Community Resources | United Way of Pierce County

Food banks can stretch your dollar further — turning every $1 into up to FIVE
meals for local families.
Cash donations also help them purchase exactly what’s needed most —
fresh produce, protein, baby formula, and culturally specific foods — while
keeping operations running smoothly.
Every dollar stays local, supporting local farmers and suppliers, and every
meal stays in Pierce County.

PIERCE COUNTY FAMILIES NEED US NOW
When crisis hits — from federal shutdowns to benefit suspensions — our community’s most vulnerable
families feel the impact first. United Way of Pierce County is mobilizing local partners, donors, and
volunteers to ensure no one is left behind.

WHY IT MATTERS
Pierce County already faces a fragile safety net:

1 in 3 households are ALICE — working yet unable to meet basic costs of living.
A single disruption — a furlough, missed benefit, or emergency expense — can push a family from
stability into crisis.
Food insecurity doesn’t just mean hunger; it impacts children’s health, workforce productivity, and
overall community resilience.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

GIVE
VOLUNTEER — Sign up to help at local food pantries and meal sites
HOST A DRIVE — Rally your workplace, church, or neighborhood to collect food and funds.
SHARE — Spread the word on social media using #BuildaBiggerTablePC

The Local Impact At A Glance

THE LOCAL IMPACT AT A GLANCE
Federal Workers

14,000 + federal civilian employees work in Pierce County — primarily at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
(JBLM), plus VA, SSA, and other federal sites.
Thousands more contractors and military households are affected by delayed pay or service reductions.
Shutdown ripple effects: missed paychecks strain local food banks, childcare centers, and small
businesses.

SNAP (Food Assistance)

SNAP (Food Assistance)
≈ 115,000 Pierce County residents rely on SNAP benefits — about 1 in 9 people locally.
Without new federal funding after Nov 1, these households risk losing monthly food support that
averages ≈ $180 per person.
Local pantries are already seeing demand increase by 15–25 %.
LEARN MORE - “SNAP Myths vs Facts”

WIC (Women, Infants & Children)

WIC (Women, Infants & Children)

≈ 24,000 mothers, infants, and young children in Pierce County receive WIC nutrition and formula
benefits.
Loss of WIC funding would jeopardize access to healthy food, baby formula, and breastfeeding support
for thousands of families.
WIC: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/wic