The Chester County Food Bank (CCFB) is sounding the alarm on the ramifications of Pennsylvania not passing a FY26 state budget.
With nearly $200,000 in state funding pending, the Food Bank has had to rely on fundraised dollars to ensure holiday meal distributions continue as planned. This includes purchasing proteins and staple items, which would typically be supported through state reimbursements.
Every quarter that Pennsylvania doesn’t pass a state budget, the Food Bank is missing out on nearly $100,000 in state funding.
“We used State Food Purchasing dollars to buy milk and eggs for our 80 community partners,” said CEO Andrea Youndt. “In addition to State Food Purchasing dollars, Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus dollars are also being withheld, meaning we can’t purchase local produce, which impacts our local farmers.”
To add to the urgency, the Food Bank has begun to receive calls from federal workers not receiving paychecks. “We urge our leaders in Harrisburg to pass a budget,” Nick Imbesi, Director of Government and Community Relations, stressed. “However, we want to assure our community that holiday distribution will continue as planned. We are steadfast in our commitment to serve our community.”
In addition to stalled state dollars, donated food is also down by 22 percent. Currently, the Food Bank only has five bins of donated food. The Chester County Food Bank needs help stocking the shelves, so neighbors in Chester County have a joyous holiday season.
Learn more about the Chester County Food Bank, its mission of mobilizing and educating the community to ensure access to nutritious and familiar food, and how to get involved here.
