Food banks across the Peninsula are struggling and expecting things to get worse.

In a year that has already seen a tremendous cutback of billions of dollars reduced from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and high inflation, raising costs, the federal government shutdown is coinciding with the stopping of SNAP benefits entirely as of Saturday.

In Port Angeles, the number of households accessing the food bank grew from 10,000 in 2017 to 45,000 in 2024, according to the agency. That number is expected to rise another 25 percent.

That reflects increases seen across the Peninsula: the Sequim Food Bank has seen an increase in need of 35 percent, Executive Director Andra Smith said, and in Jefferson County, Jefferson County Food Bank Association Executive Director Patricia

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