1.1 About Food Assistance: Overview
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) supports the steady growth of agriculture in Washington (WA). We use service, regulation, and advocacy to protect consumers, public health, and the environment. We strive to build better food systems, align with WSDA’s Focus on Food initiative, and improve food security for all.
We provide resources to more than 600 hunger relief organizations across the state that in turn provide food assistance to one in four (1:4) Washingtonians (Source: 2024 EFAP Data). There were 13.4 million food pantry visits in 2024 which is a staggering 70% increase since 2021. We focus on providing food, funding, and support for innovative new initiatives for these organizations. We also provide logistics support, technical assistance, emergency management, and more. These hunger relief organizations make up a network that includes food banks, food pantries, meal programs, community action councils, tribes, tribal organizations, and others. In partnership with FA, this network of organizations implements important state and federal food assistance programs at the local level. To resource this network, FA has agreements with 50+ Lead Agencies and Tribes, and they distribute emergency food resources to local organizations in all 39 counties of the state.
We rely on many partnerships to meet the needs of Washington State residents and our hunger relief network. This network thrives on connection, communication, and transparency. In 2011, we established the Food Assistance Advisory Committee (FAAC) which is part of the Washington Food Coalition. The FAAC advises us on the needs of the network. They help us improve FA policies, procedures, guide our strategy, and optimize our programs. FA prioritizes connection, communication, and transparency with the broader hunger relief network, hosting monthly calls with the network and supports multiple committees and workgroups.
We seek to advance equity through our programs. This means supporting the dignity of anyone eligible for food assistance. We also strive to expand cultural food options for all participants. In recent years, we have made significant strides in reducing client access barriers. In 2021, we clarified that clients may self-declare their eligibility for most programs. We have removed service area restrictions so clients can access food wherever they are in Washington State.
These improvement efforts are ongoing. We will continue to engage stakeholders to improve our service to all Washington communities. We will strengthen the hunger relief network and champion food sovereignty. We will also support economic opportunities for local farmers and producers that help them grow. FA continues to learn and act on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. We must expand food access for all, advance equity, and address critical funding gaps.
Since 2020, we have launched many new initiatives and currently administer 9 programs and over 4 grants. These efforts all contribute to a more resilient food system. Before COVID-19, FA distributed $23-40 million each year through its programs. Since COVID-19, our annual funding ranges between $60-90 million. This increase in funds is vital to addressing gaps in the hunger relief network. Our partners are still experiencing increased costs, decreased donations, supply chain disruptions, and growing community needs.
Provides nutritious food packages to eligible participants 60 years of age and over (limited availability). Serves approximately 5,372 seniors each month (64,464 visits per year). Funded by USDA and established in 2001.
Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
Provides funding to local food banks and food pantries, including tribal food pantries, to provide food to lower-income Washingtonians and people experiencing homelessness. Funds can cover expenses such as food, operations, training, equipment, and repairs. Serves approximately 2.2 million people each year (13.4 million visits). Funded by the state of Washington and established in 1986.
Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) - Tribal and Tribal Voucher Program
Provides funding to tribal food banks and food pantries to provide food to lower-income Washingtonians and people experiencing homeless. In addition to EFAP-Tribal food pantry programs, funding may be used to support the costs of operating the tribal voucher program. EFAP-Tribal Food Pantry and Voucher programs serve approximately 8,150 tribal members each year. Funded by the state of Washington and established in 1986 (Food Pantry) and 1992 (Food Voucher).
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Provides USDA Foods to hunger relief organizations that distribute food for household use and prepared meals. Income eligibility for household use is 400% or below the federal poverty level. Provides limited operational funding to support the distribution of over 135 types of food including fresh, frozen, and shelf stable. Serves over 1 million people each month. Funded by USDA and established in 1981.
TEFAP Farm to Food Bank (TEFAP FTFB)
Provides funding to hunger relief organizations to reduce food waste by supporting harvesting, packing, processing, and/or distributing donated foods from farmers and growers to emergency food organizations. Funded by USDA and established in 2019, anticipated to be reauthorized in the Farm Bill.
TEFAP Reach and Resiliency (TEFAP R&R)
Supports TEFAP hunger relief organizations to expand the reach of TEFAP to remote, rural, tribal, lower-income, and underserved areas. These short-term grants can pay for equipment, operational costs, and client services. Funded by USDA and established in 2022, anticipated to run through 2025.
Farm to Food Pantry (F2FP)
Funds long-term relationships between hunger relief organizations and small-scale farmers for the procurement and distribution of fresh local produce, dairy, grains, and proteins to the community. Funded by the state of Washington and established in 2014 in partnership with Harvest Against Hunger. In 2024, F2FP had 237 participating farmers.
