June 28, 2022 Summer Food Assistance Programs and Distribution Locations Available With the 2021-22 school year in the past, numerous organizations throughout Allegheny County are helping to feed children, as well as provide meals and groceries to local families, during the summer months. Organizations such as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh have various summer food programs and distribution locations to fill the gap of meals children usually have during the school year. Find a Local Summer Food Assistance Program If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance during the summer, view the list below for information about available summer programs and services: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Distribution Starting in July 2022, distributions will be moving from pre-packed boxes to, instead, distributing a mix of loose grocery items in family sized portions. Two distribution options will be offered: a drive-up where volunteers will pack your trunk while you stay in your car and a walk-in event where you can pick-up food indoors. Learn more. Summer Meals at the Library Meals are for youth ages 18 and younger and those with disabilities up to age 21. Summer Meals are being offered locally in collaboration with Pittsburgh CitiParks as part of the federally funded Summer Food Service Program. For dates, times, and locations, visit the Carnegie Library website. Summer Youth Cafe The Summer Youth Cafe (known nationally as the Summer Food Program) is a federal nutrition program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide kids and teens with healthy meals over the summer months. These sites are open to anyone 18 years old or younger, and there is no cost. Families can find a Summer Youth Café by texting “FOOD” to 304-304 or by calling 2-1-1 for the United Way hotline. Learn more. Citiparks’ Summer Food Service Program 2022 (GrubUp!) The 2022 Summer Food Service Program began Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Breakfast is served from 9 to 10 a.m. lunch is served from noon to 2 p.m. For additional information, visit the website or contact Citiparks Food Programs Office at 412.571.3291. Just Harvest Fresh Access The Fresh Access program enables shoppers to use their food stamps – as well as credit and debit cards – to buy fresh, nutritious, and locally-grown food. Food Bucks give food stamp shoppers an extra $2.00 to spend on fruits and veggies for every $5 they spend. Fresh Access services are available in Allegheny County at 15 farmers markets during the 2022 farmers market season. The season runs May to November, and at one market from December through March 2023. Learn more. USDA Meals for Kids Site Finder Families seeking food assistance for their children can contact the USDA National Hunger Hotline, operated by Hunger Free America. The hotline can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. at 1.866.3.HUNGRY (1.866.348.6479) (for English) or 1.877.8.HAMBRE (1.877.842.6273) (for Spanish). Learn more. Families can type their location or address into the interactive map to find directions to nearby sites as well as hours of operation and contact information.
March 17, 2022 2022-23 Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for child nutrition programs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Child Nutrition Programs The eligibility guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program. Eligible children receive free and reduced price meals and free milk. The income eligibility chart is available on the USDA website.
July 3, 2019 Adjusted WIC Income Guidelines Effective Starting July 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting July 1, 2019, adjusted income eligibility guidelines will be used to determine the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). About Income Guidelines Income eligibility for the WIC Program is determined using income standards as prescribed under section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The income limit is 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also requires that these guidelines be revised annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The annual revision for 2019 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services on February 1, 2019. In accordance with the established income guidance, the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with WIC regulations. See the Revised Guidelines Click here to view the revised WIC Income Guidelines. More Information To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania WIC website or call 412.350.5801. *Information provided by the USDA
January 16, 2019 DHS Will Issue February SNAP Benefits Early On January 8, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified states that February benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be fully funded. In order to receive funding however, February benefits must be issued by January 20, 2019. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has determined that they will be able to issue February SNAP benefits by January 20 in order to meet the federally imposed deadline. Below is what you need to know about SNAP benefits in January and February. Receiving February Benefits All SNAP recipients who did not have a renewal due in January, or whose renewal for January was completed by January 14, will receive their February benefits on their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards on January 18, 2019. For those (with January renewals due) who completed their renewal after January 14, February benefits will be available on their EBT card one day after their renewal is processed. What This Means for SNAP Recipients These benefits will be the only benefit payment SNAP recipients will receive for the month of February. Recipients will not receive a payment on their regularly scheduled February payment date. This payment is not a bonus or increase in a recipient’s monthly payment. Rather, this payment is their benefit for the month of February. Recipients will need to make this early payment last through an undefined period of time if the government shutdown persists. DHS is awaiting further guidance from the USDA regarding the availability of benefits for March. Because of this, recipients experiencing food insecurity may have greater challenges during this period. This will likely result in a higher number of individuals seeking aid from charitable food organizations around the commonwealth. Applications and Renewals DHS will continue to accept SNAP applications and process renewal applications. Recipients should continue reporting any changes and should submit the semi-annual reviews or renewals that they receive. DHS will continue to issue benefits to applicants found eligible in February until they are told to stop issuing by USDA. Questions and Concerns All County Assistance Offices remain open and staff are available to assist applicants and recipients during this time. For any questions about benefits, please contact the statewide customer service center at 1.877.395.8930. For residents of Philidelphia, contact 1.215.560.7226. Resources For any individual seeking additional food assistance, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has compiled a list of community resources and organizations.
