WSDA Blog

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, families across Washington, and the nation, faced unprecedented challenges accessing fresh, healthy food. From May 2020 to May 2021, the federal Farmers to Families Food Box Program provided emergency relief through low-barrier food boxes. But when that program abruptly ended in May 2021, Washington stepped in to fill the gap. 

With the support of the state legislature, WSDA launched We Feed Washington, a food access program dedicated to ensuring that communities across the state, especially the most vulnerable, had access to nourishing, locally grown food. 

Since July 2021, We Feed Washington has invested over $125 million in grants, purchasing contracts, and interagency agreements to strengthen hunger relief and local food systems. This work expanded food access, built regional supply chain resiliency, and supported Washington farmers. 

As the program concludes on June 30, 2025, we’re taking time to celebrate the impact of We Feed Washington over the past four years.

Statewide impact rooted in local communities

With every box packed, meal shared, and partnership formed through We Feed Washington, communities across the state were made stronger.

Several We Feed Washington partners recently shared stories of their experiences, including Stefanie Wickstrom of APOYO in Ellensburg: 

“With the We Feed WA grant, APOYO has been able to provide tons of fresh, culturally-relevant produce to our communities. We’ve been serving in Kittitas and Grant Counties since 1998, but with We Feed WA, we are able to serve more people than ever.” 
- Stefanie Wickstrom, Executive Director of APOYO 

In Clark and Pierce Counties, grantee FMS Global Solutions, via Food4Good WA, emphasized the broader meaning of their work: 

“Every box we deliver is more than just food — it’s a message of hope. Whether it's reaching military families at JBLM or supporting Chuukese youth, our program meets people where they are— without judgment and without barriers.” 
- Paula Sardinas, President & CEO, FMS Global Strategies 

Small farms also saw transformative impact. In Snohomish County, farmer Brett Aiello shared: 

“Thanks to the support from the We Feed Washington and Farm to Food Pantry programs, I’ve been able to transition from part-time farming to running my farm full-time. This program hasn’t just supported my livelihood  — it’s helped grow local food access and strengthened our community.” 
- Brett Aiello, Reconnecting Roots Farm 

What we built together

We Feed Washington wasn’t just a pilot grant program. It was designed to fulfill urgent needs while laying a foundation for long-term resilience in Washington’s communities. In collaborating with community, producers, growers, and distributers, we’ve accomplished something unique.

We’ve grown connections together, we’ve leaned into our combined strength as a network, and we’ve seen and celebrated tremendous benefits for community and growers:

“The Moore Wright Group distributed over 26,000 food boxes in the last year alone. Each week we hear stories from community members about how much this food means to them — from tribal elders to schoolchildren to seniors. We’ve developed deep, ongoing relationships through this work, and it’s been a privilege to serve.” 
- Peter Van Volkinburg, The Moore Wright Group 

From culturally relevant foods delivered to migrant communities in Royal City, to fresh produce boxes in Yakima, to childhood nutrition programs in Pierce County that have doubled in size — the reach of We Feed Washington is immeasurable in numbers alone:

“At Food Connection, we’ve seen the need explode — from 800 to 1,850 children receiving weekend meals. We’ve had to scale quickly, and We Feed Washington helped make that possible.” 
- Shawn Walton, St. Leo Food Connection, Program Manager 

A legacy to carry forward

Though the program ended June 30, We Feed Washington’s legacy lives on in the strengthened partnerships between farmers, producers, food system advocates, and food banks, in the resilient local food systems it helped reinforce, and in the lessons it offers for future hunger relief efforts. 

“We Feed Washington demonstrated what’s possible when we center community needs, equity, and dignity in food assistance. This program wasn’t just about distributing food — it was about rebuilding trust, creating access, supporting our state’s farmers, and strengthening our food system. We’re proud of what we accomplished together.” 
- Jessica Hernandez, We Feed Washington Program Manager, WSDA 

Thank you

To every food bank and meal program, grower, nonprofit, tribal nation, community leader, and volunteer who made We Feed Washington possible — thank you. Your work matters. You helped feed Washington. And more than that, you helped nourish hope. 

For continued updates on WSDA’s food assistance programs, visit agr.wa.gov.