Share Your Voice: A Guide on Advocating for Anti-Hunger and Anti-Poverty Policies in Washington State
More of our neighbors are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression due to economic factors such as increasing grocery prices. In Southeast King County, 1 in 4 people are food insecure. As of 2024, about 16,868 people are experiencing homelessness in King County. As proposed and current budget cuts place the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, food banks, and housing support program at risk , it’s crucial to voice our opinions and stand for anti-hunger and anti-poverty policies . One way to advocate for your community is by contacting your local politicians and state and federal legislators . By sharing your beliefs, stories, and experiences with our government leaders, we can help them understand the significance of providing and protecting resources that allow food access and safety for all.
Legislative Priorities
In February, a few of our team members ventured to Olympia to meet with legislators and their staff for Hunger Action Day. Folks from across Washington State joined together as they advocated for policies that support our communities and state’s future. The Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition organized the event, which included a 2025 Legislative Agenda of anti-hunger and anti-poverty priorities. As you research the proposed bills and initiatives, you'll gain clarity on what to share with your legislators.
Extend Funding for Food Banks and Food Pantries Across our State ($93.25M)
House and Senate budgets: $93.25 million!
Fully Fund Senior Nutrition Programs to Promote Health and Stability ($35.4M)
House and Senate budgets: $27.964 (same as Gov. Inslee’s budget proposal)
Maintain Funding Levels for SNAP Fruit & Veg Incentive Programs ($6 M)
House: $5.91 million
Senate: $2.956 million
Continue funding for SUN Bucks to Fight Summer Child Hunger ($11.835 M)
House: $11.835 M
Senate: $9.758 M
How to Find Your District and Legislators
Washington State residents live in various Legislative districts. You can follow the steps to find your legislators and contact them about the policies and priorities that matter to you and your community.
1. Go to https://leg.wa.gov/legislators
2. Click on “Look up your Legislative district.”
3. Type in your full address.
4. Scroll down and click on the name of your legislator.
5. Read about your legislators, their voting records, and sponsorships.
6. Contact your legislator by clicking their phone number or email them on the leg.wa.gov web page using the instructions.
Our food bank resides in the 37th District. Our current legislators are Senator Rebecca Saldaña, Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, and Representative Chipalo Street. If you don’t live in the 37th district, but want to stand up for RVFB, contacting our legislators is a major step forward in protecting our food bank.
What to Include in Contacting Your Legislators
Whether you’re contacting your legislators for the first time or have done so in the past, people sometimes worry about what to say or feel pressured to articulate the right message. As a starting point, we’ve provided a template and example of what you can share with your local and state politicians.
Contacting Your Legislators Template
1. Introduce Yourself – Your name, organization (if applicable), and the bill or initiative you’re discussing.
a. If your legislator has sponsored a bill, you can thank them for their support.
2. State your position and why this bill or initiative is important to you/your community.
3. Share your story, knowledge, or perspective on the bill or initiative.
4. Conclude with the following:
a. A request: Have an ask for specific actions, such as voting in favor of a bill.
b. A question: Ask how your representative will or will continue to advocate for the bill or initiative.
5. You can thank them for reading or hearing your perspective.
a. If emailing, sign off with your name (and organization, if applicable).
Example
Hello [legislator’s name],
I’m reaching out to thank you for your support and fully funding $93.25 million for food banks and pantries across our state. Your budget proposals protect the most vulnerable and hungry people in Washington. I am sending this letter to urge you to continue this work by adopting a final budget that includes the House investment levels in our hunger safety net programs and food systems.
The rising cost of living in our state, including inflation on basic food items, put downward pressure on families' household budgets, making it increasingly difficult to access food. In the last year, food banks in WA state served 13.4M visits (up from 7.8M in 2019, pre-COVID). The hunger crisis is not over. At a time of rising need, overall food donations to food banks are down, and the rising cost of food is impacting our ability to source food for our community. If cuts to federal programs like SNAP and WIC as passed by the current administration, the need in our community will exponentially grow. Investing $93.25M in WSDA's Food Assistance Programs to support food banks in every community ensures access to meals and security for people statewide.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Rainier Valley Food Bank [relationship (i.e. Shopper, Guest, Volunteer, Staff Member)]
It takes all of us to end hunger and poverty in our neighborhood. Our political landscape makes it more imperative than ever before to sustain our social safety nets. Contacting politicians, including state representatives and senators, helps our community members receive the resources they need, and organizations continue to uplift those most vulnerable. One person’s submission represents 500 constituents. Will you join us in advocating for a hunger-free South Seattle and bettering the lives of our neighbors across Washington State?