Seattle Approves $8M Emergency Aid for Food Banks

Seattle’s City Council unanimously ratified Mayor Bruce Harrell’s limited civil emergency to direct up to $4 million per month (roughly $8 million total) from emergency/rainy-day funds to city-contracted food banks through the end of the year or until SNAP benefits are restored. The 9-0 vote authorizes distributions to roughly 32 food banks over the next two months as officials finalize allocation details. The move responds to SNAP benefit cuts that began Nov. 1 and put an estimated 50,000–72,000 Seattle residents at risk. Washington state has also moved to release emergency hunger-relief dollars, while the federal administration’s decision not to tap SNAP’s contingency fund and ongoing court proceedings leave timing uncertain. City officials urged donations and warned the $8 million will not fully meet projected need as food banks brace for surging demand.