Food Access


What do you need today?

Need help finding food or other assistance?


If you or someone you know is struggling to access food, help is available.
211 Washington connects people with local hunger relief resources and other types of assistance, including housing, utility costs, and more. Visit wa211.org to learn more.

The WSDA Food Assistance Program supports communities and lower-income families by improving access to safe, nutritious food. Visit agr.wa.gov/foodnearyou to find food banks, food pantries, and similar resources in your area.

To learn about the status of SNAP benefits, visit the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services website.


March 31, 2026
2026-2027 Resiliency Grants Request for Applications is Now Open!

The 2026-2027 Resiliency Grants Request for Applications (RFA) launched March 30, 2026, and will close at 11:59PM on May 22, 2026.

This RFA will fund grants for expenses and activities from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. The funding amount for this next round is $14M with minimum potential grant awards of $10,000 and maximum potential awards of $200,000, subject to change. 

We are in need of reviewer! If you are interested in being a vital part of the award process and learning about the scoring and judging phase of our RFA, please reach out to our team at foodassistancegrants@arg.wa.gov. We will provide an orientation with instructions, scoring rubric, training on the web portal used, and technical assistance prior to starting and during the application review process.


   


March 30, 2026
Public Funding Leadership Series – Required Training Reminder

Is your organization required to take the Public Funding Leadership Series?

Recent changes to WSDA FA Agreements were implemented to reduce state financial audit requirements for organizations that hold a Lead Agency Agreement with WSDA and/or a Sub Agency Agreement with a Lead Agency. Information regarding these changes were outlined in a Policy Memo 10/16/25.

Organizations that are not obtaining audits through other requirements (such as Single Audit, own organization policies, or other funder requirements, etc.) are now required to complete the Public Funding Leadership Training Series.

This series is hosted free of cost by the Washington Food Coalition. To determine if your organization is required to register and attend the Public Funding Leadership Training Series, visit: wafoodcoalition.org/2026/01/08/public-funding-leadership-series/

Contact the Agency with whom you hold an FA Agreement if you have questions or need more information.
 






March 19, 2026
Help Us Learn about Food Access in Washington State: Take the WAFOOD6 Survey!
 
The 6th wave of the Washington State Food Security Survey (WAFOOD) is now open. If you live in WA  and are 18+ years old, you are invited to complete the survey to help us learn about the economic wellbeing and food needs of communities across the state! The survey will be open until April 15th but may be extended into late April depending on response rate.
 
The survey is available in nine languages and takes 15-20 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary and you will not be asked for your name or other identifying information. Upon completing the survey, respondents will have the option to provide an email address to enter a drawing for 1 of 100 $50 gift cards.
 
Learn more on the WAFOOD project page. If you are a hunger relief organization and are looking for materials to help spread the word about the WAFOOD6 survey with the communities you serve such as email templates, social media posts, and flyers, please email food@agr.wa.gov.


   

Mission

Food Assistance serves communities and lower-income families by improving access to safe and nutritious foods. We honor our connections with agriculture and strengthen the emergency food system by providing food, funding, logistical support, and outreach to hunger relief organizations and tribes. 

Vision

We are trusted partners who anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of the food system by focusing on the intersection, viability, and success of hunger relief organizations and agricultural producers. Together, we ensure access to healthy food and sustain vibrant communities for all Washingtonians. 

Access Food in Washington State

In addition to programs that directly affect Washington's agricultural community, WSDA leads state and federal food assistance programs to ensure that lower-income individuals and families can access food. We serve hungry people by providing food, funding, logistics services and outreach to hunger relief organizations and tribes. 

Through active engagement and partnerships, we strengthen the hunger relief system, improve access to nutritious and safe foods, and ensure regulatory compliance while honoring our connections with agriculture. We currently offer state and federally funded programs. 

WSDA partners with a network of hunger relief organizations to work toward a common vision of alleviating hunger in Washington. Programs are available across the state to provide food to those who need it. We can help you find our closest partner in your area who will be able to help you determine what programs you're eligible for and to find food banks, pantries, and meal programs near you. 

We know that hunger relief providers are working hard to get ample nutritious and high-quality food to their clients, and we have gathered resources ranging from recipes for clients to donor guidance that can support this effort. Read on for various donation guides, information about Good Samaritan Act protections, food conservation and tips, and more. 

Review hunger relief program annual reports and county-level fact sheets to learn more about the need for food assistance services across Washington State. 

If you work with a hunger relief agency that has an Agreement with WSDA, visit this page to find: forms, program procedures manuals, required postings, civil rights materials, food inventory & ordering information, and other requirements. If you participate in our programs as a Sub Agency, these program resources may also be helpful to you.

Can't find what you need? Don't hesitate to contact a Food Assistance team member for general information, detailed program questions, or for help finding food assistance resources in your area. We are here to help! 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.