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If you believed that applying for food assistance could trigger a deportation order—even if you are here legally—who would you let go hungry? Your children, or yourself? 

For too many families, this isn’t a hypothetical question. For Dr. Rupin Thakkar, a pediatrician and WithinReach board member, it’s a clinical reality. 

Dr. Thakkar has been a constant for one family for 15 years, starting with their firstborn and supporting them as three more children arrived. Over that time, he built trust with the entire family —especially the parents, who immigrated from Mexico and have lived here legally for two decades— visit by visit, through newborn checkups, scraped knees, and adolescent milestones. But at a recent wellness exam, the routine screening questions told a new, concerning story. 

The father had been laid off. The family was struggling. When asked about food security, the mother hesitated before sharing the truth: they were too scared to apply for SNAP or even visit a food bank.  

So they made an impossible choice. 

They made sure their children ate. And they didn’t.  

Bridging the Fear Gap

Dr. Rupin did what trusted providers across Washington do every day: he connected them to the WithinReach Help Me Grow Washington Hotline. 

He offered the one thing they needed most: reassurance. He explained that WithinReach is a non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our Resource Navigators are safe, our calls are confidential, and no one is monitoring who reaches out for support. 

When a family calls WithinReach, they receive: 

• One-to-One Navigation: Personalized education, pre-screening, and application assistance for Basic Food (SNAP). 

• Direct Connections: Links to local food banks and WIC clinics. 

• Accessible Tools: An online resource database and WIC locator used by more than 84,000 people in 2025 alone. 

Dignity is at the heart of our work. For the 20% of families who call us speaking a language other than English, we provide support in more than 30 languages through bilingual, bicultural staff and real-time interpretation. 

More Than Just Groceries 

Food access is never just about groceries. It’s about health. It’s about dignity. And right now, it’s about safety. Because no parent should have to trade their family’s safety to put food on the table. 💜 

Learn more about how we support FOOD ACCESS across Washington state.