Resiliency Grants (RG)
Competitive grant funds to support hunger relief organizations and tribes local hunger-relief efforts (food, equipment, staffing, operations, etc.). This program was initially for responding to COVID-19 and its longer-term effects. Funded by Washington State Legislature and Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (part of the American Rescue Plan Act) and established in 2021.
Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) & LFPA Plus
Provides funds to hunger relief organizations and tribes participating in FA core programs to support purchases of local foods for distribution to rural, remote, and underserved communities. The funding aims to improve supply chain resiliency by supporting local and regional partnerships between socially disadvantaged farmers, producers, ranchers, and underserved communities. Funded by USDA-AMS and established in 2022, anticipated to run through at least 2025.
Other Initiatives, Grants, Pilots
Reserve Warehouse, Washington Commodities Donation Grant Program, SNAP-Ed (Nutrition Focused), Disaster Household Distribution (USDA), Spice Purchases, Capacity Survey, Direct Food Purchasing, Gap Funding (TEFAP/CSFP/LFPA) and more.
We are honored to work in partnership with hunger relief organizations, tribes, and the agricultural community to ensure access to healthy food and sustain vibrant communities for all Washingtonians.
We provide resources to more than 600 hunger relief organizations across the state that in turn provide food assistance to one in four (1:4) Washingtonians (Source: 2024 EFAP Data). There were 13.4 million food pantry visits in 2024 which is a staggering 70% increase since 2021. We focus on providing food, funding, and support for innovative new initiatives for these organizations. We also provide logistics support, technical assistance, emergency management, and more. These hunger relief organizations make up a network that includes food banks, food pantries, meal programs, community action councils, tribes, tribal organizations, and others. In partnership with FA, this network of organizations implements important state and federal food assistance programs at the local level. To resource this network, FA has agreements with 50+ Lead Agencies and Tribes, and they distribute emergency food resources to local organizations in all 39 counties of the state.
We rely on many partnerships to meet the needs of Washington State residents and our hunger relief network. This network thrives on connection, communication, and transparency. In 2011, we established the Food Assistance Advisory Committee (FAAC) which is part of the Washington Food Coalition. The FAAC advises us on the needs of the network. They help us improve FA policies, procedures, guide our strategy, and optimize our programs. FA prioritizes connection, communication, and transparency with the broader hunger relief network, hosting monthly calls with the network and supports multiple committees and workgroups.
We seek to advance equity through our programs. This means supporting the dignity of anyone eligible for food assistance. We also strive to expand cultural food options for all participants. In recent years, we have made significant strides in reducing client access barriers. In 2021, we clarified that clients may self-declare their eligibility for most programs. We have removed service area restrictions so clients can access food wherever they are in Washington State.
These improvement efforts are ongoing. We will continue to engage stakeholders to improve our service to all Washington communities. We will strengthen the hunger relief network and champion food sovereignty. We will also support economic opportunities for local farmers and producers that help them grow. FA continues to learn and act on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. We must expand food access for all, advance equity, and address critical funding gaps.
Since 2020, we have launched many new initiatives and currently administer 9 programs and over 4 grants. These efforts all contribute to a more resilient food system. Before COVID-19, FA distributed $23-40 million each year through its programs. Since COVID-19, our annual funding ranges between $60-90 million. This increase in funds is vital to addressing gaps in the hunger relief network. Our partners are still experiencing increased costs, decreased donations, supply chain disruptions, and growing community needs.
Food Assistance Programming Includes:
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)Provides nutritious food packages to eligible participants 60 years of age and over (limited availability). Serves approximately 5,372 seniors each month (64,464 visits per year). Funded by USDA and established in 2001.
Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
Provides funding to local food banks and food pantries, including tribal food pantries, to provide food to lower-income Washingtonians and people experiencing homelessness. Funds can cover expenses such as food, operations, training, equipment, and repairs. Serves approximately 2.2 million people each year (13.4 million visits). Funded by the state of Washington and established in 1986.
Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) - Tribal and Tribal Voucher Program
Provides funding to tribal food banks and food pantries to provide food to lower-income Washingtonians and people experiencing homeless. In addition to EFAP-Tribal food pantry programs, funding may be used to support the costs of operating the tribal voucher program. EFAP-Tribal Food Pantry and Voucher programs serve approximately 8,150 tribal members each year. Funded by the state of Washington and established in 1986 (Food Pantry) and 1992 (Food Voucher).
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Provides USDA Foods to hunger relief organizations that distribute food for household use and prepared meals. Income eligibility for household use is 400% or below the federal poverty level. Provides limited operational funding to support the distribution of over 135 types of food including fresh, frozen, and shelf stable. Serves over 1 million people each month. Funded by USDA and established in 1981.
