Representative Ross Hunter Chair, House Appropriations January 10, 2014 Dear Chairman Hunter: We, the undersigned support the request for a timely and much needed investment of $1 million into the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) for the second year of the 2013-­‐2015 budget. Currently, 1 in 5 Washingtonians rely on their local food bank, with older adults and children accounting for 54% of those visits. Added to the strain already felt by food banks, cuts to SNAP benefits have resulted in an estimated loss of 130,000 meals per day since November 1. In the face of these cuts, community food banks and churches continue working hard to provide necessary food for our neighbors, but they now find themselves struggling to keep up with the increased demand they’ve seen – and worked hard to serve -­‐ since the start of the recession and throughout this period of slow economic recovery. It is time for our state to step up and provide the support food banks need to distribute the food our communities need to survive. A relatively small investment of $1 million in additional funding to EFAP could leverage up to 3 million more meals for the remainder of the biennium. While this is not intended to make up for the loss of reduced SNAP benefits, it will certainly provide much the needed relief to our local food banks need, saving them from making terrible choices like turning away clients in need or limiting hours of operation. Adding funds in EFAP is an essential investment in our families and in our communities: EFAP dollars help the children, seniors, and families experiencing hunger meet their most basic of needs. This investment from the state along with required local matching dollars significantly increase the amount of food reaching the people who need it most. When families are fed, our communities are more stable, healthier and better able to work towards economic recovery and growth. Please act now to fight hunger for millions of Washingtonians by adding $1 million to EFAP during the 2014-­‐2015 operations budget, and thank you for your service to our state. List of supporters Adams Othello Food Bank Ritzville Food Pantry Mary Gallagher Sharon Mobley Asotin Asotin County Food Bank Joanne Huntley Chelan Cashmere Food Bank Entiat Valley Community Services Food Bank Upper Valley MEND Mary Hill Bob Mark Pam McNulty May Segle Bob Soule Clallam Port Angeles Food Bank Serenity House Jessica Hernandez Christine Kiehl Kay Walters Clark Battle Ground Adventist Community Services Clark County Community Action Program Clark County Food Bank FISH of Orchards Fish of Vancouver Inter-­‐Faith Treasure House Neighbors Helping Neighbors Pamela Bong Donald Espey Mike Fishcer James Fitzgerald Patricia Hauser Candice Howell George Kaufer Carolyn Waldron Nancy Wilson Cowlitz Linda Bringham Tammy Davies Douglas Allen Dietz Ferry GeriAnn Johnson Franklin Golden Age Food Share Anne Montgomery Grant Community Services of Moses Lake Mattawa Area Food Bank Soap Lake Food Bank Penny Archer Kitty Thomas Barbara Walters Grays Harbor Aberdeen Community Food Bank Coastal Community Action Program Ocean Shores Food Bank Anthony Airhart Joan Coampbell Jeanne Finke Lee and Susan Kloeppel Michael Lull Dawn Morales Carole Nagan Barbara Patton Johni Prinz Andrea Todd Island Lisa Brumley Annapoorne Colangelo Alice Goss Jefferson Mercedita del Vallie Randy Swenson King Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) Alki UCC Ballard Food Bank Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue Centerstone DAWN Domestic Abuse Womens Network Des Moines Area Food Bank Enumclaw Kiwanis Food Bank Family Works Food Bank at St Mary's Hopelink Hunger Intervention Program Immanuel Community Services Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank Jewish Family Service Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle Lifelong AIDS Alliance Noel House Programs North Helpline Occupy Chaplains Pike Market Food Bank Pike Place Market Foundation Rainier Valley Food Bank Ronald UMC Seattle Food Committee Sisters of Providence Solid Ground South King County Food Coalition South Park Area Redevelopment Committee The Auburn Food Bank University District Food Bank Vashon Maury Community Food Bank Vashon Island Fruit Club West Seattle Democratic Women West Seattle Food Bank Westside Interfaith Network White Center Food Bank Aylea Allen Emma Amiad Brian Anderson Ardith Arrington Christi Beckley Ruth Bell Dick Birnbaum John Birnel Rev. Tsukina Blessing Wendy Blight David Bobanick Kay Brayden Regina Brennan Kathleen Burgess Robin Callahan Jenna Carodiskey-­‐Wiebe Zach Carstensen Betty Chan Judy Chase Colby Chester Debbie Christian Marcia Clarke Mary Anne Coles Judy Cornwall Mike Cox Dagmar Cronn Steven Curry Michael J. Dabrowski Anita Das Lisa Davidson Bailey de Longh Melissa Derecola Judith Desmarais Mary Anne deVry Patricia Dodds Lenora Donovan Wanda Dray Lou Oma Durand Holly Eckert Margery Edwards Carla Englander Virginia English Kristi Gasken Mark Gibbs Brandon Gillespie Rachel Glass Beatrice Greenwald Andrew Grisham Mary Grondin Joe Gruber Amanda Gutierrez Kay Hardie Elizabeth Heath Joyce Hengesbach Domingo Hermosillo Anthony Hill Barbara Hillier Richard Hodgin Barb Houston-­‐Shimizu Angela Hudkins Charlene Hudon Jennifer Ibach Karen Jackel Ann Jackson Ann Jacobus David James J. R. Jarvis Sabrina Jones Amber Joy Rick Jump C.J. Kahler Linda Kaplan Rudik Kazaryan Sang Kim Megan Knight Robin Koskey Claire Lane Julie Lawell Yvonne LeBlanc Alan Lott Tammi Lynd Cynthia Lyons Erin MacDonald Emily MacRae Stephanie Marin Melodie Martin Marilyn Mason-­‐Plunkett Mary McGuire Brenda Michaels Nancy Miller Daniel Mount Nate Moxley Robert Mueller Kate Murphy Roger Nachman Abby Nafziger Ruben Nieto Cathy Oberg Breanna Oberlin Sam Osborne Gina Pantier Alison Pence Anne Phillips Jennifer Phillips Yvonne Pitrof Sharon Poole Jana Prothman Kristin Ramsdale Rebecca Rayner Dennis Reid Carol Roach Diane Rose Katharine Ryan Rita Selin Angela Smith Ervin Steinle Cinda Stenger Heather Stock Bettina Stokes Vicky Stratton Hoyt Suppes Josephine Tamayo Murray Jane Tapp Victoria Trimble-­‐Lowe Patty Turnberg Terri Turner Trish Twomey Kris Van Gasken Lisa Vandermay Diane Vickers Cori Walters Laura Westbrook Jay Williamson Emily Willoughby Deb Wingert Boots Winterstein Kathleen Wolfe Fran Yeatts Michael Disney Kitsap Bremerton Foodline South Kitsap Helpline Julie Cohen Frances Frederick Jennifer Hardison Tena M. Barbara Matthiessen Scott Menard Patricia Peterson Sheryl Piercy Melissa Young Kittitas FISH Food Bank HopeSource Diane Friddle Philip Garrison Roger McCune JoAnn Rushton Lewis Greater Chehalis Food Bank Lewis County Food Bank Coalition Bonnie Pedersen Jeff Smith Mason Community Food Pantry Mason County Hospital District 2 Matlock Food Bank Melody Hopfensperger John Pais Tommy Thombs Okanogan Brewster Food Pantry Okanogan County Community Action Council Omak food bank Wauconda food bank Kristi Breezee Bonnie Colpitts Peggy Doyle Dorothy Palmer Pacific Ocean Park Food Bank Michael Goldberg Pend Oreille Cusick Food Bank Jo Benham Pierce Eatonville Family Agency Eatonville Police Department Eatonville School District Eatonville Town Council EatonvilleNews.net Edgewood Community FISH Food Bank Emergency Food Network Family Agency FISH Food Banks of Pierce County My Sister's Pantry NW Tacoma FISH Food Bank Orting Food Bank Southeast FISH Food Bank St. Leo Food Connection St.Andrew Emmanuel Food Pantry Tacoma-­‐Pierce County Chaplaincy The Pantry at Grace Place The Rescue Mission West Rainier Economic Development Initiative Dawn Abston Laurie Anderson Ray & Linda Arment Dawn Bailey Shana Baker Jim Beaudoin Kay Bratton Stephanie Brincefield Sarah Cole Christopher Croft Lori Culver Martha Curwen Miranda Doll Eliza Duncan Beth Elliott Elizabeth Essig Arlene Evavold Gaille Finley Patricia Fritts Penny Gazabat Angie Gendreau Jeanne Gilbert Kevin Glackin-­‐Coley Helena Gordon Abby Gribi Eugene Gribi Debra Hamilton Emily Happy Bart Keough Sylvia Korte Stephanie Lathrop Erin Lee Kathy Linnemeyer Jason McGuire Shirley McLaughlin Lacey Meadows Diane Mettler Jessica Moore Heather Mueller Steve and Annette Munce Marty Olson David Ottey Ron Pace Geneal Palmer Debbie Price Corcoran Steve Putney Karelina Resnick Aaron Roberts Linda Schier Lucy Schilter-­‐Mckee Pamm Silver Diane Steeves Marcus Stoll Dr Jay Sullivan Tim Tallon Shianne Trentman Denise Trivelas Lynne Van Cour Dixie Walter Frank Washburn Marie Weis Kathleen Wright Skagit Clearlake Comunity Food Bank Community Action Skagit/Regional LTC Ombudsman Hamilton Community Food