Changes to SNAP, what you need to know:

SNAP Emergency Allotments Ended Feb. 28, 2023

Please view our SNAP booklet here for detailed information. 

Since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, SNAP recipients have been temporarily
receiving an “extra SNAP” payment each month
to help with the tremendous challenges brought on by the pandemic. Under this relief measure, SNAP recipients’ benefits were increased to the maximum amount for their household size. Those who already qualified for the maximum received an additional $95. These extra SNAP payments  known as SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs)  have been a lifeline to the people we serve.


While they started as part of COVID relief, they
have also been a critical support as historic
inflation has increased the cost of food and other basic necessities. EAs have been
distributed to states by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and have been 100% federally
funded.


In 2022, Congress put an end to EAs in its endofyear spending package and final EA
payments were issued this past February. In March, SNAP recipients will receive only their
regular benefit amount. This will be a huge, difficult loss for the communities we serve. The
end of EAs is sure to exacerbate food insecurity across our service area, creating a
looming hunger cliff.

 

THE RIPPLE EFFECT:
The loss of SNAP EAs will hurt not only SNAP recipients, but also charitable food providers
like Philabundance, food producers, retailers, and more. We anticipate it will create
extremely high demand on food banks at a time when we have far less government
support; are facing higher food costs; and are already having difficulty meeting existing
demand. Food banks alone cannot make up for a benefits loss of this magnitude. In
addition, given SNAP’s economic multiplier effect of $1.50$1.80 for every SNAP dollar
spent, the ripple effect will be felt across our entire economy.

For more details, see our FACT SHEET


RESOURCES FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS:
The loss of EAs, which have been issued for nearly three years, will be devastating. An
important initial step is making sure those directly impacted are aware of this dramatic
change. These materials explain the ending of EAs, encourage households to report
changes that may help to increase their regular SNAP benefit amount, and provide additional resources.

Please help us share this information widely!

 

Pennsylvania Resources

 New Jersey Resources

 

Help End Hunger TODAY and urge congress to permanently extend SNAP benefits!

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

Philabundance has announced $250,000 in 2025–2027 Capacity Grants for 49 member agencies across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. This funding will provide the operational capital needed to allow organizations to remain flexible and able to adapt to changing needs.

From faith-based institutions in Delaware County to social service agencies meeting the needs of diverse families across Philadelphia County, the 2025–2027 Philabundance Capacity grantees are among the hundreds of organizations that partner with Philabundance to support the more than 600,000 individuals in our region experiencing food insecurity.

The grantees include

  • Bucks County: Bucks County Opportunity Council; Faith Baptist Church
  • Delaware County: Blessed Virgin Mary; Loaves & Fishes; Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ
  • Mercer County: Prince of Peace Center
  • Montgomery County: Bethel Community Church; ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth; Grace Lutheran Norristown; Love Works Resource Center; Mitzvah Circle; Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard; Patrician Society
  • Philadelphia County: African Family Health Organization; Alexander McClure Elementary School; Bebashi; Bethany Missionary Baptist Church; Breaking Bread on Broad; Bright Hope Baptist Church; Broad Street Love; Brothers of Strawberry Mansion; Calvary Agape Outreach Services; Casa Del Carmen; Cast Your Cares; Christ Apostolic WOSEM; Community Center at Visitation; Episcopal Community Services; The Family Practice & Counseling Network; First Church Worship Center; Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry; Grace Community Christian Center; Kensington Health Sciences Academy; Lutheran Settlement House; Mighty Writers; Mi Salud Wellness; Nationalities Services Center; North Light Community Center; Old Pine Community Center; Open Door Ministries; Our Brothers Place; Paul L Dunbar School; Project H.O.M.E.; Southwest Family Service Center; St. Paul Outreach; Word In Action International Ministries
  • York County: Bethlehem Baptist Church; Mattie Dixon Community Center
  • Southern New Jersey: Puerto Rican Unity for Progress; SisterHood Inc.

Philabundance Capacity Grants help improve each organization’s ability to operate more efficiently and deliver effective food distribution programs and services. To date, $4.4 million dollars in Philabundance Capacity Grants have been allocated for capacity-building infrastructure, such as refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated vans and technology to empower community partners and improve the food distribution network.

“As federal resources continue to shrink and hunger remains a distressing reality in the Greater Philadelphia region, community-based nonprofits are often a lifeline for families in need of healthy food,” said Loree D. Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance. “Investing directly in our partners and their infrastructure allows us to swiftly and efficiently meet the needs of thousands of our friends and neighbors experiencing food insecurity.”

“Breaking Bread on Broad is [very] grateful for the new refrigerators we will be able to purchase with our Philabundance grant,” said Dan Seltzer, co-leader of Breaking Bread on Broad (BBoB). “Breaking Bread on Broad is the food pantry of Congregation Rodeph Shalom whose mission is to provide our neighbors in need with food, diapers and period supplies each week. With this grant, we will be able to provide our BBoB neighbors with more fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein to better feed their families.”

With this funding, Casa Del Carmen will invest in critical hardware—such as commercial refrigeration, durable shelving, metal prep-table and mini hand pallet jack—that will enhance the efficiency and reliability of our food pantry operations,” said Janet DeJesus, office manager at Casa Del Carmen. “These improvements will allow us to store more fresh and nutritious food, reduce waste, and serve our neighbors more quickly and with greater dignity. By strengthening our infrastructure, we are not only improving daily logistics but also deepening our commitment to food security and community well-being.”

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