With a halt to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps, likely next week, social service providers are preparing for a crisis.
Close to 2 million Pennsylvanians likely won’t receive their monthly SNAP benefits, including some 385,000 people in southwestern Pennsylvania. Roughly one in three Allegheny County recipients is a child; nearly 70% of beneficiaries nationwide are children, elderly people, or people with disabilities.
“The Commonwealth cannot backfill these costs,” Pennsylvania human services officials said in a statement announcing no benefits would be paid in November.
Community services throughout the region are poised to help. If you’re looking to donate, scroll to the “Ways to Help” section for your county.
Allegheny County
General List
For Individuals & Families
Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank Distributions
Food distributions offer a mix of loose grocery items, focusing on fresh produce, dairy and protein, in family-sized portions. There are two distribution options: walk-in events where guests pick up their food on their feet indoors, and drive-up events where volunteers pack guests’ trunks while they remain in their cars.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that offers nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults at child care centers, day care homes, adult day care centers, after-school programs and emergency shelters. The CACFP allows children to develop and grow with a focus on health and wellness.
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Hunger Services offers two programs to help secure food for your family, including Emergency Food Assistance (EFA) and Food for Early Development (FED). These services are provided to individuals or families who reside in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
WIC benefits income-eligible pregnant women; breastfeeding women up to 12 months postpartum; non-breastfeeding women up to six months postpartum; and infants and children up to five years of age who have a medical/nutritional risk through a health and supplemental nutrition program. WIC is provided by the Allegheny County Health Department. For appointments, call: 412-350-5801
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
The PA Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides checks to eligible WIC participants to buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Families and individuals meeting income eligibility requirements for food assistance can receive food and fresh produce to help supplement stretched budgets and food stamp allowances. Additionally, those in need of emergency food or kosher food outside of the 15217 zip code are welcome.
Family Centers of Allegheny County
There are 22 Family Centers located throughout the county. Services are free and available to parents and their children regardless of income. Some offer food pantries and baby formula.
Loaves and Fishes Food Cupboard
Loaves and Fishes offers food pantry distribution, and free groceries are offered to community members on the first Saturday of every month.
For Children
Backpack Program
These programs provide kid-friendly, single-serve meals and snacks to meet children’s needs during weekends and school breaks. Food is typically packed into bags, then discreetly placed into children’s backpacks.
On-Site Meals
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank partners with day care, afterschool and summer programs, among others, that serve meals or snacks to children during their programming. Partners can access an inventory for use in preparing meals.
School Pantries
Schools and community organizations host pantries for children and their families to access food resources at a convenient location. This program brings a whole-family approach to reducing food insecurity.
For Older Adults
Doorstep Delivery
The Doorstep Delivery program is focused on serving low-income seniors in Allegheny County who qualify for the Pennsylvania Senior Food Box program. It serves hundreds of seniors monthly with a senior food box through its delivery program.
Senior Lunch Program
Residents aged 60+ (spouses under 60 are also eligible) can find a lunch at CitiParks Healthy Active Living Centers. The program runs Mondays through Fridays. Meals are provided through a partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and the Area Agency on Aging.
Ways to Help
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Give Food
Donate
JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Donate
Loaves and Fishes Food Cupboard
Donate
Armstrong County
For Individuals & Families
Armstrong County Community Action Food Bank
Programming operated under the Armstrong County food bank includes: monthly pantry distributions, senior box distributions, drive-up distributions.
Holiday Programs
ACCAP leads the effort in holiday-focused programming, including: Thanksgiving Turkey Distribution, Adopt-A-Family Holiday Project and Operation Warm’s Coat Drive. These programs are funded through sponsorships, private donations and grant funding, and they are open to all Armstrong County residents.
The Food Pantry at ACMH (Armstrong County Memorial Hospital)
ACMH has partnered with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in a working group comprising Armstrong County agencies tasked to address food insecurity in the community.
The Care Package Program (Armstrong County Memorial Hospital)
The program provides nutritious food to patients in need following their discharge from the hospital. Eligible patients receive a three-day supply of healthy frozen meals, including specific items for diabetic and cardiac diets.
Ways to Help
Armstrong County Community Action
Donate
Volunteer
Beaver County
The United Way of Beaver County is a centralized, nonprofit fundraising organization allocating resources, primarily through member agencies that provide for human needs of the community.
