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Pennsylvania Food Banks Celebrate State Budget Boost Amid Rising Hunger Crisis
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Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 23:37 GMT by WGAL- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Pennsylvania Food Banks Celebrate State Budget Boost Amid a Rising Hunger Crisis
The state of Pennsylvania’s 2025 budget has awarded a much‑anticipated boost to its food banks—an investment that comes as the numbers of families and individuals struggling with food insecurity continue to climb. While the increase in state aid is a welcome relief for the nonprofit food‑distribution network that feeds more than a million Pennsylvanians every week, the reality on the ground remains grim: rising costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and a growing population in need mean that the new funding will only be a temporary lifeline.
The Bottom Line of the Budget
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the budget earmarks $12.8 million for food assistance agencies. Of that, $6.5 million will go toward direct food procurement and $6.3 million will support emergency grants that enable banks to purchase food on short notice. This allocation is a 20% increase over the previous fiscal year, reflecting the state’s acknowledgement that the pandemic’s aftershocks are still being felt in the country’s hunger metrics.
The funding comes from the Department of Agriculture’s Food Bank Assistance Program, a legacy of the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), and is designed to subsidize the cost of bulk purchasing, storage, and transportation. The budget also includes a $2 million line item earmarked for community outreach and nutritional education—an initiative that will see food banks partnering with local schools and faith‑based groups to promote healthy eating.
Food Banks’ Perspective
The Food Bank of Central Pennsylvania’s Executive Director, Kathy Boucher, hailed the budget as a “significant victory” for the network. “The grant will allow us to purchase more staples—rice, beans, canned vegetables—and ensure that our partner pantries can meet the demand for nutritious food,” Boucher said. “Without this level of state support, we would have to look to emergency donations and volunteer labor to keep the shelves stocked.”
Similarly, Mark Thompson, director of the Food Bank of Western Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of the emergency grant portion. “We are in the middle of a period where the cost of food in bulk is skyrocketing, and the emergency grant helps us get supplies in before prices hit the ceiling,” Thompson explained. He cited a recent spike in the price of non‑perishable staples that forced the bank to cut back on distribution until the state grant could be delivered.
“However,” Thompson added, “the funding is still modest relative to the scale of the problem. We need a sustained, larger funding stream, not a one‑off infusion that only covers a portion of the costs.”
The Hunger Numbers
Despite the state’s injection of funds, the article cites a Pennsylvania Hunger Index that indicates a 15% increase in households reporting food insecurity since 2020. The data was sourced from a recent survey by the Center for American Progress and corroborated by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Survey. Key drivers include:
- Inflation: The average price of groceries has risen by $12.4 per $100 of purchases over the last year.
- Unemployment: While the unemployment rate fell slightly, many workers still rely on food stamps (SNAP) to meet basic needs.
- Supply Chain Disruptions: Ongoing global logistics issues have led to shortages of high‑value items such as dairy and fresh produce.
In 2023, over 2.3 million Pennsylvanians were served by the state’s food‑bank network. Food banks estimate that the new budget will allow them to increase distribution by 15%, covering an estimated 500,000 additional meals in the first six months.
Linking the Budget to Federal Policy
The article also touches on the interplay between state and federal policies. While Pennsylvania has received $500,000 in federal EFAP grants in the past fiscal year, the new state line item effectively fills the gap created by the federal budget’s recent cuts to EFAP. The article links to a federal Department of Agriculture page that explains how EFAP funds are distributed to state agencies and subsequently to food banks. It also includes a link to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) briefing that predicts further cuts to federal nutrition assistance unless new legislation is enacted.
According to the CBO, if the federal government reduces EFAP funding by $300 million over the next decade, states will need to reallocate funds from other budget items—a scenario that could strain other social services. Pennsylvania’s decision to invest in food banks is thus both a practical solution to immediate hunger and a strategic move to mitigate future federal budget volatility.
Community‑Level Impact
Beyond the headline numbers, the budget will have tangible effects on the ground. The Food Bank of the Delaware Valley, for instance, will use part of its new grant to upgrade refrigerated storage that can now keep perishable items safe for longer periods—an essential upgrade given the increasing demand for fresh produce. The grant will also fund a “Community Kitchen” initiative, where volunteers can help families assemble balanced meals using donated ingredients.
The Food Bank of Southern Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has announced a partnership with local churches and nonprofits to create “food‑education pop‑up events” that teach families how to stretch limited budgets while maintaining nutritional standards. These programs, which are part of the new $2 million outreach line item, will serve roughly 25,000 families annually.
A Call for Sustained Investment
While the budget is a welcome development, leaders across the food‑bank network insist that it is only a stop‑gap measure. The Food Bank of Central Pennsylvania’s director, Kathy Boucher, called for a legislative mandate that ensures annual state appropriations of at least $10 million for food assistance. “We need predictable, stable funding—rather than the annual, ad‑hoc approach that forces us to operate on a tight margin,” she said.
The article concludes with a quote from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s spokesperson, who emphasized the state’s commitment to addressing food insecurity. “This budget demonstrates Pennsylvania’s dedication to making sure no Pennsylvanian goes hungry, but we know the challenge will persist,” the spokesperson said. “We are working to expand our efforts and bring more resources to the people who need them.”
Bottom Line
Pennsylvania’s 2025 budget grants a significant boost to its food‑bank network, giving food banks more money to purchase food, maintain storage, and expand community outreach. This fiscal move comes in response to a stark rise in food insecurity across the state—a trend driven by inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing economic uncertainty. While the new funding will undoubtedly help alleviate hunger for many families, food‑bank leaders and state officials alike stress that continued, sustained investment is essential to keep pace with the growing needs of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents.
Read the Full WGAL Article at:
[ https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-food-banks-celebrate-state-budget-boost-rising-hunger/69417990 ]
