Two of our team members, Sam Hoyt and Kelly O’Shea, had the honor of representing Backpack Brigade at the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition’s 2025 Hunger Action Day in Olympia on February 24th. Backpack Brigade is a member of the Coalition and supports the organization’s advocacy efforts. This year, the Coalition has two over-arching priorities: feeding kids, and addressing the relationship between housing stability and food security.
The day kicked off with updates from organizations tackling different areas of hunger advocacy. Sara Seelmeyer of the United Way of King County (which also organized the legislative meetings) updated the group on a critical bill hitting both the House and Senate on this sessions legislative agenda: HB 1404/SB 5352, which funds free school meals for all Washington school children and continues funding for the SUN Bucks program, which ensures school children who rely on school meals as their primary source of food continue to have reliable access to quality nutrition over the summer vacation. Advocating for the passage of this critical funding is a major priority for the coalition.
Equally critical to this year’s agenda is advocating for expansion of eligibility for the Working Families Tax Credit (HB 1214/ SB 5768). Jake Garcia of the Latino Community Fund explained how important this is to people ages 18-24 and over 64, who are currently ineligible for the credit. Expanding access would offer more economic stability to young people, and provide additional support to all seniors, whose fixed incomes are mightily challenged by rapid inflation.
Kate White Tudor of the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Aaron Czyzewski, and Claire Lane of the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition updated the group on several key initiatives on the agenda, including continued funding for senior nutrition programs (such as Meals On Wheels), increased funding for emergency food assistance programs for food banks, and approval to fund SNAP fruit and vegetable match programs. Michele Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, which is focused on advocating for the passage of two important bills (HB 1217/SB 5222; HB 1858) which establish rent stabilization practices and continue funding for homelessness services.
With our talking points ready, filled with a sense of purpose and urgency, we broke into groups to meet with our respective legislators. Backpack Brigade is headquartered in the 34th Legislative District and therefore – along with representatives from Food Lifeline, the West Seattle Food Bank, FamilyWorks, and the Rainier Valley Food Bank – we were privileged to meet with Sen. Emily Alvarado, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbons, and Rep. Brianna Thomas.
All three meetings offered an excellent opportunity to educate, advocate, and encourage the leaders of Washington’s 34th on the issues challenging their constituents in the current economic environment. Happily, all three legislators were knowledgeable and supportive of anti-hunger causes and issues within the district. Senator Alvarado stated that, “Meeting basic needs is my priority, it’s why I’m here in the legislature, and I think it’s absolutely immoral that we are sitting here fighting for food for children when we have as much wealth as this state has…and that that’s an uphill battle right now is even more immoral.”
Our moral imperatives aside, there is the very pragmatic question of Washington’s budget deficit to be considered. Rep. Thomas and Sen. Alvarado both pointed out that the legislature is struggling with priorities as it attempts to balance ever increasing demand for services when revenue is not keeping pace. And both emphasized that dramatic cuts to federal spending will have an impact on the state’s ability to meet some of its commitments.
Coming out of Hunger Action Day, we feel grateful that our legislators support anti-hunger programs and are doing their best to fight for funding that will continue this valuable work. Yesterday, our voice was limited to the representatives from the 34th, but our work extends across multiple legislative districts in King County. Your representatives are anxious to hear your voices. If you call or email your legislators, your opinion will be heard.
5 Ways to Join the Fight Against Hunger
Find your district representatives here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder. Write a letter, email, or call them to let them know that you support initiatives that fund anti-hunger organizations in your district.
Read the following bills:
If you support these initiatives, write, email, or call your legislator and ask them to support these initiatives, too.
Write, call, or email your representatives and express your support for continued funding for SUN Bucks and the SNAP Fruit & Vegetable Incentive Program
Volunteer your time and talents to anti-hunger organizations serving your community
Donate generously to causes that you feel make a difference in your community, especially to those who serve our most vulnerable: our children.
Together, we can END weekend hunger for homeless and food insecure children in King County.
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