TEFAP Farm to Food Bank (TEFAP FTFB)
Provides funding to hunger relief organizations to reduce food waste by supporting harvesting, packing, processing, and/or distributing donated foods from farmers and growers to emergency food organizations. Funded by USDA and established in 2019, anticipated to be reauthorized in the Farm Bill.
TEFAP Reach and Resiliency (TEFAP R&R)
Supports TEFAP hunger relief organizations to expand the reach of TEFAP to remote, rural, tribal, lower-income, and underserved areas. These short-term grants can pay for equipment, operational costs, and client services. Funded by USDA and established in 2022, anticipated to run through 2025.
Farm to Food Pantry (F2FP)
Funds long-term relationships between hunger relief organizations and small-scale farmers for the procurement and distribution of fresh local produce, dairy, grains, and proteins to the community. Funded by the state of Washington and established in 2014 in partnership with Harvest Against Hunger. In 2024, F2FP had 237 participating farmers.
Resiliency Grants (RG)
Competitive grant funds to support hunger relief organizations and tribes local hunger-relief efforts (food, equipment, staffing, operations, etc.). This program was initially for responding to COVID-19 and its longer-term effects. Funded by Washington State Legislature and Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (part of the American Rescue Plan Act) and established in 2021.
Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) & LFPA Plus
Provides funds to hunger relief organizations and tribes participating in FA core programs to support purchases of local foods for distribution to rural, remote, and underserved communities. The funding aims to improve supply chain resiliency by supporting local and regional partnerships between socially disadvantaged farmers, producers, ranchers, and underserved communities. Funded by USDA-AMS and established in 2022, anticipated to run through at least 2025.
Other Initiatives, Grants, Pilots
Reserve Warehouse, Washington Commodities Donation Grant Program, SNAP-Ed (Nutrition Focused), Disaster Household Distribution (USDA), Spice Purchases, Capacity Survey, Direct Food Purchasing, Gap Funding (TEFAP/CSFP/LFPA) and more.
We are honored to work in partnership with hunger relief organizations, tribes, and the agricultural community to ensure access to healthy food and sustain vibrant communities for all Washingtonians.
1.2 Food Assistance Contact Information
Food Assistance - General Information
Phone: 360-725-5640
Email: foodassistance@agr.wa.gov
Kim Eads, Food Assistance Program Manager
Phone: 360-250-4848
Email: keads@agr.wa.gov
Kyle Merslich, Food Assistance Program & Policy Administrator
Phone: 360-515-6413
Email: kmerslich@agr.wa.gov
Food Inventory & Logistics Team
James Scovel, Food Assistance Specialist Logistics Lead
Phone: 360-280-9113
Email: james.scovel@agr.wa.gov
John Carney, Food Assistance Inventory & Training Coordinator
Phone: 360-489-2897
Email: john.carney@agr.wa.gov
Regional Representative Team
Mallorie Shellmer, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-515-6496
Email: mshellmer@agr.wa.gov
Erin Kester, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-878-1579
Email: ekester@agr.wa.gov
Heidi Cobun, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-688-4749
Email: heidi.cobun@agr.wa.gov
Mike Hatada, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-819-6582
Email: michael.hatada@agr.wa.gov
Click here for the Regional Rep Map
Click here for a list of all Food Assistance Contacts
Phone: 360-725-5640
Email: foodassistance@agr.wa.gov
Kim Eads, Food Assistance Program Manager
Phone: 360-250-4848
Email: keads@agr.wa.gov
Kyle Merslich, Food Assistance Program & Policy Administrator
Phone: 360-515-6413
Email: kmerslich@agr.wa.gov
Food Inventory & Logistics Team
James Scovel, Food Assistance Specialist Logistics Lead
Phone: 360-280-9113
Email: james.scovel@agr.wa.gov
John Carney, Food Assistance Inventory & Training Coordinator
Phone: 360-489-2897
Email: john.carney@agr.wa.gov
Regional Representative Team
Mallorie Shellmer, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-515-6496
Email: mshellmer@agr.wa.gov
Erin Kester, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-878-1579
Email: ekester@agr.wa.gov
Heidi Cobun, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-688-4749
Email: heidi.cobun@agr.wa.gov
Mike Hatada, Food Assistance Specialist
Phone: 360-819-6582
Email: michael.hatada@agr.wa.gov
Click here for the Regional Rep Map
Click here for a list of all Food Assistance Contacts
1.3 Lead Agency Contact Information
CSFP Sub Agencies and prospective/interested Sub Agencies should contact the CSFP Lead Agency with program questions or inquiries. A listing of CSFP Lead Agencies is available at the link below.
Find a CSFP Lead Agency.
Find a CSFP Lead Agency.
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| Section 2 | |
| Revision History | |
| Section 1 Revision 2025-04-23 | |