A year ago I led this annual column with an anecdote about historically long lines at one of our county's foodbanks, as an example of how needs were increasing across Kitsap County. It wasn't the first time I'd done so. The year before inflation was also driving of the food bank clients rising, and prior to that it was cutbacks in federal food assistance, and before that the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic and what that did to employment.

If you're following the nation's news at all, you shouldn't need much of an explanation of what new pressure is now borne by our area's food banks and other service providers. You are hopefully also aware of the positive efforts that have been made across Kitsap and North Mason since October 1, when a 43-day government shutdown affected the paych

See Full Page