One of the many ways that community members can qualify for a low cost laptop with PCs for People is to show that they receive SNAP benefits. According to the USDA, 41.7 million people per month received these benefits. That is 12.3 percent of U.S. residents. Of that total amount, almost 900,000 of those recipients are in Washington state. This is a staggering amount of people who are facing the reality that the essential program that ensures that food is on the table might not be funded. This is especially unnerving as the weather here in Seattle gets wetter and colder and we get closer to an often family centered holiday that surrounds a large meal.
The connection between digital equity and food security might not be a clear line but it is indisputable that folks who rely on SNAP benefits are more likely to not have consistent access to the internet to a computer. The community members who we are supporting with our low cost technology are the same ones who are going to the local food bank. Because of this reality we are happy to be a drop off location for the Ballard Food Bank which “provides access to nutritious food through [their] grocery-style food bank, no-cost café, home delivery, and Weekend Food for Kids program.” The Ballard Food Bank has been serving their community since 1970 and they serve upwards of 1,000 people at their no-cost café alone.
We are lucky enough to be a community hub in the Fremont neighborhood here in Seattle. Our dock often sees upwards of 50 people stopping by to drop off e-waste for recycling. Now, they can drop off any nonparishable food items they might have at the same time. Right now the Ballard Food Bank is looking for donations of pasta and rice, canned meat, peanut butter and jelly, canned vegetables, fruit, and beans, side dishes (mac & cheese, ramen, Rice-A-Roni), soup, and cereal and oats the most.
When we talk about supporting our community the conversation does not start and end with their access to a computer. A lot of community work involves keeping track of and sharing resources whenever possible. We are happy to share some of our ample dock and warehouse space with a collection bin for the Ballard Food Bank while access to life saving food assistance is debated over. While we hope that this uncertainty around SNAP is alleviated soon we don’t plan on stopping our partnership with Ballard Food Bank for a while. So throw some cans of food into your car when you’re on your way to drop off that TV that has been collecting dust.
Our Seattle location is open weekdays 9am – 3pm for both e-waste and food donations. Our address is 1121 N 35th St. Seattle, WA.
By Keely Coxwell
Partnerships Manager, Washington
