Dear Highline,
We are writing to share about actions we are taking as a college community as well as provide resources available in the wake of the continued impacts of the federal government shut-down.
On October 24th, 2025 the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges issued a Memorandum regarding helping students who receive food benefits during the government shutdown. As reported in media coverage, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) recently notified its partners that November, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and FAP (Food Assistance Program) benefits will not be available if the federal government shutdown continues past Friday, October 31, 2025. WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is at risk of running out of funding during this shutdown as well. We know that the pause in these programs will make November a very tough month for many in our community.
In response to the current situation, we want to share some concrete actions that Highline College and Highline College Foundation are taking, share trusted, up-to-date resources with our community, and invite you to join in providing support in a way that works best for you.
At the state level, Governor Bob Ferguson has announced that he has directed nearly $2.2 million per week to provide additional support to Washington’s food banks in the wake of the government shutdown. While we do not have all the details as to how this funding will reach our local community, we appreciate the Governor’s efforts to alleviate the impacts of this shutdown on Washington state. The Des Moines Area Food Bank and the Emergency Feeding Program have been a vital resource for our Highline Community Pantry, providing a constant flow of food to the Community Pantry since 2017. Their ability to continue this service is being stretched beyond sustainable limits.
The Highline College Foundation has secured $100,000 in additional funding to support our hunger free campus efforts. Planning and research is underway to launch the following resources:
- Free Family Dinners catered by Jumpin’ Jambalaya every Tuesday through November in Building 8.
- Weekly distribution of locally grown, culturally relevant produce boxes through the Community Pantry.
- Researching the possible addition of food lockers on campus so evening and weekend students can access nonperishable food.
- Recognizing the importance of keeping the external pipeline of food flowing by investing in our community partners: Des Moines Area Food Bank and Emergency Feeding Program.
As members of the Highline College community, being informed about what’s available off campus is also a great tool when supporting each other. We encourage you to learn about other resources available for our students and community members.
We invite you to join Executive Cabinet in supporting the Highline Pantry through a payroll deduction gift through the HC Foundation, either one time or ongoing, to provide sustainable funding for the Pantry.
We also invite you to attend Thunderbirds Soar on November 22, 2025 to join our community in supporting our students on their journey, taking a few moments to celebrate your great work, raising funds to expand our pool of financial resources, and raising awareness of the support our students receive from community partners like Des Moines Food Bank and Emergency Feeding Program.
Sincerely,
Executive Cabinet, JIC and Highline College Foundation