This program provides food to food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency programs. Lawmakers must increase its funding to keep up with growing need.

What is it?

Pennsylvania’s State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) helps to make sure that food pantries and soup kitchens are stocked with enough nutritious food to meet the need in their communities.  The program provides cash grants to lead agencies in each county so they can buy food in bulk, which then is distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens and other charitable food programs.  The SFPP is funded by a line item in the state budget.  It serves Pennsylvania residents whose income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line ($27,795 for a family of three).

Who does it affect?
More than 2.4 million low-income Pennsylvania residents received food through SFFP in 2009. In Philadelphia alone, the number of people relying on food pantries has more than doubled over the past five years. More than one-third of them are children:

No. Philadelphia Residents Receiving Food Through SFPP

Funding for the State Food Purchase Program has not kept up with soaring demand.  In fact, since the recession began in 2007, Pennsylvania lawmakers have slashed the SFPP budget by more than $1.4 million, from $18.75 million in FY 2007 to $17.3 million in FY 2012.  This dramatically reduced the amount of food available to people in need.  With rising food and fuel costs, this may not be sufficient to meet the need in Pennsylvania, as families are continuing to reel from the recession.

How can you help?

The Coalition Against Hunger is working with lead agencies and other anti-hunger advocates across the state on this important issue. Sign up for our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date on our SFPP advocacy efforts.

Contact your state legislators and urge them to support sufficient funding for the State Food Purchase Program.