March 3, 2026, after years of inflation, declining communal contributions and donations, United Way of Thurston County has shut down, leaving Olympia residents uncertain about access to food, health care, and essential community services they rely on daily.
Amid rising demand and reduced funding, food banks and public institutions are under strain, raising concerns about how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and nonprofit closures will affect families, students, and long term community stability.
Demand at local food banks has steadily increased over the past two years, according to volunteers. What once served a few hundred individuals per night has grown into consistently higher turnout, this turnout reflects a deeper need across Olympia’s most vulnerable populations.
Volunteer Ila Velupula reported a noticeable rise in need, particularly following a reduction in federal food assistance. We’re serving “over two hundred people a night,” she says. I’ve “definitely seen an increase.”
Before the recent increase in people, food banks were already operating under constrained conditions prior to recent policy changes. Limited supplies require volunteers to assemble meals from remaking inventory, raising ongoing concerns about whether resources would meet demand.
“We don’t know if we are going to have enough food,” Velupula says. “The last thing I want to do is turn people away.”
The closure of United Way of Thurston County removes a key financial support system. According to contender Tony Ngo, the loss of compounds is the effect of earlier SNAP cuts, leaving fewer resources available when demand is rising.
“When the United Way closes, that means less funds and less food,” says volunteer Ngo. Declining funds and food shortages in food banks not only make it harder for volunteers to balance out work but also make it harder for people relying on food banks.
The impact extends beyond families to students across Thurston County. Many rely on food stamps to help cover basic meals while balancing school and work. Losing that support has forced some to question how students will continue their education while meeting basic needs when community support services are constantly being dissolved.
Food banks aren’t the only services under pressure. Other community institutions are also experiencing significant strain. For example, the Timberland Regional Library is currently in the process of closing. Timberland Library is widely recognized in Olympia as a center for educational access, technology, and volunteer opportunities, but currently, the library has laid off approximately 40% of its workforce.
For many residents, libraries serve as critical acres of information, employment resources, and community engagement. Their reduction further limits available support systems.
The combined loss of food assistance and public services has contributed to increased anxiety among families and students. With fewer resources available, many students and their families are left uncertain about how they will meet basic needs, including consistent access to food.
Velupula expresses concern about the broader implications of these changes. “If people can’t even get food, I would worry about what is yet to come” in the future.
Beyond material support, food banks and community institutions play a vital role in fostering social connections. During Holidays such as Christmas, they provide meals and gathering spaces where individuals can participate in shared traditions in a welcoming, judgment free environment.
As these services diminish, community members warn that Olympia risks losing not only essential resources but also the social infrastructures that support collective well being.