food-insecurity
Pa. announces second round of emergency food assistance funding for food banks, pantries
Qualified food banks, pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens are invited to apply for the $2.5 million in funding available through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grants.
Fetterman introduces legislation to cancel school lunch debt
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has introduced legislation, along with Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) that would cancel school lunch debt nationwide. The bill would apply to all “debt,” incurred under the National School Lunch Program, which operates at public and nonprofit private schools. “‘School lunch debt’ is a term so absurd […]
Food benefits for low income families at risk in a government shutdown, White House says
WASHINGTON — As Congress barrels toward a partial government shutdown, the White House Monday warned that a program that helps millions of low income families afford healthy food could see substantial cuts. The White House released a state-by-state breakdown, estimating that nearly 7 million people who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, […]
Campus food pantries are seeing greater demand — and more state dollars
SOUTH BRONX, New York City — In the South Bronx, one of the nation’s poorest communities, Hostos Community College has long positioned itself as an educational pathway out of poverty. But to make that journey, many Hostos students must contend with more than their schoolwork. Without the school’s child care center, students who are single […]
As Pa. sees record number of SNAP recipients, advocates call for a minimum wage increase
Pennsylvania recorded its highest-ever number of food-assistance recipients — nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians — in June, alarming already strained charitable food pantries and increasing concern among researchers and anti-hunger advocates. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services reported that in June 5,000 additional residents had enrolled in SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, bringing the […]
Pa.’s Fetterman, U.S. Senate Dems seek answers from USDA on SNAP program changes
'We remain concerned about the changes to eligibility and increases to work requirements overall,' the lawmakers wrote.
Pa.’s food assistance programs need legislative support | Opinion
There isn’t a single county in Pennsylvania without a family experiencing food insecurity.
Dollar stores, giant grocery chains push healthy food out of reach for many, activists say
Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger already control a huge amount of the nation’s grocery business.
Pa. food policy council aims to improve food security, accessibility
The Pennsylvania Food Policy Council was created by an executive order from former Gov. Tom Wolf in December 2022 in the wake of soaring food prices and the dissolution of pandemic-era nutrition programs.
More states line up to serve free school meals to all kids
Universal free meals during the pandemic removed the ‘free-lunch kid’ stigma.
A debt ceiling deal can’t come on the backs of Pennsylvanians in need | Opinion
We should be supporting families — not imposing work requirements that don’t work.
A pandemic experiment in universal free school meals gains traction in the states
'When we feed our children, we’re feeding our future,' New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said.