1.1 About Food Assistance: Overview
We provide resources to more than 600 hunger relief organizations across the state that in turn provide food assistance to one in five (1:5) Washingtonians (Source: 2023 EFAP Data). 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 Food Assistance, this network of organizations implements important state and federal food assistance programs at the local level. To resource this network, Food Assistance has agreements with 50+ Lead Agencies and Tribes in the state, and they distribute emergency food resources to organizations across their community.
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 Washington Food Coalition's Food Assistance Advisory Committee (FAAC). The FAAC advises us on the needs of the network. They help us improve Food Assistance policy, guide our strategy, and optimize our programs. Food Assistance hosts monthly calls with the network and supports several 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 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. Food Assistance 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. We will also provide economic opportunities for small-scale farmers and producers. Since 2020, we have launched new initiatives, grants, pilots, and funding opportunities. These efforts all contribute to a more resilient food system. Before COVID-19, Food Assistance 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, supply chain disruptions, and growing community needs.
Food Assistance Programming Includes:
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
Provides nutritious food packages to lower-income people 60 years of age and over (limited availability). Serves approximately 5,463 seniors each month (65,556 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 1.7 million people each year (10.9 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. Serves approximately 10,000 tribal members each year. Funded by the state of Washington and established in 1992.
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 850,000 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, partnership with Harvest Against Hunger.
Resiliency Grants (RG)
Competitive grant funds support hunger relief organizations and tribes 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 Purchasing Assistance (LFPA)
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 2025.
Other Initiatives, Grants, Pilots
Reserve Warehouse, SNAP-Ed (Nutrition Focused), Disaster Household Distribution (USDA), Spice Purchases, Capacity Survey, Fresh Food Boxes, Direct Food Purchasing, 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
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
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
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| EFAP-Tribal Procedures Manual Table of Contents | |
| Section 2 | |
| Revision History | |
| Section 1 Revision 2024-12-11 | |