releases: https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-calls-on-congress-to-increase-emergency-assistance-to-food-banks-that-are-struggling-to-keep-up-with-demand

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https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-calls-on-congress-to-increase-emergency-assistance-to-food-banks-that-are-struggling-to-keep-up-with-demand Casey Calls on Congress to Increase Emergency Assistance to Food Banks That Are Struggling to Keep Up with Demand 2013-11-26 2013 2013-11 Democrat House PA Bob Casey C001070 www.casey.senate.gov     legacy Washington, DC- With Thanksgiving approaching, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on Congress to increase emergency assistance to food banks that are already struggling to keep up with demand. Currently, Congress has entered a critical stage in farm bill negotiations that will feature significant decisions on food security programs such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “Food assistance programs like TEFAP and SNAP play a critical role in the battle against hunger for children, seniors and families across Pennsylvania and throughout our nation,” Senator Casey said. “In this time of economic recovery, there is an urgent need for food assistance.  Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to develop policies for ensuring that all Americans have access to safe, affordable, and nutritious foods.” Casey’s effort encourages Congress to increase support for a program that allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to aid food banks around the country so they can continue to serve residents in need. Joined by 25 additional Senators, Casey’s letter makes the case that failing to increase support for this program will negatively impact struggling children and seniors and cause harm to the economy. With the support of TEFAP funding, food banks serve an integral role in combating hunger in the state. Feeding Pennsylvania food banks annually provide food assistance to more than 2 million low-income men, women, and children. Feeding America has said that following a 46 percent increase in demand during the recession, food banks are already struggling to meet need in their communities and will be unable to make up the difference. Additionally, more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians annually rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s single most important program in the fight against hunger. The House Farm Bill cuts SNAP by $39 billion, which would mean a loss of over 93 million meals in Pennsylvania in 2014 alone. Almost 15 percent of Pennsylvanians experience food insecurity, and over 20 percent of children in Pennsylvania are food insecure (the household experienced a shortage of food). According to Feeding America, 35 percent of food insecure children are likely not eligible for SNAP or other income-based Federal nutrition programs. Below are county-by-county numbers of child food insecurity in Pennsylvania, as well as the full text of Senator Casey’s letter:   Map the Meal Gap 2013        Pennsylvania Child Food Insecurity by County in 20111 County Food insecurity rate (full population)2 Population under 18 years old Child food insecurity rate2 Estimated number food insecure children (rounded) Food insecure children likely income-eligible for federal nutrition assistance3 Food insecure children likely NOT income-eligible for federal nutrition assistance3 Adams 9.8%           22,750 16.7% 3,800 64% 36% Allegheny 13.6%        243,928 16.4% 40,110 63% 37% Armstrong 11.9%           14,373 20.6% 2,960 73% 27% Beaver 12.1%           35,170 18.7% 6,590 69% 31% Bedford 12.6%           10,864 21.3% 2,310 84% 16% Berks 12.3%           98,178 20.9% 20,530 64% 36% Blair 12.1%           27,069 20.1% 5,440 75% 25% Bradford 10.9%           14,354 19.6% 2,820 80% 20% Bucks 9.7%        144,695 14.1% 20,360 40% 60% Butler 10.1%           41,543 15.6% 6,490 52% 48% Cambria 13.2%           28,454 21.8% 6,210 73% 28% Cameron 14.9%             1,006 25.2% 250 84% 16% Carbon 12.4%           13,636 21.5% 2,940 69% 31% Centre 13.8%           24,357 16.0% 3,890 61% 39% Chester 9.5%        123,545 13.0% 16,020 39% 62% Clarion 14.3%             7,932 22.6% 1,790 77% 23% Clearfield 12.9%           16,967 22.9% 3,890 77% 23% Clinton 13.1%             8,078 20.4% 1,650 80% 20% Columbia 13.2%           12,608 19.5% 2,460 74% 26% Crawford 12.9%           20,065 22.4% 4,490 79% 21% Cumberland 10.5%           48,498 15.4% 7,450 52% 48% Dauphin 14.4%           62,018 17.9% 11,070 64% 36% Delaware 13.7%        130,631 14.9% 19,420 57% 43% Elk 10.9%             6,785 20.8% 1,410 83% 17% Erie 14.0%           64,102 21.0% 13,450 71% 29% Fayette 14.9%           28,201 26.1% 7,350 80% 20% Forest 12.5%             1,012 18.8% 190 95% 5% Franklin 10.9%           35,460 16.9% 5,990 65% 35% Fulton 12.9%             3,440 22.0% 760 76% 24% Greene 12.4%             7,679 21.2% 1,630 86% 14% Huntingdon 13.1%             9,162 20.4% 1,870 75% 25% Indiana 13.7%           16,903 20.3% 3,430 76% 24% Jefferson 12.4%             9,808 21.5% 2,110 81% 19% Juniata 10.7%             5,839 19.0% 1,110 89% 12% Lackawanna 13.8%           44,060 21.7% 9,550 69% 31% Lancaster 11.2%        128,997 17.8% 23,020 66% 35% Lawrence 12.6%           19,560 20.9% 4,080 72% 28% Lebanon 10.5%           30,623 18.2% 5,560 68% 32% Lehigh 13.0%           82,327 21.0% 17,280 64% 36% Luzerne 14.0%           64,807 22.6% 14,620 71% 30% Lycoming 13.2%           24,463 20.7% 5,060 75% 25% McKean 13.2%             9,328 22.0% 2,050 81% 19% Mercer 13.1%           25,418 20.3% 5,170 77% 23% Mifflin 12.8%           10,880 22.6% 2,460 85% 15% Monroe 12.9%           41,048 17.7% 7,250 65% 36% Montgomery 10.5%        182,938 12.9% 23,620 41% 59% Montour 10.6%             3,956 17.9% 710 81% 19% Northampton 11.7%           65,267 18.0% 11,730 55% 45% Northumberland 13.3%           19,241 22.4% 4,300 81% 19% Perry 10.6%           10,682 18.8% 2,010 71% 29% Philadelphia 23.2%        345,973 22.3% 77,300 65% 35% Pike 12.0%           13,625 18.9% 2,570 64% 36% Potter 13.1%             3,954 22.7% 900 88% 12% Schuylkill 12.8%           29,868 20.7% 6,190 70% 30% Snyder 11.6%             8,909 19.8% 1,760 77% 23% Somerset 12.2%           15,317 20.9% 3,200 88% 12% Sullivan 10.6%             1,062 19.0% 200 100% 0% Susquehanna 11.2%             9,322 19.6% 1,830 79% 22% Tioga 11.9%             8,711 20.9% 1,820 83% 17% Union 12.4%             8,271 18.8% 1,560 81% 19% Venango 12.4%           12,011 23.0% 2,760 74% 26% Warren 11.1%             8,775 19.8% 1,740 75% 26% Washington 11.1%           43,009 16.7% 7,200 60% 40% Wayne 10.7%           10,312 19.0% 1,960 83% 18% Westmoreland 11.1%           73,377 17.9% 13,100 63% 37% Wyoming 12.5%             6,213 21.6% 1,340 70% 30% York 11.4%        101,941 17.5% 17,800 59% 41% State Total4 14.9%     2,757,475 20.5% 559,120 65% 35% For additional data and maps by county, state, and congressional district, please visit www.feedingamerica.org/mapthegap. Gundersen, C., Waxman, E., Engelhard, E., Satoh, A., & Chawla, N. Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2013. This research is generously supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and The Nielsen Company. 1Map the Meal Gap's child food insecurity rates are determined using data from the 2001-2011 Current Population Survey on children under 18 years old in food insecure households; data from the 2011 American Community Survey on median family incomes for households with children, child poverty rates, home ownership, and race and ethnic demographics among children; and 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on unemployment rates. 2 The statistical model for estimating food insecurity in 2013 differs slightly from the model used in 2012. The updated 2013 model includes "homeownership" in addition to the variables used in previous years to account for household assets and help produce more accurate estimates of food insecurity at the local level. For more information about these factors, please see the technical brief or supplemental methodology information on HungerNet. 3Numbers reflect percentage of food insecure children living in households with incomes above or below 185% of the federal poverty guideline for 2011. Eligibility for federal child nutrition programs is determined in part by  income thresholds which can vary by state. 4Data in the state totals row do not reflect the sum of all counties in that state. The state totals are aggregated from the congressional districts data in that state. Press Contact John Rizzo 202-228-6367 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z