Once a year I like to write on Feeding Pennsylvania. This information comes from feedingpa.org.

“Feeding Pennsylvania is the state association of nine Feeding America food banks serving all 67 counties. Member food banks include CEO Weinberg Food Bank, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, Mercer County Food Bank, Philabundance, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Westmoreland Food Bank.

“Our goal is to reduce hunger, improve food security and ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to an adequate quantity of the high-quality, nutritious food they need to learn, grow and thrive. We prioritize providing the nutrient-rich foods people facing hunger say they need, including fruits, vegetables, dairy and lean proteins.

“Our network’s main mission is to provide emergency food relief to those most at risk of going hungry, but we also recognize the importance of addressing root causes that contribute to more people seeking food assistance. Our vision is a food-secure Pennsylvania where no one wonders where their next meal will come from.

“Some of their 2026 policy priorities include:

“Promote food access as a social determinant of health

• Enhance, protect and strengthen state-administered federal nutrition programs

• Collaborate with the Department of Agriculture to promote and increase participation in the PASS program, which provides local, nutrient-dense foods to food banks for distribution

• Collaborate with DHS and the Department of Health to increase participation and improve the client experience in federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC

“Address root causes of hunger

• Partner with coalitions and organizations that advocate for root cause issues including housing, workforce, mental/physical health and education

• Support state-level tax incentives for families most at risk of food insecurity including the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit

“Strengthen federal nutrition programs

• Advocate for H.R.4782, the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act, and other policies that strengthen the connection between farmers, families and food banks

• Strengthen federal food commodity programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program and Commodity Supplemental Food Program

• Strengthen and modernize SNAP

“Feeding Pennsylvania opposes policies that create barriers to accessing food, limit neighbors’ dignity or negatively impact the long-term health and well-being of Pennsylvanians.”

For the full two-page article on the 2026 Feeding Pennsylvania policy priorities, go to tinyurl.com/4kpjtyrr.