Nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians will lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on Saturday, Nov. 1 unless Congress takes action to end the federal government shutdown, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration.
In Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region covering Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties, over 106,000 people receive these benefits to help cover the cost of food, according to Shapiro’s office and the local United Way.
To help those in need, the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley on Friday announced a Critical Support Fund in partnership with the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation.
The goal is to raise $500,000 to support keeping key food pantries stocked with crucial staples for a minimum of three months, while ensuring that food is distributed to where it’s needed most.
“The first focus of this fund will be to support emergency food access for our community,” the nonprofits said in announcing the effort. “With over 40% of Greater Lehigh Valley residents living paycheck to paycheck, funding pauses to programs like SNAP have led to greater food insecurity.
“At the same time, many of our region’s social service providers are struggling to keep up with the need and have not been able to access funding that typically supports food access programs.”
To donate to the fund, visit unitedwayglv.org/donate (select “Critical Support Fund”). On Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s website, donate by clicking: Bridge Fund for Critical Support. Donations can also be made via mail with checks payable to UWGLV, 1110 American Parkway NE, Suite F-120, Allentown, PA 18109 — Attention “Critical Support Fund”; or to Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, 840 W. Hamilton Street, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18101 — Attention “Bridge Fund for Critical Support.”
Food and diaper donations can be directed to the following hubs: Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Easton Area Neighborhood Center and Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank. Priority food items include canned proteins, cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, rice, pasta and peanut butter.
Funds will be distributed for immediate relief in partnership with an action group of local food providers who are co-leading this response strategy, according to Friday’s announcement.
This Critical Support Fund seeks to address food-resource and other emergency needs and is being launched regardless of whether SNAP benefits are paused, said Laura McHugh, chief engagement officer for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“Too many of our neighbors are feeling the strain when vital support systems are stretched,” stated Marci Lesko, president and chief executive officer of the local United Way. “When need rises and resources tighten, our community shows up. We’re grateful for the extraordinary collaboration across nonprofits, funders and volunteers who are stepping up together to meet this moment.”
Second Harvest Food Bank moves into its new facility Sept. 9, 2015, on Silver Crest Road in East Allen Township.Lehighvalleylive.com File Photo
The Shapiro Administration says the number of Pennsylvanians who rely on more than $366 million in monthly food assistance through SNAP includes more than 713,000 children and 697,000 older adults. In Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s 7th Congressional District, the number of SNAP recipients is 106,733, according to the Democratic governor’s office.
Mackenzie this week called for an end to the shutdown.
“The shutdown isn’t just a headline; it means empty pantries for families across the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos,” Mackenzie said in a statement Tuesday. “Essential government programs that support local families are in immediate danger. Tens of thousands of local families depend on SNAP and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), and local food banks will struggle to keep up with the surge in demand if these programs are allowed to lapse.
“It’s time for partisanship to take a back seat to the lives of American families — the government must be funded.”
The shutdown began when the Republican-controlled Congress failed to pass a bill to fund the government.
In a standoff with Republican President Donald Trump’s administration, Democrats are insisting on the extension of tax credits that make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans and the restoration of cuts made to Medicaid. Without the tax credits, more than 20 million Americans on Affordable Care Act plans would see their health care costs rise. Republicans say they won’t discuss the health care subsidies, or any other policy, until the government reopens.
Among the Democrats lining up to challenge Mackenzie in 2026, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure on Friday said he wrote the congressman urging immediate federal action to support Lehigh Valley food pantries and aid those facing the halt of SNAP benefits.
“The letter requests that President Trump reopen programs previously shut down earlier this year, including the Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement programs, and release previously allocated funds to provide immediate relief to families in need,” the county executive’s office said in a news release. “These programs can quickly deliver food assistance directly to children and households most affected by the potential SNAP disruption.
“Without this action, families in Northampton County will face immediate hardship, and local food pantries, already stretched by prior funding shortfalls, will be overwhelmed.”
The local United Way urges those in need of food resources to visit pa211east.org. Visitors to the site can click on their county and then food, for the list of the closest resources available. Those in need may also dial 211 to speak to someone directly for help or text their ZIP code to 898211.
In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services maintains a list of food bank organizations operating throughout the state, which gather food donations and distribute them to the nearly 3,000 local food pantries across the state.
Other resources suggested by the DHS include:
Feeding Pennsylvania, a statewide association of food banks. Visit the FeedingPA website at feedingpa.org.PA Navigate, which helps connect people with local assistance for food, housing, utilities and transportation. Visit the PA Navigate website at pa-navigate.org.
New Jersey residents are encouraged to dial 211 or visit nj211.org for pantry locations and assistance help.
PennLive.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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