Federal cuts make Hunger Walk vital

Across the country, food banks and their food providers are facing unprecedented challenges. Here at home, Emergency Food Network is no exception. This makes the 2025 Hunger Walk on May 3 more important than ever to recoup some losses the non-profit is coping with from cuts in federal support. 

“Just within the last couple weeks, EFN learned that we are losing 19 truckloads of food that we were expected to receive in quarters one and two through the federal TEFAP program so that’s a really huge loss,” said EFN Development Director Claire Aijian. “Those were going to include products like milk and eggs and proteins – nutritious and critical items that we are not going to have now for our network.”

TEFAP – The Emergency Food Assistance Program – is a federal nutrition program that provides food assistance to eligible households through food banks and their partner agencies. Administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the program works by the USDA purchasing food from domestic sources and then distributing it to state agencies, who in turn provide the food to local organizations like food banks. 

Last month, the Trump Administration confirmed that it is halting more than $1 billion in federal assistance that enables public schools and food banks to purchase nutritious produce and food from local farmers. USDA programs on the chopping block include the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

“Right now, individual and corporate support is more critical than ever because we need to find ways to replace as much of that cancelled food as possible through food purchases, food drives, and bulk donations of food from folks that have large-scale food donations,” Aijian said. 

“Nineteen truckloads of food even in an easy year would have been a huge loss but with how much need we’re seeing in the community right now, that is going to be deeply impactful for folks and really apparent at food pantries.”

Aijian shared that one in four people in Washington state visited a food pantry in the 2024 fiscal year. 

“We’re already seeing just from our January and February numbers that visits are higher this year than they were last year. The need is continuing to go up,” she said.

Another worrying development are threats to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The nation’s primary food assistance program, the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans want to pursue requiring states to pay a portion of SNAP benefits. Families stand to lose part of all of their SNAP benefits that they would use for food purchasing which would push even more need to food pantries. Such cuts would also impact local economies overall since SNAP funds spent at local grocery stores allow for employees to be paid and stores to stay open. 

Courtesy The Tacoma Weekly
Primarily on paved walkways, the Walk is accessible for people of all abilities.

DO THE HUNGER WALK

“With tariffs going into effect and all these other things that are happening, it’s going to be a challenging time for our community. It’s going to be so important for folks to do what they can to take care of each other right now,” Aijian said, and EFN’s Hunger Walk is the perfect opportunity.

May is Hunger Awareness Month, making the Hunger Walk the local kick-off in that it is always held on the first Saturday of May.

Taking place on Saturday, May 3, at Fort Steilacoom Park (8714 87th Ave. SW, Lakewood), the Walk offers in-person and virtual participation options. Registration online for in-person walkers will be open until April 28 then on-site registration will be available on May 3 starting at 8 a.m. Virtual participants can sign up throughout the month of May.

Registration for the in-person event includes an event shirt and bib, and registration for the virtual event includes an event shirt that can be either picked up or mailed, and a printable PDF bib. A discount of $5 is automatically applied to the registration fee when you create or join a team of at least five people.  

All proceeds from the Walk will go toward EFN’s work to provide food for its network of more than 75 partner food pantries, meal sites, and shelters and for its Home Delivery Program, providing food delivery to more than 250 families each week. The community is encouraged to keep raising funds for EFN all month and to take part in the Letter Carriers Food Drive happening on May 10. Simply leave your donation of non-perishable food in a bag near your mailbox and your letter carrier will do the rest. 

The park will be bustling with activity – visits and photos with Tacoma Rainiers mascot Rhubarb and Daffodil Princesses, live music from The Possible Solutions, non-profits staffing informational booths and tables, and a pre-walk Zumba warm-up session. Everyone can enjoy free snacks like bananas, granola bars, water and Gatorade type drinks before, during or after their walk.

The Walk is accessible for people of all abilities. Starting from the park pavilion, the route takes walkers around Waughop Lake then back to the pavilion. The route is primarily on paved walkways and Walk volunteers can help participants with a safe way to get on and off the route if a grassy path is not accessible. 

Learn more and register at efoodnet.org.