January 6, 2020
LAMPa’s Policy Council met on December 5, 2019 and adopted a broad agenda that encourages disciples to act where they are called, lifting their ministry context, lived experiences, vocations and gifts for public witness. Alleviating hunger, protecting all of creation, especially the most vulnerable, and addressing poverty and its root causes remain central to the...
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October 10, 2019
Governor Wolf’s Annual Pennsylvania Food Security Summit was held recently in Harrisburg to update stakeholders, advocates, and federal partners about Pennsylvania’s progress with the Blueprint for a Hunger-Free PA to address food insecurity and discuss work to combat hunger around Pennsylvania. Presentations regarding hunger in Pennsylvania were shared by the departments of Aging; Human Services;...
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October 2, 2019
Twelve percent of children in Pennsylvania live in concentrated poverty according to “Children Living in High Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods,” a new KIDS COUNT® data snapshot released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Using the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the snapshot examines where concentrated poverty has worsened across the country despite a...
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September 27, 2019
ELCA congregations across Pennsylvania shared their voices for “God’s work. Our hands” Sunday by addressing letters to legislators, federal and state, advocating on behalf of those whose voices may not always be heard. As a result of their thoughtful advocacy, several hundred letters were shared with state and federal lawmakers. “It was the first time...
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August 1, 2019
The 2019 ELCA World Hunger Leaders’ Gathering was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 18-21. The ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering takes place every 18 months and gathers the national network of ELCA World Hunger leaders, congregations and ministry partners for a time of networking, idea sharing and planning for our shared work. Those assembled focused...
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July 29, 2019
A decades-long General Assistance (GA) program expires August 1, 2019, affecting more than 11,000 Pennsylvanians who relied on the small, temporary program targeted to the most vulnerable as a bridge in times of crisis. LAMPa’s director urges ministries to learn who is affected, do what can be done to fill in the gaps, and be...
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July 24, 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in mid-July plans to narrow food assistance eligibility for low-income families. The drafted rule would tighten Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit access to people applying through “broad-based categorical eligibility,” a method by which households earning slightly above the poverty line can apply if they have exorbitant costs (such...
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July 15, 2019
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Summer Nutrition Status Report measures the reach of the Summer Nutrition Programs in July 2018, nationally and in each state. A companion piece, FRAC’s Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Breakfast Status Report, focuses on summer breakfast participation. Pennsylvania saw a slight increase in the number of Summer...
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July 1, 2019
On June 28, Pennsylvania adopted a $34 billion budget that includes no new taxes but socks $330 million away in a rainy day fund. Highlights include increases for housing, education (basic, pre-k and special education), election security and help for a struggling agricultural industry. Funding for the state’s two major anti-hunger programs was held level....
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June 12, 2019
Pennsylvania is at risk of an undercount in the 2020 Census, and this could mean a significant loss of federal funds for healthcare, nutrition assistance, transportation, housing, education, programs for children and parents, and much more. Pennsylvanians can not afford to put these programs needlessly at risk. That’s why every Pennsylvania resident needs to take immediate action...
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