Lehigh Valley food pantries continue to see an increasing number of people seeking help, even with SNAP benefits restored and promises of lower grocery prices on the horizon.
At the Central Moravian Church Food Bank in Bethlehem — one of only a handful across the Lehigh Valley that is open on Saturdays — 13 people lined up outside on a chilly November morning before the pantry opened at 8:30 a.m. In total, 74 households came to pick up groceries at the pantry Saturday morning, representing around 150 individuals, which is far above the demand the pantry has seen in the past, volunteers said.
The increase in demand comes as the price of groceries continues to increase — up 29% since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — and many have not received November SNAP food benefits. Tariffs on goods imported to the United States have also driven up the cost of foods like coffee, fruits and some types of meat, though President Donald Trump has vowed to roll back some of those increased import taxes.
Pennsylvania began distributing SNAP benefits Thursday, when the shutdown ended, and said most will receive them by the weekend.
A Bethlehem man, who asked for his name not to be used due to fear of repercussions for speaking about his finances, said Saturday he had not yet received his November SNAP benefits, and said the same is true for others he knows that receive assistance.
However, he said he does not rely on his benefits, because he receives only a small monthly amount. He came regularly to the Central Moravian Food pantry even before SNAP benefits were cut off in November.
“When [SNAP] gets here, I’ll have it,” he said.
Michael Brennan, a volunteer for the food pantry, said it serves around 260 households every month, or 700 individuals — many of whom are seniors and families with small children. Around 45% of clients are recipients of SNAP, he said.
Ivette San-Miguel, a Bethlehem resident who lost her job in 2021 after COVID complications rendered unable to keep working, picked up groceries for her family of 10 Saturday morning: five grandchildren, three daughters and her husband, who is in poor health, she said.
Her Social Security retirement and disability is just high enough to disqualify her from SNAP benefits, but it is not enough to feed her and her large family, who all live together, she said.
“It is hard. It is very hard,” San-Miguel said of her financial circumstances. “I never think I can come here to get food, I have no choice. I don’t have a choice.”
Connie Pierce, a coordinator for the volunteer-run pantry team, said that the pantry relies on donations from volunteers and orders from Second Harvest Food Bank, a provider that serves pantries across the Lehigh Valley.
But the Central Moravian Church pantry in recent months has been largely sustained by donations from generous individuals and organizations, because Second Harvest Food Bank has faced budget cuts, and Pierce said she hopes people’s generosity will continue into the next year.
“I think people are really concerned about what happens in January and February, because the need isn’t going to go away, even with SNAP [restored],” Pierce said.
Even before the shutdown halted SNAP benefits, some will no longer be eligible due to work requirements put in place by the Donald Trump-backed tax bill, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The changes, effective Nov. 1, require people ages 18-64 who receive benefits to prove to the government that they work, volunteer, job search or participate in training programs for at least 20 hours a week, with some exceptions.
On a bulletin board inside the pantry, Pierce cut and pasted newspaper articles about the impact that delayed SNAP benefits had on the 42 million Americans who rely on them.
“I thought to myself, We still have people that don’t know why this is a problem. I have a bulletin board in there, and I’m hanging these,” Pierce said.
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.