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Numerous food pantries in the Southern Alleghenies region no doubt had experiences around the Christmas-New Year's holiday season similar to what some of Blair County's food banks encountered.
"Holidays cheery for food banks" was the headline of a Jan. 2 Mirror article, followed by the message "Local pantries experiencing a merry season for donations."
"All in all, inflation has not hindered the generosity of community members and businesses toward these pantries, and they are all extremely grateful," the article reported. "They are hoping the new year continues this giving period."
Now, two months later, it is clear why continuation of the giving spirit that burst forth around the holidays needs to continue or, even, multiply during the months ahead. Without that generosity, some families could face the prospect of food shortages, going forward -- shortages inconsistent with all of the positive attributes about which this region is justified proclaiming and boasting.
The Mirror's March 6 headline "Pantries bracing for cuts to SNAP" sums up the situation -- and challenge -- with which area food banks seem destined to encounter, if not immediately then in another month or so as the new reality involving SNAP -- the return to pre-pandemic benefit levels -- settles in.
According to the March 6 Mirror article, the end of the pandemic-era level of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits means "each SNAP household will lose a minimum of $95 a month," with the average impact on households across Pennsylvania being $181, according to the Shapiro administration.
The article went on to report that a change to Social Security income after the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment means some seniors, not excluding those with disabilities, "will see a decrease of $40 on average in their monthly benefits."
Jack Hoffer, director of the Tyrone Area Food Bank in northern Blair County, was quoted in the Jan. 2 article saying that the uptick in cases at his food pantry over the holidays was believed to have resulted not only from the rise of inflation but also from the state lowering the income requirements for food aid eligibility.
"People who felt they didn't need to come before are coming now, because their funds are not going as far as they used to," Hoffer said. And, because donations to the food pantry were so generous at Christmastime -- Hoffer described them as "phenomenal" -- his food pantry, in addition to food, was able to give all of its clients a gift card for the holiday.
Now, with the cuts to SNAP, Deborah La Valla, director of the American Rescue Workers pantry in Hollidaysburg, anticipates client numbers will increase -- and it is reasonable to speculate that that increase could be significant.
La Valla said most people will try to adjust their spending first and go to the food banks as a last resort. She said her food bank has enough resources coming in on a daily basis to meet whatever the increase, but she admitted it was not out of the question that the food bank could be taken by surprise.
Throughout this region, food banks are hoping that greater donation numbers will enable them to provide food assistance beyond traditional client numbers, if necessary.
The message to everyone needs to be this: "Do what you can to help."