According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 12 percent of the U.S. population has limited access to nutritious food. Hunger can impact your health and wellbeing throughout your life, work performance, and the rate that children learn and grow. It is imperative that we reduce hunger and promote good health by ensuring that Pennsylvanians are able to access to fresh, healthy food as well as health and nutrition information and education.
In recognition of National Hunger Awareness Month in June, the Department of Human Services is highlighting some of the food and nutrition programs available for children, adults, and seniors in Pennsylvania. Check out some of the programs available below.
FIND A FOOD PANTRY NEAR YOU
GENERAL RESOURCES
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP helps Pennsylvanians by providing money each month that can only be spent on groceries, helping households have resources to purchase enough food for their household. - Farmers Market Nutrition Programs
The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provide WIC recipients and low-income seniors with fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from approved farmers’ in Pennsylvania.
WOMEN & CHILDREN
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Woman, Infants and Children
WIC helps pregnant women, mothers and caregivers of infants and young children learn about good nutrition to keep themselves and their families healthy. It provides nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals and healthy foods to eligible participants. - School Nutrition Programs | Find Meals for Kids near you!
Free school meals (breakfast/lunch) are available for children from families receiving food stamp benefits or TANF, and children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level. Reduced price school meals are available for children from families whose incomes are between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level. - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Also referred to as cash assistance, TANF provides cash assistance to pregnant women and dependent children and their parents or relatives who live with and care for them.
OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS
- Senior Food Box Program
The Senior Food Box Program works to improve the health of low-income seniors by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. In Pennsylvania, eligible participants include low-income individuals who are at least 60 years old and whose household income is at or below 130 percent of the U.S. poverty level.
Congregate and Home-Delivered Meals
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging
These programs provide nutritious meals to individuals age 60 or older, and their spouses, free of charge. Meals can be delivered directly to eligible individuals’ homes.
For additional resources and information on the Wolf Administration’s Blueprint to End Hunger in the Commonwealth, please go to www.dhs.pa.gov/ending-hunger.