Philadelphia food banks rush to meet increased demand amid SNAP freeze
From WHYY: Gov. Josh Shapiro is setting aside $5 million to aid food banks during the SNAP freeze. But nonprofits say more is needed.
Photo courtesy of Zoë Read for WHYY.
As the rain crashed down in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood Thursday morning, dozens of residents lined up outside the Lutheran Settlement House.
The food bank is now serving double the number of clients, leading the nonprofit to source food from other donor organizations to meet the increased demand. On Thursday, Lutheran Settlement House served 115 visitors, compared with a typical day of 30 clients.
Food banks nationwide are bracing for a surging need for groceries as benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, freeze amid a government shutdown that has lasted for more than four weeks.
