Thursday, October 30th, 2025 Newsletter: A call to action!
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Hunger doesn't follow political party lines. Nearly one million Washingtonians are about to lose access to SNAP benefits on November 1st due to the ongoing government shutdown. We are not here to play politics or accuse one political party over the other. Food security & reliable access to food should not be a political issue and the current government shutdown has thrown the future of nearly one million of our neighbors into uncertainty and disarray. It is inhumane and it is unfair.
The single mom with young children, the two seniors who live on your block, and many of the hard working individuals you know who already are struggling due to the current economic environment, deserve better. We all deserve to have reliable access to healthy food.
We know that everyone is feeling the economic pinch due to our stubborn inflation. We know you have felt the pressure on your monthly budgets. Rent keeps going up. Insurance keeps going up. Groceries keep going up. Healthcare is more expensive than ever. Prescriptions feel further and further out of reach to many of us. We get it, many of us are trying to stay afloat and make it to the next paycheck. This is why the effects of the government shutdown on furloughed unpaid employees and on people who are about to lose access to SNAP benefits is unfair and inhumane. While our government officials continue to play with the livelihoods of many members of our community, we need to act now!
The single mom with young children, the two seniors who live on your block, and many of the hard working individuals you know who already are struggling due to the current economic environment, deserve better. We all deserve to have reliable access to healthy food.
We know that everyone is feeling the economic pinch due to our stubborn inflation. We know you have felt the pressure on your monthly budgets. Rent keeps going up. Insurance keeps going up. Groceries keep going up. Healthcare is more expensive than ever. Prescriptions feel further and further out of reach to many of us. We get it, many of us are trying to stay afloat and make it to the next paycheck. This is why the effects of the government shutdown on furloughed unpaid employees and on people who are about to lose access to SNAP benefits is unfair and inhumane. While our government officials continue to play with the livelihoods of many members of our community, we need to act now!
"My family would go to the Hopelink Food Bank in Bellevue once a week. They provided access to fresh fruits and vegetables and raw food ingredients so that we could cook at home. This weekly help in groceries allowed my family to make it from paycheck to paycheck and it took off some financial burden off my parents' back."
Osbaldo, owner of Frelard Tamales & El Sueñito Brewing
Osbaldo, owner of Frelard Tamales & El Sueñito Brewing
A call to action
In times like these, when uncertainty hits hardest, our communities depend on each other more than ever. Right now, local food banks are struggling to keep up with the rising need caused by the ongoing government shutdown. Shelves are thinning, and families who never thought they’d have to ask for help are waiting in line for a meal.
As a business rooted in this community, we believe that caring for our neighbors is part of who we are. We share food, we raise glasses, and we look out for one another. This is our moment to show what community really means.
We’re asking you—our friends, regulars, and supporters—to step up with us. A small donation can make a real difference for families facing empty cupboards.
A small incentive to donate
We want to encourage our customers to donate to your local food banks. We are especially asking folks in and around Bellingham and Seattle to send monetary donations to the following local food banks:
➜ Bellingham Food Bank in Bellingham, WA
➜ Foothills Food Bank in Maple Falls, WA
➜ Ballard Food Bank in Seattle, WA
➜ University District Food Bank in Seattle, WA
➜ Alimentando al Pueblo in Burien, WA
We checked in with these food banks and we heard back a resounding message: anything is welcomed but direct monetary donations will have the most positive impact on our community. They said that having access to funds allows them to get better deals when they do bulk purchases for food.
If you are reading this and you have a little bit of extra room in your budget, we encourage you to head to the links of each organization above to donate. While we know that you might not need an incentive to do good in community, we are pitching in a little kickback: we will reward everyone who donates to one of the food banks above. We will give you 5% of your total donation back to you in the form of Tamale Stars, which is the currency we use in our Loyalty Program. You can use these Loyalty points to pay for your one of your next visits to our Seattle & Bellingham locations. To purchase beer. To buy gift cards, merch, take-out food, or a future catering order.
How to get your reward
Once you have completed your donation, email your receipt to [email protected] and include your phone number associated with your Loyalty account. If you do not have one, please provide a phone number we can use to create you an account with us.
We will add the kickback within five business days after we receive your donation receipts. We will honor all receipts dated through the end of November, at the least, and for as long as we can financially support this incentive while SNAP benefits remain suspended.
As a business rooted in this community, we believe that caring for our neighbors is part of who we are. We share food, we raise glasses, and we look out for one another. This is our moment to show what community really means.
We’re asking you—our friends, regulars, and supporters—to step up with us. A small donation can make a real difference for families facing empty cupboards.
A small incentive to donate
We want to encourage our customers to donate to your local food banks. We are especially asking folks in and around Bellingham and Seattle to send monetary donations to the following local food banks:
➜ Bellingham Food Bank in Bellingham, WA
➜ Foothills Food Bank in Maple Falls, WA
➜ Ballard Food Bank in Seattle, WA
➜ University District Food Bank in Seattle, WA
➜ Alimentando al Pueblo in Burien, WA
We checked in with these food banks and we heard back a resounding message: anything is welcomed but direct monetary donations will have the most positive impact on our community. They said that having access to funds allows them to get better deals when they do bulk purchases for food.
If you are reading this and you have a little bit of extra room in your budget, we encourage you to head to the links of each organization above to donate. While we know that you might not need an incentive to do good in community, we are pitching in a little kickback: we will reward everyone who donates to one of the food banks above. We will give you 5% of your total donation back to you in the form of Tamale Stars, which is the currency we use in our Loyalty Program. You can use these Loyalty points to pay for your one of your next visits to our Seattle & Bellingham locations. To purchase beer. To buy gift cards, merch, take-out food, or a future catering order.
How to get your reward
Once you have completed your donation, email your receipt to [email protected] and include your phone number associated with your Loyalty account. If you do not have one, please provide a phone number we can use to create you an account with us.
We will add the kickback within five business days after we receive your donation receipts. We will honor all receipts dated through the end of November, at the least, and for as long as we can financially support this incentive while SNAP benefits remain suspended.
Here are other ways we are stepping up:
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Bellingham:
🖤 Calling all music and community lovers. This one's for you. 🖤 ✨Rice, beans, and (liquid) bread are staple foods that everyone should have access to.✨ With the uncertain future of SNAP benefits and other government programming to support low income families being cut, we want to do everything we can to support our neighbors. Join us in raising money for the Bellingham Food Bank and Foothills Food Bank on Monday, November 8th. We will be donating $2 ($1 to each food bank) for every beer and side of rice and beans sold all day long. We will also make it easy with QR codes if you want to donate to them directly while you enjoy some music from 7-9pm. Our pal Cory from Ritual Records will be here spinning records while we enjoy some delicious food and drinks! Celebrate good music and good company with us. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come as they are. 🤘🏻 Can't make this one? There's always next month! Join us on the second Monday of every month for Ritual Records Night. Learn more about this event and others here. |
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Seattle:
On Día de los Muertos this Sunday, November 2nd, we will be donating $2 from every house beer & side of rice & beans sold. We will be splitting all collected proceeds among the Ballard, University District and Alimentando al Pueblo food bank programs. Visit our events page here to learn more about our Día de los Muertos weekend. |
Thank you!
Stay tuned to our social media pages & e-mail updates to learn about other ways we can partner & come together to support our neighbors. We thank you for your generosity! And remember: A thriving community is built by us all!
Stay tuned to our social media pages & e-mail updates to learn about other ways we can partner & come together to support our neighbors. We thank you for your generosity! And remember: A thriving community is built by us all!
