Neighbors Helping Neighbors

A Letter from our Executive Director

Dear Neighbor,

Imagine what it would be like to sit at your kitchen table and realize your family's monthly grocery budget has been drastically cut. This is the reality facing thousands of our neighbors right now. 

At the Thurston County Food Bank, our Mission is to Eliminate Hunger Within Our Community, in the Spirit of Neighbor Helping Neighbor. We are a lifeline for our community, serving nearly 80,000 individuals and distributing millions of pounds of food yearly. Our work has always relied on a strong partnership between federal programs and community support. 

But a new challenge has arrived. Recent federal legislation has created a gap we must fill together. This fall, we face significant reductions in federal funding and a rise in demand from families who are losing critical SNAP benefits. An estimated 130,000 Washingtonians will lose this support entirely, with many families seeing their monthly food budget shrink by as much as $127. 
 

This isn't just a challenge for them—it's a direct hit to our ability to serve the community. We are bracing for a 20-25% reduction in government-provided food, representing a loss of approximately $1 million worth of resources. Programs for homebound seniors and youth are also at risk. The need is growing, and our resources are shrinking. 

We cannot let our neighbors go hungry. That’s why we are launching the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Campaign from September 22nd to October 1st. This is our moment to step up and ensure that no one is left behind. 

Your support is crucial, and just a small gift can make a monumental difference: 

 ● $25 per month feeds a family of 5 for 1 week 

 ● $56 per month offsets the average reduction to SNAP program beneficiary 

 ● $127 per month offsets losses for a family of four currently relying on SNAP 

Please, join us in closing this gap. Your support makes all the difference—whether by making a one-time donation, becoming a sustaining donor, or sharing our campaign with your networks to help spread the word. Be on the lookout for more details about our upcoming campaign and thank you for your unwavering generosity and for being a neighbor we can count on. 

All the best, 
John Ficker 
Executive Director 
Thurston County Food Bank