Food Pantries
Families Matter
(724) 770-1920; 186 Wagner Road, Monaca
Beaver Falls Salvation Army
(724) 891-3605; 721 13th St., Beaver Falls
Aliquippa Salvation Army
(724) 378-0875; 514 Franklin Ave., Aliquippa
Rochester Salvation Army
378 Jefferson St., Rochester
For Individuals & Families
First Baptist Church
Blessing Basket Food Pantry is at First Baptist Church in Freedom.
Orthodox Christian Ministry
Food pantry contains nonperishable food items, including canned fruits, vegetables and meats, cereals, soups, oatmeal, pasta, peanut butter, jelly and rice.
Meals on Wheels, Families Matter Food Pantry
This nonprofit food pantry partners with volunteers, food suppliers and financial donors to directly distribute groceries to families in need throughout Western Pennsylvania.
For Seniors
Lutheran Senior Life
Operated by the Lutheran Service Society and supported by the United Way of Beaver, this program helps keep participants healthy and safe while providing meals for seniors in need.
Ways to Help
United Beaver County
Donate or Volunteer
Butler County
General List
For Individuals & Families
Cabot Church Food Bank
Cabot Church operates a volunteer-run food bank. Volunteers take inventory, assess needs, and order, sort and distribute food each month to community members.
Evans City Food Cupboard
Housed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, the food cupboard is open on the first and third Friday of each month from 8:30-10:30 am.
Gleaners Food Bank
The Gleaners Food Bank is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization that provides food to Cranberry Township residents who meet Butler County income guidelines.
Moniteau Food Pantry
Open each Thursday morning, the Concord Church food pantry provides groceries for families in the Moniteau area. Please call 724-894-2338 to make arrangements to pick up food.
Mount Chestnut Presbyterian Church Food Cupboard
North Butler Feed My Sheep Food Pantry
Petroleum Valley Food Cupboard
The Petroleum Valley Food Cupboard began around 1970, serving people who live in the Karns City Area School District. It has since expanded into four Butler County townships and serves the northeastern portion of Butler County.
Portersville Food Pantry
The Muddy Creek-Portersville Volunteer Fire Station provides food to low-income individuals and families. It distributes from its station at 1151 W. Portersville Road, 16051.
Southwest Butler Food Cupboard
Zion Lutheran Church houses the Southwest Butler Food Cupboard, which serves Zelienople, Harmony, Jackson and Lancaster townships.
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul sponsors a major food pantry in Butler that serves over 500 families every month. In addition, more than 20 society conferences host food pantries, and many others provide some form of food assistance.
Ways to Help
Evans City Food Cupboard
Donate
Moniteau Food Pantry
Volunteer assistance is needed to help pack food orders on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m.
Gleaners Food Bank
Donate
Volunteer
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry
Donate
Washington County
General List
Food pantry programs in Washington, Pa.
For Individuals & Families
Greater Washington County Food Bank
Food Helpers is a nonprofit organization that provides programs distributing supplemental food and nutritional information/education to food insecure residents of Washington County.
Washington County DHS
The Washington County Department of Human Services supports individual and family needs to promote self-sufficiency and improve quality of life.
City Mission
City Mission is a Christian organization that serves homeless people as well as anyone experiencing hardship. Samaritan Care Food Pantry Center offers meals once a week.
Ways to Help
Greater Washington County Food Bank
Donate
Volunteer
Westmoreland County
For Individuals & Families
Westmoreland Food Bank
Westmoreland County offers assistance for those experiencing emergent food insecurity needs and those who need ongoing support. Westmoreland Food Bank provides services and programs designed for individuals and families in need across Westmoreland County.
Westmoreland Community Action
Westmoreland Community Action operates an emergency food pantry from its main office. The pantry provides food for any family or individual in a time of crisis.
Meals on Wheels, Westmoreland County
List of links to Meals on Wheels food assistance throughout Westmoreland County.
Ways to Help
Westmoreland Food Bank
Donate
Volunteer
Westmoreland Community Action
Donate
Volunteer
Grassroots Westmoreland Care-A-Van
This neighborhood organization accepts nonperishable food every Thursday, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.