Dear Friends,

This week we're excited to share the story of Northwest Mutual Aid Collective, Inc., one of our VIP (Victory in Partnership) members! Did you know they got their start filling a single box with food donations to share in their community? Watch this video to hear how they quickly outgrew that box and have started their next chapter in a warehouse space dedicated to meeting the food needs of their neighborhood!

 

Policy & Advocacy

SNAP EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS ARE ENDING: We’ve been reporting now for several weeks about the upcoming end of Emergency Allotments (EAs), the extra SNAP payments that people get in the second half of the month to help with food costs. As a reminder, this month will be the final month that EAs are distributed. Starting in March, SNAP participants will get their regular SNAP payment in the first half of the month. There will be no payment in the second half of the month.

Find resources that will help navigate this imminent change on our website.

THE CURRENT FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE): Earlier this month, the Biden Administration indicated that the Federal Public Health Emergency would end of May 11, 2023. 

WHAT WIC PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING: Last December, Thriving PA published a report that highlighted feedback gathered through statewide community listening sessions with current and former Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants. 

 

SNAP Hotline In Action

We've been assisting a client for the past 4 years, and she called us recently to complete her renewal. She was told by the County Assistance Office that she didn’t need to do a renewal, but when she reached out for our assistance, the application system wouldn’t let our hotline team submit one on her behalf. Our client insisted that she needed to complete the renewal and was worried that if she didn't, her benefits would get cut off. We tried to help the client submit an application to be processed as a renewal, but the County Assistance Office would not accept it, and her benefits were cut off.

Our Hotline Manager knew this was an error and reached out to the County Assistance Office to look into this case. She explained that the client had been trying to submit the renewal, was told she didn't need to, never received a renewal packet, and now her benefits were cut off. The client had done everything she possibly could have. After looking into the case they finally processed the application we submitted as her renewal. Thanks to the persistence of this client and her trust in us, we were able to get her benefits reinstated and get her retroactive benefits for those that she had lost out on.

 

Come See Us Out in the Community!

We’re hosting a resource table at the Philadelphia Streets Department and the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC)’s annual Block Captain Rally.

This year's rally will be held at the PA Convention Center (1101 Arch Street) on Saturday, March 4th from 9am to 12pm.

The Block Captain Rally is a celebration of current volunteers and Block Captains, and an educational opportunity for new volunteers to join their neighbors in making their block the very best it can be. PMBC promotes and organizes seasonal clean-up events, provides block captains with cleaning tools, information, and guidance, and hosts Clean Block Contests! Together with over 40,000 volunteers, PMBC cleans 6,000 blocks each year!

 

 MAKE A STAND AGAINST HUNGER!

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  

 
 

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
123 Chestnut Street Suite 401 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
215-430-0555 | [email protected]

Follow Us

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser

Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences