SNAP is set to expire. Here’s list of food banks in Tacoma area if you need help
Tacoma-area food banks are bracing for a sharp increase in visitors as benefits from the national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are expected to expire on Saturday, Nov. 1, amid a highly partisan government shutdown and no sign President Donald Trump will fund SNAP in the meantime.
Nearly 118,000 residents in Pierce County and close to 930,000 in the state receive benefits from the Basic Food program, Washington state’s name for the combination of federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the state-funded Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants (FAP).
There are more than 75 food pantries in Pierce County, and many of them do not require visitors to share their names or other personal information to receive food.
The Emergency Food Network has an interactive online map which lists food pantries, meal sites and home delivery by ZIP code. Addresses and hours are listed, and you can filter by the day of the week. Note that you might want to call ahead to ask about wait times and when the best time would be to arrive.
At traditional food pantries, visitors can shop for the food they want, like at a grocery store, and connect with staff and volunteers who can provide support and answer questions. At food lockers, visitors can shop online and choose a time for pickup. In a home-delivery model, pre-packaged groceries are delivered to your doorstep or directly into your home. That service is primarily used for people who have mobility or transportation barriers, according to the Emergency Food Network’s website.
Where to find food pantries in Tacoma
- My Sister’s Pantry Food Bank, 621 Tacoma Ave. S., 98403. Open Monday 4-7 p.m., 253-627-1186
- The Salvation Army Food Bank, 1501 6th Ave., 98405. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to noon. 253-572-8452, Ext. 113
- New Jerusalem Food Pantry, 1623 S. 11th St., 98405. Open Tuesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed the first Saturday of the month. 253-572-6785
- St. Leo Food Connection, 1323 S. Yakima Ave., 98405. Open Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 253-383-5048, Ext. 1
- MultiCultural Child and Family Hope Center, 2021 S. 19th. St, 98405. Open Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 253-593-6641
- The Blessings Food Pantry, Church of the Living God, 2102 S. M St., 98405. Open Wednesday noon to 2 p.m., 253-272-1900
- Tacoma Adventist Community Services, 3108 Portland Ave. E., 98404. Open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 253-272-8289. Has food for special dietary needs, including diabetic, cancer and heart disease.
- MADF Mobile Food Bank #1, 3543 E. McKinley Ave., 98404. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 253-426-1994
- Nourish Mobile Food Bank- Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 101 E. 38th St., 98404. Open Monday from 1-3 p.m. 253-383-3167
- Jackson Street Nourish Food Bank-St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 7410 S. 12th St., 98465. Open last Wednesday of the month from 5-7 p.m. 253-383-3164
- Nourish Mobile Food Bank — TCC (Lot F), Mildred St. S. and 15th St. S., 98466. Open Tuesday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. 253-383-3168
- Nourish Mobile Food Bank — Salishan Family Investment Center, 1724 E. 44th St., 98404. Open Friday from 1-4 p.m. 253-383-3167
- Nourish Mobile Food Bank — Giaudrone Middle School, 4902 S. Alaska St., 98408. Open Monday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. 253-383-3164
- Bounty Food Bank, 5634 S. Park Ave., 98408. Open Monday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. 253-475-7098
- Nourish Mobile Food Bank — STAR Center, 3873 S. 66th St., 98409. Open Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. 253-383-3166
- Nourish Mobile Food Bank 1&2 — Nourish Food Banks of PC, 1702 S. 72nd St., Suite E, 98408. 253-383-3164
- Gateway Church-CARE Food Pantry, 7310 12th Ave. E., 98404. Open Thursday 2-4 p.m. 253-537-6619
- Samoan Family Support Food Pantry, 230 S. 94th St., 98444. Open Tuesday 9 a.m. to noon. 253-327-9461
Donations needed
Staff with the Emergency Food Network (the largest nonprofit food distributor in Pierce County) said these are the most-needed donations:
- Any nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter)
- Canned meals like ravioli, SpaghettiOs (pop-top cans are the easiest to open)
- Canned chili or stew
- Canned meats (like tuna, chicken, SPAM, etc.)
- Canned fruits (packed in juice)
- Canned vegetables (low salt)
- Anything for infants (baby formula, baby food, diapers, etc.)
- Hot and cold cereals (no or low sugar preferred)
- Healthy kids snacks (applesauce, dried fruit, nuts, etc.)
Food pantries around the county are also accepting volunteers.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
