reach the produce area where fruits and vegetables are artfully displayed on new display shelves donated by recently closed Albertsons. Clients can choose from fresh produce donated by local stores and businesses.  

The food bank also purchases food approximately $45,000 per year. The food bank receives food from Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline in addition to many local stores and businesses in their community including two Wal-Marts, Costco, two Safeway stores and an Albertson store that is becoming a Haggen’s Foods.

Forty nine percent of all their donated food comes from the local Wal-Marts. The food bank also has a Back Pack program that serves five elementary schools and one

middle school in Port Angeles, and one K-12 school in Joyce, WA.

Advocacy Action: Breakfast After the Bell!

Breakfast After the Bell

We are so close to making a real difference for hungry kids and improving their performance in school by making school breakfast a part of the school day. Please act now to tell your Senator to support SB 5437: Breakfast After the Bell. Read more

What You Can Do:  Take a minute to urge your Senator to vote for SB 5437: Breakfast After the Bell. The best way to do this is to make a phone call or send an email directly to your Senator and tell them the following: Breakfast is a proven and efficient way to help hungry students improve their academic achievements, yet Washington is failing when it comes to reaching kids with breakfast, ranking 43rd in the nation in school breakfast participation. SB 5437 will break down the biggest barriers to breakfast participation by making breakfast a part of the school day at high poverty schools, and providing those schools with start-up funds to cover program costs. It only makes sense to serve breakfast when kids are actually at school to eat it! Help feed hungry kids - vote YES on SB 5437.  Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000  Find your Senator's email and office number. Another option is to use this form letter from the Children's Alliance. Be sure to add a quick sentence or two to personalize the letter before sending it.