Feeding Pennsylvania

Feeding Pennsylvania is disappointed by the General Assembly’s decision to flat-fund core nutrition programs in the FY25 Commonwealth budget. Despite a $14 billion budget surplus and on the heels of new data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report showing a twenty-five percent increase in food insecurity across Pennsylvania, neighbors experiencing hunger have been left behind. Read Feeding Pennsylvania's full statement at https://lnkd.in/eW6TM6vU.

Have you registered to volunteer at your local Feeding Pennsylvania member food bank on #PADay? Spots are filling quickly, so make sure to register soon! Learn more about the initiative and register to volunteer at bit.ly/PADay24. #PAProud America250PA Feeding PA Member Food Banks: Central Pennsylvania Food Bank CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity) Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Helping Harvest Food Bank Mercer County Food Bank Philabundance Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania Westmoreland Food Bank

Recently, three Feeding Pennsylvania member food banks, CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity) Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, were awarded grant funds from the AllOne Foundation. These funds will be used to address fresh food access and nutrition in order to combat diseases in the thirteen-county footprint of the AllOne Foundation.

Registration is open to volunteer on Pennsylvania Day, a volunteer effort in partnership with America250PA to celebrate the PA by giving back to communities across the commonwealth. Find your closest volunteer site, learn more, and register to volunteer at bit.ly/PADay-2024.

Today, we celebrated World Milk Day and a generous donation from Weis Markets, Chobani, Kraft Heinz, Upfield, Lactalis Group, Dannon, and Tropicana Brands Group to Fill a Glass with Hope, Feeding PA's charitable milk program run in partnership with the PA Dairymen's Association and the American Dairy Association (Northeast). Donations to Fill a Glass with Hope allow the charitable food network to meet the need of fresh milk at our food banks while simultaneously supporting Pennsylvania's dairy farmers and processors. This month, shoppers at Weis Markets across the Commonwealth can round up their purchase at the register to donate to Fill a Glass with Hope and to help provide nutritious milk to our neighbors facing hunger.

USDA’s most recent data reported the highest rate of food insecurity in the U.S. - 12.8% - since 2014. It was also the largest annual increase since the Great Recession. We urge Congress to pass a strong #FarmBill that strengthens nutrition programs like TEFAP and SNAP and helps families get back on their feet.

SNAP relieves pressure on overwhelmed emergency food providers like food banks & pantries that could not begin to meet the need for food assistance if SNAP eligibility or benefits were reduced. Congress must strengthen SNAP in the #FarmBill.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) brings together U.S. farmers and food banks to increase access to food and support farm communities. Strengthening TEFAP in the #FarmBill will help food banks keep their shelves stocked and ensure families facing hunger can bring home meals.

While recent developments on the Farm Bill are a critical first step in addressing the nation’s food insecurity, proposals to critical federal nutrition programs fall short of the needs and realities of American families facing hunger, including the 1.5 million Pennsylvanians who experience food insecurity. Read Feeding Pennsylvania's statement on the release of House Farm Bill Text by clicking the link below.

Regularly keeping SNAP benefits in line with real food costs will help millions of families put nutritious meals on the table. Protecting Thrifty Food Plan updates in the #FarmBill is an essential step in helping to end hunger. Feeding Pennsylvania Member Food Banks: Central Pennsylvania Food Bank CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity) Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Helping Harvest Food Bank Mercer County Food Bank Philabundance Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania Westmoreland Food Bank