New report highlights hunger crisis in Central PA

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — A new report shows a startling uptick in food insecurity for local families. U.S. Households facing hunger are rising at an alarming pace with thousands more experiencing it who have never been in this situation before.

“We are actually at levels of demand for charitable food assistance that we had back in 2021 during the height of the pandemic,” said Central Pennsylvania Food Bank CEO Joe Arthur.

According to a new study done by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank , the rate for children in Snyder, Union, and Northumberland Counties has increased almost twice as much as the population as a whole, affecting one in six kids.

Breaking it down by county, the Hunger Mapping Report reveals that in Northumberland, there are more than 12,000 food-insecure individuals, followed by Union with 5,000 fighting hunger, and Snyder with 4,500.

All of those total to more than 11% of that county.

“So many of our people that we serve are working, but they aren’t making quite enough or there’s disabilities in the family that prevents work, elderly, child care,” Arthur explained.

The higher cost at the grocery store is one of the contributing factors to the uptick.

“If you’re still kind of shocked by the prices in your own house, your own home, your own life, imagine if it if you didn’t have quite enough income to cover it,” Arther continued.

The reason behind the survey is to make recommendations to try and solve what they’re calling a hunger crisis, such as helping local school districts improve food assistance programs and ending the stigma surrounding pantries.

“Make sure it’s accessible, so people know that help is out there and encourage them to use it. You know it’s a hard thing to do, to ask for help, it really is,” Arthur added.

Arthur says these results are not the end, it’s only highlighting the beginning of what change their fighting for.

Anyone experiencing food insecurity is urged to call the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s helpline at (877) 999-5964 for assistance.

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