Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township has declared a disaster emergency in response to the partial shutdown of the federal government which could leave SNAP benefits frozen as of Saturday, November 1.
Shapiro is immediately directing $5 million to Feeding Pennsylvania, a statewide association of nine food banks, to help distribute across the state.
According to a Shapiro administration press release, the $5 million “will flow through Feeding Pennsylvania like the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) — a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture initiative that connects food banks with Pennsylvania farmers to provide fresh, local food to families in need.”
The governor also launched a private sector fundraiser to help food banks meet the expected surge in demand. The effort has raised more than $1 million so far for the “SNAP Emergency Relief Fund”.
On Tuesday, he joined a coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration for unlawfully suspending SNAP.
“Nearly two million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP every month — and they shouldn’t have to wonder where their next meal will come from because of the dysfunction in Washington,” Shapiro said. “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 — state resources, private sector support, and the compassion of our communities — to make sure our food banks are fully stocked and our families are fed. The federal government has the money to keep people fed — they’re just refusing to use it. In Pennsylvania, I won’t let our families or food banks shoulder that burden alone, and I’m not going to stand by while the federal government lets Pennsylvanians go hungry.”
In related news, today two federal judges temporarily ordered the Trump administration to continue funding benefits for SNAP using emergency reserve funds.
According to the Associated Press, the judges gave the administration leeway on whether to fund the program partially or in full for November. One of the judges gave the administration until Monday to notify the court how SNAP will be funded.
According to WGAL’s analysis, 6.8% of Montgomery County resident receive SNAP benefits, which is ranked 64th out of 67 Pennsylvania counties.
The disaster emergency proclamation is below: