ALLENTOWN, Pa. – People in Pennsylvania could lose their SNAP benefits come November.
If the federal government doesn’t pass a budget bill and stop the shutdown, many families will be without the money they use to buy groceries.
A letter from the USDA to the state says that unless the federal government takes action and passes a budget, there is not enough available federal funding for next month’s snap benefits. The Pennsylvania Department Of Human Services says the state cannot cover that cost. We spoke with a local food bank and they say if this happens, their programs will feel the effects.
“We call SNAP the first line of defense, the food pantry is that second stop,” says Nicole Folino, Community Services Manager, Second Harvest Food Bank.
That first line of defense comes from SNAP benefits, which could soon be put on pause for the nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians that rely on them.
That’s because the money for the state programs comes from the USDA, and with the government shutdown, the agency says it doesn’t have the funding to cover November’s bill.
“It’ll in essence just bring more households into our food pantry network because they won’t have that first line of defense which is their SNAP benefits to go and purchase their food at the local grocery store,” says Folino.
Second harvest serves around 100,000 people per month across its 6-county coverage area.
“We see people all over our region that face food insecurity, it could be your neighbor, your friend, or a member of your family,” says Folino.
Food bank leadership says the SNAP cuts would put a strain on the already busy system.
“We will do everything that we can within our four walls here at the food bank to work with any corporate partners, local grocery retailers, to glean any additional food that we can and get that distributed out to our pantry network,” says Folino.
For more information on how you can donate or volunteer at Second Harvest click here.