Mayor Jenny Durkan Announced $5 Million in Grocery Vouchers for Families Impacted by COVID-19

Major Jenny A. Durkan announced that the City of Seattle will provide $5 million in grocery vouchers to help families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new grocery voucher program will provide 6,250 families $800 in vouchers to purchase food, cleaning supplies and other household goods at any Safeway store in Washington state.

“We know that working families in Seattle are already struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools and child care facilities close, we need to do everything we can to support families and ensure they can put food on the table,” said Mayor Durkan. “Our city has been working on many new efforts as it related to housing assistance, meals and small businesses, but we know it is not enough for the families struggling. Ultimately, we will need an unprecedented relief package from Congress to address the long-term consequences for working people who are already feeling the impact of this global pandemic.”

The mayor’s $5 million grocery voucher program will be distributed to 6,250 eligible families who are currently enrolled in city supported child care programs and food assistance programs. The Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) will distribute the grocery vouchers in two $400 installments, and vouchers will be distributed by mail.

Families will receive a total of $800 in vouchers that can immediately be used at any Washington state Safeway store to purchase food and household goods not including tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets and fuel. Voucher use requires a free Safeway membership, which residents can immediately access at any Safeway location.