Help hungry families afford the food they need

Many of us are feeling the impact of price increases to gas, food, and other items. It's estimated that food inflation in the U.S. will hit 9% by the end of 2022. For those struggling to pay their bills and put food on their table, these price increases have significant consequenses.  There may be fewer dollars for food and the dollars they have don't stretch as fair.  For some, inflation may push them into experiencing food insecurity for the first time.

Price increases also create significant challenges for food pantries and soup kitchens working to meet the needs of those in their community.  While many receive food donations, most programs supplement donations by purchasing food from local food banks or community partners. 

What we're doing
The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger has been an anti-hunger leader for over two decades, building a regional movement to end hunger in southeast Pennsylvania, with the vast majority of our direct service work in Philadelphia. Our mission is to build a community where all people have the food they need to lead healthy lives. The Coalition takes a holistic approach by addressing immediate food needs, providing short term relief, and addressing long term solutions to food insecurity.

• Connecting people with food resources in their neighborhood, including free summer meal sites for kids.
• Connecting food pantries and soup kitchens with additional food and funding.
• Helping people navigate the SNAP (food stamp) application process.
• Advocating for policies that increase access to healthy food.

HUNGER FACTS

• A household experiencing food insecurity has limited or uncertain access to food to support a healthy life.

• Food insecurity rose “significantly” for households with children and those living in Black and Latino households.

• Currently, there are more than 1.3 million people facing hunger in Pennsylvania, close to 384,000, or 1 in 7 are children. People facing hunger in Pennsylvania are estimated to report needing $733,806,000 more per year to meet their food needs. 

Source: USDA, Household Food Security in the United States in 2020, Sept 2021
Source: Hunger-Free America, What Hunger Looks Like in Pennsylvania, 2020

Links:

• Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger website