Pennsylvania human services groups plea to get SNAP back

The work demand is rising for volunteers at the Westmoreland Food Bank and at food banks across the commonwealth. It’s now about not just providing food to the nonprofits, but also getting people to help distribute the food.That importance is growing with SNAP benefits set to pause this weekend. On Friday afternoon, two federal judges ruled that SNAP must continue to be funded during the government shutdown.“This is more than what people can do on their own,” Westmoreland Food Bank CEO Jennifer Miller said Friday. “Our phones have not stopped. I’m constantly encouraging the staff to take a break. We have donors calling us and asking what we’re going to do.”The Westmoreland Food Bank has been doing what it can to keep up with the increased demand. In the last week, the food bank has received claims to serve more than half of the normal households it helps every month. For perspective, WFB normally serves close to 15,000 households. More than 46,000 people are signed up for food stamps in the county. “A lot of people that we’re talking to now have never been to a food pantry before because SNAP was enough,” Miller said. “This is only five, seven, 10 days’ supply of food. This isn’t enough to provide them for an entire month.” If emergency SNAP funds are released soon, Miller believes that still won’t be enough to feed all 46,000 people.“A lot of people, just because they receive food pantry doesn’t mean they don’t get SNAP,” she said. That’s why the food bank brought representatives from Mission Union, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Westmoreland Community Action together on Friday to relay the same message. “There is just not enough out there to fill the gap,” WCA CEO Mandy Zalich said. “The numbers are just insurmountable.” Those organizations have worked with many people who want to give back. “It’s businesses, individuals, churches and schools,” Zalich said. “So many people are doing some kind of collection. I’ve seen it on Facebook. Before I left the office today, a staff member saw somebody drop off boxes of food.” Despite more effort from the community, it’s still not enough to make up for what’s lost from the government shutdown and state budget impasse. “No matter what we do, it’s just not enough to fill the need,” Zalich said. “It’s been heartwarming to see the schools, businesses, and individuals stepping up to help. They may not have been aware of some of the challenges a few months ago, but they’re well aware now.”“We have reached out to our legislators,” Miller said. “They’ve all been very supportive. They’ve always been. We just need this to come together now.” If you’d like to volunteer or donate to the Westmoreland Food Bank, click here.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

DELMONT, Pa. —

The work demand is rising for volunteers at the Westmoreland Food Bank and at food banks across the commonwealth. It’s now about not just providing food to the nonprofits, but also getting people to help distribute the food.

That importance is growing with SNAP benefits set to pause this weekend. On Friday afternoon, two federal judges ruled that SNAP must continue to be funded during the government shutdown.

“This is more than what people can do on their own,” Westmoreland Food Bank CEO Jennifer Miller said Friday. “Our phones have not stopped. I’m constantly encouraging the staff to take a break. We have donors calling us and asking what we’re going to do.”

The Westmoreland Food Bank has been doing what it can to keep up with the increased demand. In the last week, the food bank has received claims to serve more than half of the normal households it helps every month.

For perspective, WFB normally serves close to 15,000 households. More than 46,000 people are signed up for food stamps in the county.

“A lot of people that we’re talking to now have never been to a food pantry before because SNAP was enough,” Miller said. “This is only five, seven, 10 days’ supply of food. This isn’t enough to provide them for an entire month.”

If emergency SNAP funds are released soon, Miller believes that still won’t be enough to feed all 46,000 people.

“A lot of people, just because they receive food pantry doesn’t mean they don’t get SNAP,” she said.

That’s why the food bank brought representatives from Mission Union, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Westmoreland Community Action together on Friday to relay the same message.

“There is just not enough out there to fill the gap,” WCA CEO Mandy Zalich said. “The numbers are just insurmountable.”

Those organizations have worked with many people who want to give back.

“It’s businesses, individuals, churches and schools,” Zalich said. “So many people are doing some kind of collection. I’ve seen it on Facebook. Before I left the office today, a staff member saw somebody drop off boxes of food.”

Despite more effort from the community, it’s still not enough to make up for what’s lost from the government shutdown and state budget impasse.

“No matter what we do, it’s just not enough to fill the need,” Zalich said. “It’s been heartwarming to see the schools, businesses, and individuals stepping up to help. They may not have been aware of some of the challenges a few months ago, but they’re well aware now.”

“We have reached out to our legislators,” Miller said. “They’ve all been very supportive. They’ve always been. We just need this to come together now.”

If you’d like to volunteer or donate to the Westmoreland Food Bank, click here.