In 2020-21, after losing my full-time job and facing the pandemic mid-divorce, my family needed SNAP assistance to survive. While I continued working a part-time freelancing gig while searching vigorously for a full-time job, at least I didn’t have the additional worry about how my kids were going to eat.
Now, according to the most recent Federal Reserve Economic Data report, approximately 162,000 Allegheny County residents receive SNAP benefits, about 35% of whom are children. The sudden loss of SNAP benefits will put more pressure on families to afford groceries and increase demand on already-strained food banks and charities. Families may have to choose between paying for food and other necessities. Food banks and pantries are bracing for a surge in demand, which is particularly challenging because they are also dealing with decreased federal and state funding.
The silver lining in all this, while it’s quite thin, is that we are a city of neighbors. Just after the announcement on Oct. 17 that Pa. was losing SNAP funding for the month of November, local advocates such as 1Hood Power began posting lists of free food resources in Pittsburgh, including local organizations, churches, and free markets. These food assistance sites offer support and dignity to anyone in need, no questions asked…