PA Improving, But Still Lagging In School Breakfast Participation
Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for growth in the number of students participating in the free and reduced-price school breakfasts, feeding more than 362,000 students in the 2018-19 school year, according to a recently released report by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). With only 52.6 percent of
ELCA Partners With Census for Neighbor and Ourselves
Our communities are significantly shaped by census data, and Census 2020 will update these numbers for the first time in 10 years. The ELCA is an official partner of the 2020 Census to encourage the most accurate count possible. “Funding for over 100 federal programs, many of which combat poverty
PA Department of Education Announces School Breakfast Cafeteria Upgrade Grant Recipients
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced more than $925,000 in competitive grants have been awarded to 72 elementary, middle and high schools across the state for the purchase of new food service equipment for cafeterias. Funding for the grants is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
LAMPa Policy Council Sets 2020 Priorities and Elects Officers
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
Annual Food Security Summit Focuses on College Hunger
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
Pennsylvania One of 10 States in the U.S. With Increased Number of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty
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
Lutherans Raise Their Voices For God’s work. Our hands.
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.
ELCA World Hunger Leaders Gather
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
General Assistance Ends August First
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
More than 200,000 PA Residents Affected by Limits Proposed to SNAP
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
