Erie Queer Community Food Drive benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank

In the area serviced by the Second Harvest Food Bank: 1 in 8 people and 1 in 5 children face hunger.

Adding to this, a significant change was enacted on March 1 for SNAP benefits across the country and Pennsylvania. Those eligible for SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) will no longer receive the additional monthly payments they have been getting since 2020. Now, recipients will only get one payment a month.

SNAP benefits we expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the people on the program an additional monthly payment. Those extra payments, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments, have expired. The US Congress voted to end them in December. Currently, there are 1.9 million people in Pennsylvania who receive SNAP benefits. About 60% of SNAP households are families with children, and more than half include older Pennsylvanians, to adults with disabilities, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

The Erie Queer Community hopes to help those with food insecurity on Saturday, May 13,  as they collect food and donations at Central Outreach Erie, 3104 State St. Individuals will be able to drive up, and volunteers will be on hand to help unload their donations. Pasta and sauce, as well as canned goods are encouraged, and any nonperishable or dry goods would be accepted too.

Partnering for the event will be Central Outreach Erie,  Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE), Erie Gay News, Journey to a Trauma Informed Life, Community United Church, Transfamily of NW PA, Whee! Studios, Aging with Pride, Compton's Table, NW PA Pride Alliance, and the Zone Dance Club.