Bank LaConner Sunrise Food Bank Sandi Everest Darrel Gadbois Hal Hupy Anita Kelley Snohomish Arlington Community Food Bank Concern For Neighbors Food Bank Granite Falls Food Bank Hands of Hope Food Bank Holy Cross Outreach Lynnwood Food Bank Marysville Community Food Bank Outreach Presbyterian Church USA Hunger Program Snohomish Community Food Bank Snohomish Community Kitchen Snohomish County Community Services Advisory Council Stanwood Camano Food Bank Services VOA-­‐Hands of Hope Darlene Anderson Rick Bentley Bruce Burnett June Carriere Candy Cavalier Dell Deierling Judy Finn Nancy Fitch Christine Fox Gay Garvin Leann Geiger Rev. Richard Gibson Elizabeth Grant Matthew Grossaint Rand Guthrie Karen Guzak Sherry Haigh Nathan Heber William Howald Jerrie Inman Douglas Karl John Lato Jr Sandra Mahoskey Stephanie McMillen-­‐Sherry Sue Osborn Anne Peterson Betty Snyder Vana Spear Jack Stansfield A. Sue Thompson James Thompson John Tubbs Karin Virnig Ina Wills Joann Wilson Spokane North County Food Pantry Northeast Food Pantry Second Harvest Southside Food Pantry Spokane Valley Partners St. Aloysius Church Jason Clark Donna Comstock Jandyl Doak Darlene Hansen Marie Ilch Connie Nelson Susan Peterson Barbara Savage Shawn Stevenson Mary Tyllia George Waldref Stevens Loon Lake Food Bank and Resource Center Becky Esvelt Sarah and Cliff Nelson Gael Treesiwin Susan Urhausen Ruth A. Vetsch Thurston Olympia UGM Rainier Emergency Food Center ROOF Community Services Tenino Food Bank Thurston County Food Bank Robert Coit Nancy Decker LM Donaldson Linda Graham Nathan Howard Kellie McNelly Merritt Mount Robin Rudy Lisa VanBrunt John Walsh Walla Walla Kathy Covey Gail McGhee Whatcom Blaine Food Bank Ferndale Food Bank Foothills Food Bank Lummi Food Bank Point Roberts Food Bank Gerry Bladies Mike Cohen Colleen Curtis David Finet Cynthia Jensen Dorothy Jordan Elaine Lane Suzanne Nevan Henry Rosenthal Joan Smith Cheryl Thompson Stephanie Trasoff Patti Wright Whitman Council on Aging and Human Services Suzy McNeilly Yakima OIC of Washington Selah food bank St. Michael's Episcopal Food Pantry Sunnyside ACS Food Bank Toppenish Community Chest Yakima Food Bank Cecilia Chavez Melvin Gray Earl Hall The Rev Ernest & Dorothy Harrelson Deacon William Hudson Pastor Larry D Mays Alice St.Hilaire William White Cecilia Xhavez Coastal Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (Clallam, Jefferson) Coastal Harvest (Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Pacific, Mason, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Lewis) Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) (Jefferson, Clallam) The Salvation Army (Kitsap, Mason) Southwest Lower Columbia Community Action Program (Cowlitz, Wahkiakum) North Puget Sound HEAL (King, Snohomish) Multi-­‐Service Center (King, Pierce) POM Food Bank (Pierce, King) Volunteers of America – Everett (King, Snohomish) Bellingham Food Bank (Whatcom, San Juan) Opportunity Council (Whatcom, Island, San Juan) Central Chelan-­‐Douglas Community Action (Chelan, Douglas) Apoyo Food Bank (Kittitas, Grant, Yakima) Colville Confederated Tribes (Okanogan, Ferry) Eastern The GreenHouse Community Center (Spokane, Stevens) Ford Food Pantry (Stevens, Lincoln) Kettle Falls Community Chest (Stevens, Ferry) Providence NEW Hunger Coalition (Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille) Blue Mountain Action Council (Walla Walla, Columbia, Asotin, Garfield) Regional Organizations Food Lifeline (King, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum ,Whatcom) Second Harvest (Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima) Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (King, Whatcom, Island, Skagit, San Juan, Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Lewis, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark) Statewide Organizations Building Changes Conscious Talk Radio National Association of Social Workers Washington State Chapter Northwest Harvest Nutrition First Rotary First Harvest Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Washington State Community Action Partnership Washington State Food and Nutrition Council For More information Contact: Katharine Ryan, Food Lifeline (206) 601-­‐4478, [email protected] Claire Lane, Northwest Harvest (206) 446-­‐0966, [email protected]