As SNAP freeze looms, Washingtonians step up to help their neighbors

Murat Akyuz, co-owner of Toasted — a bagel and coffee shop with three Seattle-area locations — knows firsthand what it means to rely on SNAP benefits. He was 10 years old when his family immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey. In the early years after their arrival, they qualified for SNAP benefits.

“It made a drastic, drastic difference in our life,” Akyuz said. His father was working 70 hours a week, between his job as a valet and as a cook. SNAP, he said, more than helped them buy food.

“That meant my dad could have a Sunday off to spend with his family,” Akyuz said.

RELATED: Judge gives Trump administration until Monday to have a plan for SNAP benefits

Those memories motivated Akyuz and his business partner to help people who are losing their assistance during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. They’re offering free breakfast at their University District and South Lake Union stores.

Akyuz said their announcement resonated so much with their customers that they created a “Put it on my neighbor’s tab" fund for people who want to support the effort. To date, the fund has raised nearly $40,000.

Toasted joins other Seattle area restaurants such as Lenox that are offering free meals for SNAP recipients.

Meanwhile community groups in Seattle’s Roosevelt and Ravenna neighborhoods have started a fund to allow SNAP recipients to buy food at Rising Sun Produce.

RELATED: Photos: Food banks scramble to get ready as SNAP funding deadline looms

More than 900,000 Washington residents — mainly women, seniors, and people with disabilities — rely on SNAP to supplement their food budget. Eligibility is based on income and immigration status.

This week, Gov. Bob Ferguson directed more than $2 million per week to support local food banks. In Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell authorized up to $4 million per month in food assistance.

Businesses are stepping in, too.

Liz Morgan, owner of the flower shop FIELD by Morgan & Moss in Edmonds, said for the last five years, her business has spent at least $500 in candy for the downtown’s annual trick-or-treat event. This year, she decided to skip it.

“I just can’t do it,” Morgan said. Edmonds, she added, has many neighborhoods for kids to get candy. Instead of spending money on candy, she donated to her local food bank.

“We have a huge senior citizen population here in Edmonds and I’m determined that children and the elderly—they can’t go without food,” she said.

Here’s a list of resources across the Puget Sound area:

• Public Health Seattle-King County has a map of food pantries.
• Food Lifeline: A group that believes access to nutritious foods is a basic human right and that looks to address immediate needs as well as the root causes of hunger.
• Northwest Harvest: An antiracist, anti-oppression food justice organization that helps people gain access to healthy food and promotes policy changes to prevent hunger, poverty, and racism.
• Hopelink: A community action agency that helps people experiencing poverty, immigrants, refugees, and people with disabilities.
• Wa211: A statewide helpline that can connect callers to local resources.
• Seattle Community Fridge: A mutual aid group that provides refrigerators and pantries to help combat food insecurity.
• ChuMinh Tofu serves meals every Sunday in Little Saigon.
• Seattle Restaurant Week has started Give a Meal where diners can donate to help restaurants preparing free meals for communities facing food insecurity.