No One Should Go Hungry

Food Lifeline means a lot to me. When I taught 4th Grade at Villa Academy, my grade level team partnered with Food Lifeline every year for an extended service learning project. We took our students to their warehouse to sort and package food for food banks, we hosted soup dinners to raise funds, and we taught our students about hunger and food insecurity. It was a huge part of our year, and I walked away with immense respect for what Food Lifeline does in our community.

On November 1st, approximately 42 million Americans (almost 17 million of whom are children under the age of 17) will lose their SNAP benefits. This means that many families, active-duty military personnel, children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities will struggle to eat. These are our neighbors - the people who grow our food, teach our kids, care for our elders, and serve in our armed forces. 

When thinking about what to do in this moment - I though of Food Lifeline right away. Food I trust Food Lifeline to act strategically—preventing food waste, growing healthy produce for food banks, funding community-based solutions, and getting food where it’s needed most. Food Lifeline works with around 300 food banks, shelters and meal-program agencies - they know where food is needed and will be helping many who are in need.

Until SNAP benefits are reinstated, I'm planning to donate and hope a lot of my friends and family will join me. I’m giving $200 to start and hoping 50 other donors will pitch in between now and Thanksgiving. Every dollar truly helps:

• Based on regional estimates, $5–$6 provides one meal for someone in need.

• $25 can help provide about five meals, $100 around 20 meals, and $200 roughly 40 meals—enough to feed a family of four for a week.

• Food Lifeline distributes 75 million pounds of food each year across Washington, stretching every dollar to feed as many people as possible.

This Thanksgiving, I'll have the privilege of gathering a crowded table with my family and eating a feast. I hope that enough of us can give so that others can share in this abundance and will have full plates this Thanksgiving. There is no reason anyone in our country should go hungry.