By Blake Jackson
Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) joined fellow lawmakers and agricultural leaders to highlight the ongoing challenge of food insecurity in Pennsylvania and to raise awareness during Hunger Action Month.
“Today, food insecurity continues to affect over a million Pennsylvanians including over 400,000 children, with many families having to make difficult financial decisions to afford their bills or to put food on the table,” Vogel said.
“Access to quality food is essential for individual and family health, which is why it continues to be my priority to support responsible solutions put forward to best benefit residents experiencing food insecurity.”
Vogel, who co-chairs the Legislative Hunger Caucus with Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-20), authored Senate Resolution 143 to officially designate September 2025 as Hunger Action Month in the commonwealth.
Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11), also a member of the Hunger Caucus and minority chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, stressed the urgency of addressing hunger. “Hunger is affecting one in eight Pennsylvanians in communities across our commonwealth,” Schwank said.
“Hunger Action Month is a reminder that this is an issue we can and must address together. The Legislative Hunger Caucus is doing its part to ensure we don’t lose sight of the needs of Pennsylvanians who are going without meals and to address those needs through legislation.”
Caryn Long Earl, Director of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Assistance, highlighted programs that connect residents to fresh food and partnerships with food banks across the state. “Hunger is not just caused by poverty, but often by lack of access to fresh, healthy food close to home,” Long Earl said.
Other speakers included Andrew Barnes from the Department of Human Services, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank CEO Shila Ulrich, and Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft.
The Hunger Caucus also oversees the Capitol Hunger Garden, which since 2010 has donated hundreds of pounds of fresh produce each year to Downtown Daily Bread, providing meals for Harrisburg’s homeless community.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-stockseller_ukr
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy