washington

• Modest Homeless Educational Services provides clear, step‑by‑step support to help students access the financial aid and campus resources they need to succeed. From completing the FAFSA and applying for state grants to securing Pell Grants and understanding federal loan options, the service simplifies complex processes and ensures individuals don’t miss out on available funding. Beyond financial aid, it also guides students in signing up for tutoring, mentoring, food assistance, and other campus programs, creating a pathway to opportunity and stability through education.

Did You Know?

• The United States Pell Grant is one of the most important forms of federal financial aid for college students. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the maximum award is $7,395. But here’s the powerful part: under the Year‑Round Pell program, students can receive up to 150% of their scheduled award — that’s $11,092 — if they enroll in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

How It Works

• Fall Semester: $3,697 (half of the annual maximum)

• Spring Semester: $3,697 (the other half)

• Summer Semester: $3,698 (the extra 50% allowed under Year‑Round Pell)

• Total Possible: $11,092

• This means students who take classes year‑round can stretch their Pell Grant further, accelerating their studies without taking on extra debt.

Why It Matters

• No repayment required — Pell Grants are grants, not loans.
• Supports low‑ and moderate‑income students — eligibility is based on financial need.
• Encourages year‑round enrollment — Summer funding helps students graduate faster.
• Covers tuition, fees, books, and living costs — flexible use makes it a lifeline for many.

Impact

• Nearly 40% of undergraduates nationwide benefit from Pell Grants. For many, it’s the difference between attending college full‑time or part‑time, and between graduating on time or dropping out. The Year‑Round Pell expansion ensures that students who want to keep momentum through Summer aren’t left without support.

But that’s not all…

Washington College Grant (WCG)

• Covers up to 100% of tuition at Washington public colleges and universities.

• Private colleges: Provides up to ~$11,000 annually (amount varies by institution).

• Eligibility: Based on family income (up to median family income), household size, and enrollment status.

• Flexibility: Can be used at community colleges, technical colleges, public universities, and many private schools.

College Bound Scholarship

• Amount: Covers tuition at public rates (up to full tuition at UW, WSU, or community colleges).

• Extras: Small book allowance (~$500 annually).

• Eligibility: Students must sign up in middle school and meet income/GPA requirements.

Passport to College Promise

• Amount: Covers tuition and fees for students who have experienced foster care.

• Extras: Support services and mentoring.

Washington (Seattle): 

• Pell ($7,395–$11,092) + WCG (up to full tuition or ~$11,000 private) + College Bound/Passport (~$500–full tuition) → ~$18,000+ annually, depending on tuition rates.

Impact

• By combining federal and state support, Washington students can dramatically reduce the cost of higher education. For many, this funding covers not only tuition and fees but also books, housing, and living expenses — making college completion more achievable.

Seattle and King County

• Northwest Harvest – SODO Community Market 1915 S. Holgate St, Seattle, WA 98144 | (206) 625‑0755 Choice‑style pantry offering fresh produce and staples.

• Ballard Food Bank 1400 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107 | (206) 789‑7800 Weekly groceries, mail services, and community support.

• Rainier Valley Food Bank 9021 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 | (206) 723‑4105 Free groceries twice weekly, culturally diverse food options.

Pierce County (Tacoma)

• Emergency Food Network 3318 92nd St S, Lakewood, WA 98499 | (253) 584‑1040 Distributes food to 75+ pantries across Pierce County.

• St. Leo Food Connection 1323 S. Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 | (253) 383‑5048 Pantry, backpack program for kids, and hot meals.

Spokane & Eastern Washington

• Second Harvest Inland Northwest 1234 E. Front Ave, Spokane, WA 99202 | (509) 534‑6678 Mobile markets and pantry distribution across Eastern WA.

• City Gate Spokane 170 S. Madison St, Spokane, WA 99201 | (509) 455‑9670 Pantry and hot meals for unhoused individuals.

Southwest Washington

• Clark County Food Bank 6502 NE 47th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661 | (360) 693‑0939 Distributes food to 40+ partner pantries in Clark County.

• Salvation Army Vancouver 1500 NE 112th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684 | (360) 448‑2841 Weekly groceries and emergency food boxes.

College & University Food Pantries in Washington

University of Washington (Seattle)

• UW Food Pantry – Any Hungry Husky Location: Poplar Hall, UW Seattle Campus Phone: (206) 543‑4059 Services: Weekly pantry access for students, staff, and faculty. Offers shelf‑stable food, UW Farm produce, ready‑to‑eat items, and hygiene products.

Seattle University

• Seattle U Wellness Café & Food Pantry Location: Pavilion (PAVL) 150, Seattle University Campus Phone: (206) 296‑6000 Services: Bags with 1–2 days of food weekly, fresh produce from Edible Campus, frozen meals from Redhawk Dining, SNAP counseling, and emergency dining dollars.

Western Washington University (Bellingham)

• Western Washington University Food Pantry Location: Viking Union, WWU Campus Phone: (360) 650‑6111 Services: Free groceries for students; demand is high and supplies often run out quickly. Supported by new student fees to expand food access.

Washington State University (Pullman)

• Cougar Food Pantry Location: Compton Union Building (CUB), WSU Pullman Campus Phone: (509) 335‑9667 Services: Free groceries for WSU students, including shelf‑stable items and hygiene supplies.

Evergreen State College (Olympia)

• Geoduck Student Union Pantry Location: College Activities Building, Evergreen Campus Phone: (360) 867‑6000 Services: Weekly groceries, fresh produce, and culturally appropriate food items.

Key Highlights

• UW & Seattle U: Weekly pantry access with fresh produce and hygiene items.

• WWU: Expanding pantry services due to high demand.

• WSU & Evergreen: Campus pantries provide groceries and essentials for students.

• Statewide: Many colleges partner with local food banks (Northwest Harvest, Second Harvest) to keep shelves stocked.

Here are the main outlets across the state:

• Everett Goodwill Outlet 2208 W Casino Rd, Everett, WA 98204   Phone: (425) 263‑8540

• Seattle Goodwill Outlet 6 S Idaho St, Seattle, WA 98134   Phone: (206) 860‑5711

• Kent Goodwill Outlet 315 Washington Ave S, Kent, WA 98032   Phone: (253) 277‑0489

• Tacoma Goodwill Outlet 3120 S 38th St, Tacoma, WA 98409   Phone: (253) 472‑1500

• Olympia Goodwill Outlet (closed permanently)   Previously located in Olympia; now consolidated into other regional outlets.

• Vancouver Goodwill Outlet 13401 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98682   Phone: (360) 823‑5295

• Pasco Goodwill Outlet 3521 W Court St, Pasco, WA 99301   Phone: (509) 544‑5840

• Spokane Goodwill Outlet 9837 W Flight Drive, Spokane, WA 99224   Phone: (509) 279‑2916

Typical Pricing

• Clothing & soft goods: ~$1.49 per pound

• Shoes: ~$1.99 per pound

• Household items: ~$0.99 per pound

• Books: ~$0.25 each (varies by location) (Prices may vary slightly by outlet.)

Quick Highlights

• Treasure hunt style: Inventory rotates every 30–60 minutes.

• Safety rules: Children under 16 often not allowed for safety reasons.

• Accessibility: Most outlets are wheelchair accessible and accept both cash and card.

• Eco‑friendly: Shopping here diverts thousands of pounds of goods from landfills.

Washington (ORCA System)

• Adult: $3.00 per ride; ~$99 monthly pass.

• Youth (0–18): Free statewide with Youth ORCA card.

• College Students: U‑Pass programs at UW, Seattle U, Bellevue College, etc. (unlimited rides bundled in tuition).

• Senior/Disabled (RRFP): $1.00 per ride.

• Low‑Income (ORCA LIFT): $1.00 per ride.

• Coverage: Buses, Link light rail, Sounder trains, ferries, streetcars, monorail.