HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro on Friday declared a disaster emergency and announced $5 million in immediate state funding to Pennsylvania food banks after the Trump Administration halted November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The emergency declaration, signed to accelerate funding and streamline aid distribution, aims to protect nearly two million Pennsylvanians — including children, seniors, and working families — who depend on SNAP to afford food. Shapiro’s order allows state agencies to bypass certain procedural barriers to deliver assistance more quickly through Feeding Pennsylvania’s statewide network of food banks.
“There is no substitute for the federal government’s decision not to release SNAP benefits, but my Administration is stepping up to use every tool we have,” Shapiro said during a press event at Philabundance in Philadelphia, joined by Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “In Pennsylvania, I won’t let our families or food banks shoulder that burden alone.”
In addition to the $5 million in state funding, Shapiro announced the creation of the “SNAP Emergency Relief Fund,” a private donation drive that has already secured more than $1 million from business and philanthropic leaders including Thomas Tull, Connie Williams, Mark Cuban, and David and Hallee Adelman.
Pennsylvania also joined 24 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump Administration over the suspension of SNAP payments, arguing the U.S. Department of Agriculture has failed to use billions in contingency funds authorized by Congress to keep benefits flowing during the shutdown.
Feeding Pennsylvania’s nine member food banks, which collectively serve all 67 counties, have reported 100 percent increases in online “Find Help” searches and anticipate a 20 percent surge in demand this month. The organization and its partners, including Philabundance and the Chester County Food Bank, are using reserve funds to purchase extra food to meet the rising need.
Since its creation in 1964, SNAP has provided a lifeline to low-income households, distributing $366 million monthly to nearly two million Pennsylvanians. The Shapiro Administration has expanded related efforts to fight hunger, including universal free school breakfasts, fresh food grants to 23 counties, and increases to the State Food Purchase Program and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System.
Residents who wish to help can donate or volunteer through their local food banks or visit FeedingPA.org for more information.
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