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Food bank employee carries box of vegetables

How WA food banks are handling a hunger cliff

March 8, 2023 | KUOW

The state of food insecurity in Washington state, as changes in federal law that will end $95 million a month in food assistance. Recently published new data from a UW and WSU survey highlights that food insecurity was highest in households made up of people of color, families with children, and among renters.

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Crowd lines up outside Seattle food bank

Fund food insecurity response in WA — and demand national fix

March 6, 2023 | Seattle Times

Editorial featured in Seattle Times highlights legislative House bill 1784 which provides aencies charged with making sure those who are food insecure are asking the state for an emergency infusion of $28 million to help increase inventories at food banks and other agencies purchasing food and supplies, help manage storage facilities, food delivery and logistics, and maintain outreach to those who may not have access or know about such services.

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Food donation boxes packed with food

Survey shows food insecurity remains high in Washington state

March 8, 2023 | KOMO News

UW associate professor Jennifer Otten was interviewed in this video and article from KOMO News about the recent results from the WAFOOD survey the impacts on low income households, particularly those with children. How Washingtonians are copying with food and fuel costs is highlighted.

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Woman carrying bags of food down a snowy covered street

Food insecurity remains high in Spokane and statewide, UW-WSU survey shows

March 5, 2023 | The Spokesman-Review

Dr. Marie Spiker is quoted in this article which highlights the increasing costs of groceries and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program (SNAP), and the most recent data from the WAFOOD survey conducted by UW and WSU in December 2022 – January 2023.

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Photo of man stocking shelves at food bank

The pandemic is supposed to be over. Why is Pierce County food insecurity still so high?

February 23, 2023 | The News Tribune

Story highlights WAFOOD research published in 2023 which finds almost half of responding households reported experiencing food insecurity in the past month — with the highest occurrences among BIPOC respondents, households with children and renters. Meanwhile, the overall reliance on food assistance programs and food banks remained high.

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Graphic illustration of a box of food

SNAP cuts lead to warning of “hunger cliff”

February 27, 2023 | AXIOS Seattle

Story highlighting how pandemic food aid is ending nationwide, and this change in the federal law means more than half a million households in Washington will lose a total of about $95 million a month in food assistance even as food and fuel costs remain high or increase. Data cited in the article was recently published by the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey.

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People lining up at NW Harvest food bank

Food insecurity persists in WA, just as emergency benefits expire

February 28, 2023 | Seattle Times

Story provides insight into the region’s looming hunger relief problems citing new data from the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey, and the concern that pandemic-era meal assistance benefits run out this week.

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How to Get Connected And Fight Food Insecurity

December 8, 2022 | Seattle Medium

Marie Spiker is quoted in this article which highlights ways to help fight food insecurity in the Greater Seattle area in a meaningful way during the holiday season. Spiker says, “It’s not just about ‘not having food’ — people may find themselves skipping meals, reducing the size of their meals or choosing non-preferred foods for financial reasons.”

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Rethinking Obesity American don't choose to be fat. Many live wihtin a 'system they do not control.'

What’s to blame for Americans’ obesity problem? Start with the system.

July 26, 2022 | USA Today

“Obesity can vary by 600% depending on a person’s address,” said Dr. Adam Drewnowski who contributes to this USA Today article discussing the multifactorial issues contributing to the American obesity epidemic.

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Sugary cola drink over ice in a glass

Sweetened beverage taxes produce net economic benefits for lower-income communities

July 8, 2022 | UW News

New study from University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition examines the economic equity impacts of sweetened beverage taxes in three cities: Seattle, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Jessica Jones-Smith was co-prinicipal investigator and Lina Pinero Walkinshaw was a co-author on the study.

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