Food Pantry and Soup Kitchens

The Race Against Hunger is not only an annual fundraiser for the Coalition Against Hunger, but also for many local food pantries and soup kitchens. Click the photographs below to view videos highlighting some of the programs that will be participating in and fundraising with the 25th Annual Race Against Hunger. If you work with a food pantry or soup kitchen that would like to participate, please contact Tanya at [email protected] for more information.

Policy and Advocacy

We have wonderful news to share: Community Legal Services and its co-counsel Morgan Lewis has reached a settlement with the USDA on the lawsuit brought last year challenging its interpretation of the Families First act that authorized SNAP emergency allotments during the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA’s interpretation under the prior federal administration had deprived the poorest SNAP beneficiaries of any “emergency allotments” (EAs).

Finally, more than 650,000 of the poorest Pennsylvania households are going to receive over $700 million in SNAP stemming from the lawsuit. A single person who has been receiving the maximum SNAP will get an extra $835 in SNAP because of this victory.  A family of two will get $1,533, and larger families even more. (Note, these amounts cover the period from September11, 2020, when the injunction was granted, through April 30, 2021). You can read more about the details of this prolonged fight to secure help for those who need it the most in the CLS press release and the article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer.

In addition, USDA has committed to revising its emergency allotments guidance going forward. This presumably means an estimated 12 million people nationwide who have been denied EAs up to this point will be able to get extra SNAP during the pandemic. We don't know the details yet, nor do we know when DHS will be able to issue these extra benefits to Pennsylvania households. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available. For now, BIG THANKS to the legal team at CLS and Morgan Lewis for their hard work to secure this victory!

SNAP Hotline

Our SNAP Hotline continues to operate Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 4 pm at 215-430-0556.  

Here is the City of Philadelphia list of COVID-19 food distribution sites locations across Philadelphia for student, senior and outdoor food pick up sites.  

Here is a listing (phone numbers and addresses) of all Philadelphia County Assistance offices. Note, however, when calling it is often quicker to contact the Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226 (Philadelphia) or 877-395-8930 (statewide).

WHAT CAN YOU DO?  

• Sign up to receive our up to date Advocacy Alerts.

• Make a donation, Become a Monthly Donor or Participate in the Race Against Hunger as a donor, fundraiser or a Runner/Walker to support our work.

We strive to build a community where all people have the food they need to lead healthy lives. Hunger is preventable. Thank you for your continued support of our work! 

The Coalition Against Hunger Team

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