By Brittany Williams, Executive Director
United Way of Snohomish County
Growing up, my family had a few favorite breakfast spots—Buzz Inn Steakhouse was one of them. Eating out wasn’t a fanciful affair. It was about affordability and an opportunity to connect amongst our busy family of six.
That’s why a recent news story caught my eye—some restaurants are now charging per egg because of the national shortage. It reminded me how even something as small and basic as an egg can become a real challenge for families already stretched thin.
Since 2022, the bird flu has wiped out more than 145 million chickens, and egg prices have surged—hitting $4.94 per dozen this spring (and let’s be honest, we’ve seen it higher than that right here in Snohomish County). The USDA predicts another 20% increase this year. For some families, that’s a minor inconvenience. But for the 40% of households in our county who can’t make ends meet, it’s another crack in an already fragile budget.
And switching to cereal? That’s not much better. Prices for family-sized boxes have jumped from about $6 to nearly $10 since the pandemic, thanks to shrinkflation—where packages get smaller while prices go up.
For ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families—those who earn above the federal poverty level but still can’t afford basic essentials—these everyday costs add up fast. Even with two adults working full time in common jobs like personal care aide or stock clerk, a family of four in Washington still falls short by about $26,920 per year.
This isn’t a rare scenario. In fact, in our state, over one-third of workers in the 20 most common jobs—cooks, cashiers, janitors, fast food workers, personal care aides—live in households that can't afford the basics.
That’s why United Way of Snohomish County is here: to support ALICE families and help them build lasting financial stability. Because for many of them, a rising grocery bill isn’t just frustrating—it’s the difference between staying afloat and falling behind.
When I think back to those Buzz Inn dinners with my family, I remember more than the food. I remember how safe and steady it all felt. That’s the kind of stability every family deserves. That’s what we’re fighting for—together.
If you’d like to understand more, start by exploring the data at UnitedForALICE.org/Washington. Then visit uwsc.org/alice to see how you can help make a difference.