Food kits completed by service members of the California National Guard are prepared for distribution at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Oct. 27, 2025. (William Espinosa/U.S. Army National Guard)

SEATTLE — One hundred and seven families living in the Naval Base Kitsap area lined up last Wednesday during Bremerton Foodline’s dedicated two-hour window for military and government families to receive boxes of food essentials.

“There is a fear of scarcity,” said Cori Kauk, executive director of the food bank. “Worries about being on the edge financially.”

Though the Bremerton Foodline serves all of the community, Kauk said the biggest surge in numbers is an increase of visits from military families and federal employees since the federal government shutdown began on Oct. 1.

“We’re adding 14 hours to our weekly schedule to meet the demand of the community, including service families,” Kauk said.

Across the country, military households are feeling the pressure. Some of the most acute pain is in and around bases on the West Coast, where the cost of living is especially high.

The Puget Sound area near Seattle is home to Naval Base Kitsap and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Together they account for about 60,000 active duty service members and 90,000 federal government employees — primarily at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and JBLM, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The San Diego region, home to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Naval Base San Diego supports 115,000 active-duty personnel, according to the Department of Defense.

Food bank providers welcomed the news Monday that some of the $5.5 billion in emergency food funds in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) would be released in coming days.

Following federal court orders, President Trump announced Monday that SNAP funding would be extended through mid-November, offering temporary relief to 42 million Americans, including thousands of military-connected families and more than 1.2 million veterans on low incomes who rely on the monthly benefit.

But the uncertainty of the shutdown has many military families coming to food banks as a preemptive measure against future shortages while the shutdown continues.

The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank, which supplies food to more than 450 partner organizations, reports a surge in demand.

“While this community plays a vital role in our nation’s defense, a heartbreaking reality exists here as well: for many military-connected families in San Diego, putting nutritious food on the table is a weekly struggle,” the organization said. “Despite their service, the salaries provided to military personnel often fall short when it comes to covering basic living expenses in this highly expensive region.”

Arika Daniels, spokeswoman for the food bank, said the organization expects to spend $1.5 million to meet the increased demand, with weekly costs ranging from $100,000 to $300,000.

“We’ve already seen an increase in demand,” Daniels said. “We expect the demand to grow significantly in the coming weeks.”

Food distribution overall is up 7%, and visits to the pantry in Vista, near military housing, are up 6%. Online applications for food bank ID cards have jumped tenfold.

“On a typical day, we receive 5–15 applications; we are now seeing an average of 50 daily,” Daniels said.

The food bank is calling for more donations, volunteers and support from lawmakers to protect food program funding and “shut down the food shutdown.”

At Camp Pendleton, the Armed Services YMCA is also seeing a spike in need. LaRonda Schenck Scott, the senior director of development, said uncertainty around pay and food access is driving families to seek help.

“A fear of a delay drove a significant increase in demand for food and emergency assistance,” Scott said.

Visits to the Pendleton Pantry are up 38%, prompting the YMCA to expand hours and launch a mobile pantry to reach more service members.

“Our neighborhood exchange accepts up to 250 families,” Scott said. “Traditionally, we don’t reach capacity. That wasn’t the case for our last exchange, and we’re expecting the same for the next.”

Donations are increasing, but logistics are challenging, such as a shortage of cold storage.

“An example was receiving 900 cartons of eggs last week,” Scott said.

The excess doesn’t last long. Food staples, diapers and household items are moving fast.

“We can’t help but wonder, ‘How long can we meet the demand?’ ” she said. “Our biggest challenge right now is staying prepared for whatever comes next.”