November 06, 2025 - Pittston, PA
Governor Josh Shapiro joined volunteers at the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank in Luzerne County to pack groceries and provide an update on state-led efforts by his Administration to support Pennsylvania's charitable food network and the nearly two million Pennsylvanians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).Last week, Governor Shapiro signed a declaration of disaster emergency to quickly drive out $5 million in state funding to Feeding Pennsylvania to distribute across its network of food banks, including $288,992 to the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank. The Governor has also led a private fundraising campaign - and today, he announced that a total of $2 million has been raised from private donors through the new SNAP Emergency Relief Fund. The state funds will help offset the impact of the federal government's failure to deliver SNAP benefits for November, while private contributions - from Pennsylvania leaders including Peggy Grove, Richard Green, Tom Hagen, Thomas Tull, Connie Williams, Mark Cuban, and David and Hallee Adelman - will further strengthen support for food banks across the Commonwealth."Nearly two million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP every month - and they shouldn't have to wonder where their next meal will come from because of dysfunction in Washington," said Governor Shapiro. "There's no substitute for the federal government's decision not to release SNAP benefits, but my Administration is stepping up to use every tool we have - state resources, private sector support, and the compassion of our communities - to keep our food banks stocked and our families fed. The federal government has the money to keep people fed - they're just refusing to use it. In Pennsylvania, I won't let our families or food banks shoulder that burden alone."Speaker List:Jennifer Warabak, CEO, Weinberg NE Regional Food BankGovernor Josh ShapiroCrystal Kotlowski, COO, Volunteers of America of PALogan Brace, Farmer and Co-Founder, Brace Orchards FarmRepresentative Jim Haddock, PA's 18th House DistrictRepresentative Eddie Day Pashinski, PA's 121st House District
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