PRESS RELEASE:  Share Food Program Brings Local Partners to Capitol to Advocate for Hunger Relief

Coalition of community advocates and partners joined Share Food Program in Harrisburg to urge protection of SNAP and food assistance funding amid budget crises. 

HARRISBURG – October 28, 2025 –  Yesterday, Share Food Program led a coalition of community advocates and hunger relief partners to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg to call for urgent action to protect food assistance programs amid the shutdown of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the state budget impasse.

Organized in partnership with Feeding for Healthy Equity (F4HE), the broad delegation of on-the-ground hunger relief advocates met with key decision-makers including Speaker Joanna E. McClinton, Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Senator Christine Tartaglione, Senator Joe Picozzi, Chairman Jordan Harris, and many others across the state who play vital roles in ensuring continued support for Pennsylvania’s food assistance programs. Together, they advocated for the safeguard of funding for SNAP and other critical hunger relief resources that millions of Pennsylvanians rely on each month. 

“These pantry leaders and community advocates know firsthand what hunger looks like in our neighborhoods — and sharing their stories today is about showing what’s at stake,” said George Matysik, Executive Director of Share Food Program. “We are standing up together to ensure dependable, long-term funding that protects food assistance programs, so our working-class neighbors and their families can survive.” 

With demand at record levels across Pennsylvania, many local food pantries are struggling to meet food insecurity needs due to inflation, federal uncertainty, and delayed state funding — which is straining already limited resources. Share Food Program and its network of nearly 800 food pantries, schools, and community organizations continue to serve as a critical lifeline for children, families, and seniors across Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

“We’re here to remind everyone that food is a basic human right, and no Pennsylvanian should ever go hungry,” said Matysik. “Behind every statistic is a family trying to make ends meet. This is one of the most challenging times in history for us at Share and the hundreds of thousands of people we serve — but letting our neighbors go without food is not an option. Our work to protect our communities is not optional. Hunger doesn’t wait, and neither can we.” 

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About Share Food Program: 

Share Food Program is the leading hunger relief organization in the Greater Philadelphia region, working to eradicate food insecurity through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Through partnerships with nearly 800 schools and 360+ community-based organizations and partner pantries, Share Food Program feeds hundreds of thousands of neighbors in need each month. 

To learn more and get involved, visit sharefoodprogram.org, or follow us on Facebook @sharefood and Twitter and Instagram @sharefoodphilly.