Gearing Up Dear Friends, As we anticipate an increase of those in need of food assistance calling our SNAP Hotline, we are working to upgrade our phone system and put other measures in place. We are currently working in the following ways to address food insecurity across the region . . . - Our SNAP Hotline team continues to answer questions and help households navigate the SNAP application process through our SNAP Hotline at 215-430-0556, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are currently focusing our efforts on following up with clients and offering case management when needed. However, as we mentioned last week, we know many people in our communities are getting anxious about making ends meet as the current public health and economic crisis continues. For those who will soon lose the additional dollars provided by Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC), here is a new flyer that explains how SNAP may be able to help them put food on the table.
- On the Advocacy and Policy front: first and foremost, we need your help – and the help of everyone you know who cares about fighting hunger. On Monday, we are joining an “Anti-Hunger Roll and Rally” with our national partner, FRAC, as well as the Children’s Defense Fund, Coalition on Human Needs, First Focus, and others across the country. We must raise our voices to tell the Senate it must act quickly to pass a COVID-19 relief package that boosts SNAP benefits so that the growing number of struggling households may continue to put food on the table.
Here’s what to do: -
- Call Senator Toomey (202-224-4254) and Senator Casey (202-224-6324) on Monday, July 20, between 9 a.m. – Noon (local time). With advocates like you raising their voices from every part of the country, calls will roll into Senate offices throughout the day on their first day back from recess.
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- Throughout this important day of action, we encourage you to share a short selfie video (one minute or less) or photo calling for a 15% boost to SNAP benefits. Use hashtag #BoostSNAPNow and remember to tag Senator Toomey (@SenToomey) and Senator Casey (@SenBobCasey). (Click here for guidance on how to post a video or photo.)
Please ask friends and family to take action as well! If they are outside of PA, here are links for their Senators’ phone numbers and their Senators’ Twitter handles. - As we continue to look for ways to support our local Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen partners, the Coalition Against Hunger is proud to partner with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Harvest 2020 initiative. We encourage you to share your harvest this year with your local food pantry so they can help more community members in need of nourishing food. To find out how you can become involved, read more here: https://bit.ly/3g9WhMt. And remember that SNAP benefits can be used to purchase seeds and plants which produce food!
SNAP STORY
Here’s a story from the Commonwealth of PA App for Social Services (COMPASS) Survey that we’ve been working on. “(I first heard about the Coalition) through Public Welfare. I was getting SNAP benefits—I was in between moving from Chester county back to Philadelphia county, and that's where everything got a little...[tricky]. I'm not really that great with the technology stuff, I'm not too good with that. In this case, since I moved back to Philadelphia, that's where the assistance came from. When I had called you people up and you responded back, I got extra food stamps within 24 hours. I would hope people are taking heed to the Coalition Against Hunger, in my experience, they went right to work, and they made it happen for me to have food in my home." WHAT CAN YOU DO? Thank you for your support as we work to connect individuals and families to the food resources they need during this challenging time. -The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger | |
