Duquesne, PA – Second Lady of Pennsylvania Gisele Fetterman and Department of Human Services Executive Deputy Secretary Clarke Madden joined the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Feeding America Chief Executive Officer Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, and Feeding Pennsylvania Executive Director Jane Clements-Smith to recognize Hunger Action Month and encourage continued support for Pennsylvania’s charitable food network, which operates food assistance programs so anyone who is having trouble making ends meet during this economic uncertainty does not have to go hungry. They also reminded Pennsylvanians to be counted in the 2020 United States Census as soon as possible.
“No Pennsylvanian should ever know how it feels to go to bed hungry,” said Second Lady Gisele Fetterman. “The Census and food security go hand in hand, because if we don’t know you’re here, we aren’t allocated the money to provide food services for you if you’re ever in a position to need them.”
As of September 14, 2020, in Pennsylvania, 68.5 percent of residents have already self-responded to the 2020 Census, 2.6 percent higher than the national average. In Allegheny County, nearly 348,000 residents have not responded. Pennsylvanians can respond online for the first time in Census history, by phone, or by mail.
The Census questionnaire is confidential and straightforward with questions that include name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether you own or rent your home. The Census Bureau will never ask about your citizenship status or sensitive information like your Social Security number, bank accounts, or payments/donations. The Census Bureau will never reach out to you on behalf of a political party. Your responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement.
Pennsylvania’s goal is to ensure that all residents respond to the Census, as a low response rate will impact federal funding and representation. Census data is used to decide how $675 billion in federal public funding is spent every year. Pennsylvania receives $26.8 billion annually through its 16 largest federally funded programs, or about $2,000 per Pennsylvanian each year. Many of these programs will be vital as Pennsylvania recovers from the public health crisis and economic insecurity. It is imperative now, more than ever, that all Pennsylvanians are counted in the 2020 Census.
“Data collected through the 2020 Census will affect all of us for the next decade. As we continue to navigate and recover from this pandemic and economic insecurity, Pennsylvania will need as many resources as possible to help meet the needs and recover from the significant challenges we’ve faced this year. A complete and accurate count will help make that possible,” said Executive Deputy Secretary Madden. “I want to thank our partners in the charitable food network who are helping people meet essential needs and stay healthy right now. Overcoming and healing from the difficult circumstances we all face will take support and strong partnerships, and I encourage everyone to reach out if they need help, support their local food banks if they are able, and compete their Census so Pennsylvania is counted, heard, and well equipped as we recover.”
More than 2 million Pennsylvanians – including 630,000 children – do not have reliable access to adequate, nutritious meals and live in food insecurity every day. According to Feeding Pennsylvania, nearly 1 in 20 Pennsylvanians are newly food insecure. Inadequate food and chronic nutrient deficiencies have profound effects on a person’s life and health, including increased risks for chronic diseases, higher chances of hospitalization, poorer overall health, and increased health care costs. As the nation faces the COVID-19 pandemic, access to essential needs like food is more important than ever to help keep vulnerable populations healthy and mitigate co-occurring health risks.
Pennsylvania’s charitable food network is a critical partner in fighting hunger in communities across the commonwealth, and it has seen an unprecedented rise in need amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic downturn. Food banks in Pennsylvania typically serve approximately 2.2 million people annually, but in the first three months of the public health crisis, these food banks had more than 5.5 million visits. The COVID-19 public health crisis has exacerbated food insecurity across nearly our entire commonwealth. Before COVID-19, three counties had a food security rate at or above 13 percent. Today, 64 of 67 counties are at least 13 percent food insecure, and 32 counties are at least 16.5 percent food insecure.
“The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and other Feeding America food banks across the country mobilized quickly on the front lines to meet needs of communities during this time of crisis. We know, though, that the need is not going away,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “I want to say thank you for the remarkable generosity coming from this community that makes this support possible. I hope you will stick with us as we continue to need to stick together.”
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our food banks have seen an incredible increase in food insecurity rates across the state — including Philadelphia which has the highest food insecurity rate in Pennsylvania.” said Jane Clements-Smith, Executive Director of Feeding Pennsylvania. “The charitable food network continues to work hard to meet the sustained increased demand, but we still need the support of our generous communities across the commonwealth. Hunger Action Month is another opportunity to raise awareness about hunger and to remind donors, volunteers, and stakeholders that we need their support to ensure that no one in Pennsylvania is denied access to nutritious food. We are proud to partner with our member food bank, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and want to recognize the incredible work they have done now and throughout the pandemic.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank serves 260,000 people, including more than 70,000 children, across 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. Through more than 400 local partners and agencies, the Food Bank distributed nearly 40 million pounds of food over the past year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, from March through July of 2020, the Food Bank distributed more than 14 million pounds of food.
“Today shows the importance of working together, not only to provide food assistance for those in need, but also to complete the Census so that everyone is counted,” said Lisa Scales, President & CEO of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. “We have seen a dramatic increase in need since the start of the pandemic and are serving many people who are receiving food assistance for the first time. We expect that to continue well into next year. As long as there is a need, our Food Bank will be here to support our neighbors.”
Help with buying food is also available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP helps nearly 1.9 million Pennsylvanians by providing a benefit to assist with purchasing groceries, helping households have resources to purchase enough food to avoid going hungry. SNAP is our country’s most important and most impactful anti-hunger program. For every meal provided by a Feeding Pennsylvania food bank, SNAP provides nine. While SNAP is intended to be a supplemental program, during a pandemic and historic unemployment, resources are strained, particularly for our lowest income Pennsylvanians.
Applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other public assistance programs can be submitted online at www.compass.state.pa.us. All Pennsylvanians experiencing financial hardships due to the pandemic, a lost job, or a change in income are strongly encouraged to apply and see if they qualify for assistance with food, health care, and other essential needs.
Anyone interested in volunteering can find organizations in need of volunteer support on the United Way of Pennsylvania’s 211 website.
For more information about food assistance resources for people around Pennsylvania impacted by COVID-19 and the accompanying economic insecurity, visit the Department of Agriculture’s food security guide.
For more information about the U.S. Census, visit the PA Census website. For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit the DCED website.
