Lehigh Valley’s Pending Hunger Crisis—and How We Can Help Close the Gap
Across Lehigh and Northampton counties, the warning lights around hunger are flashing. Local food banks report bare shelves, while families watch grocery budgets collide with higher prices and thinner safety nets. At the same time, state and federal turbulence threatens to interrupt the very programs that keep food on kitchen tables. Put plainly: our region faces a sharp rise in food hardship this fall and winter
LVCF is collaborating with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to spotlight the threat of a hunger crisis in the Lehigh Valley and how the charitable food network is rallying together to meet the moment. Together, we’ve created a fund to help convene and support the local network of food providers during this critical time.
The three most important takeaways from this page are:
LVCF convening the food sector: Across the Lehigh Valley, dedicated food providers are on the ground every day ensuring our neighbors have access to nutritious food. The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is honored to be at the table along with the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley—helping to connect, coordinate, and support their collective efforts through the Critical Food Providers Action Team.
SNAP cuts intensify local demand: With thousands of residents projected to lose benefits due to new work requirements and a federal shutdown, local food pantries face unprecedented strain as more families turn to them for help.
Rising costs squeeze families and nonprofits alike: Persistent food inflation, higher healthcare costs, and delayed state funding are pushing household budgets and nonprofit reserves to the breaking point.
What is the charitable food network?
In the Lehigh Valley, the charitable food network plays a vital role in ensuring food access, especially when household incomes, public benefits, or the economy fall short. At the center of this system is Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania (SHFB)—a regional hub affiliated with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief network, representing more than 200 food banks across the country.
Second Harvest gathers and distributes food through multiple channels:
- National donations coordinated by Feeding America and its partners;
- Surplus and recovered food from wholesalers and retail chains (“rescued” or “gleaned” food that would otherwise go to waste);
- Community food drives led by schools, workplaces, and houses of worship;
- Purchased produce, dairy, and protein funded by philanthropy or government grants; and
- Direct sourcing from local farms through agriculture-to-food-bank programs.
This network supplies food to more than 200 pantries, meal sites, shelters, senior centers, and school-based programs across the region. Collectively, they reach over 100,000 families each year in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Today, 10 to 15% of residents in the region face food insecurity. A typical pantry visit provides three days’ worth of food—three meals and three snacks per person—to households at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level ($57,720/annually for a family of 4). Most pantries allow one or two visits per month. The charitable food network is designed to be a safety valve when incomes and benefits don’t stretch far enough. Yet its stability depends on an intricate balance of food supply,
What Is SNAP—and Why Does It Matter?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, is often called the nation’s “first line of defense” against hunger. Administered federally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and locally through Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services, SNAP provides eligible low-income households with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card used to buy groceries at authorized stores and markets.
SNAP’s reach in the Lehigh Valley is extensive: more than 60,000 residents in Lehigh County and nearly 35,000 in Northampton County—a total of about 95,000 people—rely on SNAP benefits to buy groceries each month. Importantly, SNAP delivers nine meals for every one meal distributed by the charitable food network.
Beyond feeding families, SNAP stimulates the local economy. Each $1 in SNAP benefits generates about $1.67 in economic activity, according to Moody’s Analytics. By enabling families to buy groceries through retail markets, SNAP supports local grocers, farmers, and supply chains while relieving pressure on food pantries.
Who Qualifies for SNAP?
Eligibility depends on household size, income, deductions, and expenses such as rent, childcare, and utilities. In Lehigh County, one in four children receives SNAP benefits, while one in five Northampton County seniors depends on the program.
However, recent federal rule changes have tightened eligibility. As of November 1, 2025, adults aged 18 to 64 without children under 14 must work, volunteer, or participate in job training at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month) to remain eligible. Those unable to meet this requirement may only receive three months of benefits every three years. Analysts project that 6,000 to 7,000 Lehigh Valley residents could lose benefits as a result—forcing thousands more to seek emergency food support from local pantries.
Why Is the Food Crisis So Severe Right Now?
The Lehigh Valley’s charitable food network has long stepped in when the economy or public benefits falter. But this year’s challenges are layered and simultaneous—creating a “perfect storm” of pressures.
1. SNAP Disruptions
The ongoing federal government shutdown has halted SNAP benefits as of November 1. The USDA is using $5 billion in contingency funds to continue payments, but that covers only half of regular funding. Governor Josh Shapiro declared an emergency and released $5 million to bolster the charitable food network, but those funds cannot fill the gap. As benefits lapse, thousands of families will turn to pantries already struggling to keep shelves stocked.
2. State Budget Stalemate
Pennsylvania’s FY 2025–26 budget impasse is delaying payments for critical human services. Nonprofits and county-run programs—ranging from foster care to food access—are borrowing to stay afloat. A recent survey by the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) found that 60% of nonprofits had fully depleted their contingency reserves by the end of October.
3. Safety Nets Under Strain
Programs like LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, were also disrupted. Due to the shutdown, $200 million in LIHEAP funding was frozen in November, delaying heating and utility support for about 300,000 Pennsylvania households—just as winter began. Community partners like the YMCA and school pantries are working to fill gaps, but they rely on the same strained funding sources and supply chains.
4. Rising Health and Living Costs
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, 15,000 residents are expected to lose Medicaid coverage because of recent eligibility changes. Many will be forced to buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace at the same time that premium tax credits are expiring, pushing health care costs up by thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars per family per year. Combined with rising rent, utilities, and transportation costs, household budgets are cracking under pressure.
5. Persistent Food Inflation
Though inflation eased in 2024, grocery prices still rose 2.5% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025. After several years of cumulative increases, families feel they are “paying more for less.” The same price pressures affect food banks—donations purchase fewer pounds, and dollars don’t stretch as far.
6. Weakening Labor Market
The Lehigh Valley unemployment rate climbed from 4.2% in March to 5.1% in August 2025. Even small reductions in hours or pay can tip working families into crisis. When paychecks shrink and expenses grow, food is often the first budget item cut.
For many households in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, the math simply doesn’t work. Losing a few work shifts or facing an unexpected medical bill can mean choosing between groceries and utilities. Meanwhile, local pantries must pay more for the same food—sometimes receiving fewer state and federal supplies due to delays or cuts. As one local leader put it: “We simply do not have enough food coming in to meet the growing demand.”
The Bottom Line
Hunger in the Lehigh Valley is preventable—but only if we act quickly. The end of SNAP’s pandemic-era boost, a federal shutdown, a stalled state budget, higher food prices, and a softening labor market have converged into a single moment of strain. Food banks and pantries are being asked to catch more families with fewer resources and thinner reserves.
There is hope in collaboration. The Community Foundation and the United Way are convening nonprofit food-sector partners through the new Critical Food Providers Action Team—a coalition committed to ensuring that every resident has reliable access to nutritious food throughout the coming months and beyond.
Join Us
- Learn: Attend the Critical Food Providers Action Team webinar on November 11 at 9 a.m. to understand the crisis and explore solutions. Register | Click Here
- Give: Support hunger relief through your donor-advised fund or contribute directly to the LVCF/United Way Bridge Fund for Critical Support. Make a gift online by clicking here.
- Partner: Connect your business, school, or congregation with a local pantry to host a food drive.
- Volunteer: Sign up for shifts through the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.
- Advocate: Urge elected leaders to protect and strengthen nutrition programs.
Together, we can ensure that hunger is not the legacy of this moment—but that compassion, coordination, and community action are.
Together the Community Foundation, the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and all of the generous donors noted below are working to ensure that the people in our area continue to get the food support they need.
