EAST ALLEN TWP., Pa. — Second Harvest Food Bank is facing a serious crisis. Federal funding cuts and delays in state support mean there’s not enough food to meet the growing demand.
“The shelves at Second Harvest are nearly bare,” said Dawn Godshall, CEO of Community Action Lehigh Valley, which manages the food bank. She added, “We’re seeing increased need with significantly less funding. It’s really devastating.”
This food bank has lost over $6.6 million in federal grants recently. Just over a week prior, CALV alerted the community that supplies were dwindling, and things have only gotten worse since then.
During a news conference at the food bank’s warehouse, leaders painted a grim picture. They warned that many residents in Lehigh Valley depend on these services for essentials like food, shelter, and heat.
Community Action Lehigh Valley has also lost significant funding from various state programs—$2.8 million in community services and another $2.6 million from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, essential for helping families with heating during winter.
“We know different administrations have different aims, but hunger affects everyone. It’s not a party issue,” Godshall emphasized. “We need legislators to step up and support our community.”
Second Harvest is particularly hit hard by delays in state funding from Pennsylvania’s Food Purchase Program, amounting to $9.5 million. Since the state budget wasn’t approved by the June 30 deadline, the food bank can’t access these funds until the budget passes.
“Missing this funding is a huge hit for us,” explained Sarah Wassel, Associate Executive Director at Second Harvest. “We rely on this money to buy food. Without it, we’re in a tough spot.”
The situation is made worse by ongoing federal cuts. In March, the USDA cut back $1.2 million that the food bank was counting on to buy local produce. In total, Second Harvest expects to receive about 3 million pounds less food this year compared to last, even as demand rises.
Signs show funding from the Emergency Food Assistance Program might also be cut, putting even more strain on resources. In response, local grocery chains have stepped in with donations. Organizations like Farmlink are also helping by connecting food banks to produce that would otherwise go to waste.
However, donations can’t fully substitute for cash. While Second Harvest welcomes any food, the quality often varies. Recent donations included thousands of soda bottles—far from the healthy meals they aim to provide.
“This kind of mix isn’t what we want to offer,” said Melissa Conway, Operations Manager at Second Harvest. “When we buy food, we can ensure healthy, easy-to-prepare meals.”
Fresh produce is particularly hard to obtain. Conway noted they haven’t been able to purchase milk or eggs for months.
Data from the Feeding America network indicates that around 40 million Americans face hunger each year, including 1 in 6 children. These are the people Second Harvest serves daily.
As the situation develops, experts are urging communities to advocate for more robust support for food assistance programs. The call is clear: we must work together to address hunger—it’s a challenge that affects us all.
For more information on food assistance resources, you can visit Feeding America.
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