205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
509-962-7515 healthpromotion@co.kittitas.wa.us
SNAP-Ed helps community members make the healthy choice the easy choice by increasing access to healthy foods, nutrition education, and physical activity. This program specifically focuses on residents receiving SNAP food benefits (formerly known as food stamps). Kittitas County began working with the SNAP-Ed program in 2017.
SNAP-Ed works for Washington! In 2018, SNAP-Ed programs across the state reached over 56,000 residents through direct education and policy, systems, and environmental changes. For more details, check out the Washington 2018 SNAPshot
Currently over 14% of Kittitas County households receive SNAP benefits, which is higher than both the state and national average. We also know that almost 17% of the population is considered “food insecure,” meaning that there is limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
KCPHD implements SNAP-Ed projects with a focus on promoting policy, system, and environmental changes (PSE). We do this by partnering with key community organizations and offering support, resources, and education so that they can reach more community members with their services that promote healthy food choices for individuals and families living on low incomes.
Currently, KCHPD is working with the Ellensburg Farmers Market, the Roslyn Farmers Market, and FISH Community Food Bank to implement new programs, policies, and services that will benefit the health of customers and clients.
The Food Access Coalition is facilitated by KCPHD as part of SNAP-Ed. The Food Access Coalition’s mission is to engage local programs and agencies in advancing access to healthy foods in Kittitas County. Members from across the community come together to create partnerships and coordinate efforts to ensure that all Kittitas County residents have access to food and food resources.
The coalition meets on the second Monday of each month from 9:30am to 10:30am in the KCPHD Conference Room. Anyone is welcome to attend. For more information, contact KCPHD or visit the Food Access Coalition web page.
Basic Food is Washington State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Basic Food helps people living on low incomes make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. Benefits are based on family size and income. Basic Food benefits can be used at all local grocery stores, farmers markets, and participating produce stands and quickie marts.
The Food Access Coalition created the Food 4 You Resource Guide for YOU! This guide has information to help everyone connect to local food and food assistance programs in Kittitas County. These include food banks and pantries, meal assistance programs, farmers markets, and community gardens.
The 2019 edition of the guide will be available in June. Please contact the Food Access Coalition if you would like printed copies of this guide, or download it from the website when it becomes available.
Although updated each year, the guide may not include all resources in the county. We ask that community partners send updates or suggestions to the coalition.
