File photo Credit: Jason Jimenez/LevittownNow)
Local charities and food banks are mobilizing to support thousands of Bucks Countians as federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program expires Saturday.
Nearly 47,000 Bucks County residents and approximately 2 million people statewide rely on the federal food assistance program, which is funded by the federal government and administered by the states, according to state and federal data.
The federal government typically provides more than $366 million in SNAP payments to Pennsylvanians each month, with the majority of recipients being children, seniors and people with disabilities.
The Bucks County Opportunity Council, the county’s main food agency, announced it has dedicated $75,000 in emergency funding to assist families and bolster the local food pantry network. This money will be used for emergency assistance and the bulk purchase of food for pantries.
“We can’t fill the entire gap left by the loss of SNAP, but we can take meaningful steps to support families and strengthen our pantry network during this time of uncertainty,” said Erin Lukoss, CEO of the Bucks County Opportunity Council.
The nonprofit has met with more than 50 pantry leaders to discuss the anticipated rise in demand and pinpoint critical needs, including food donations and more volunteers, the organization said.
“Food is a basic human need,” Lukoss said. “With rising costs of housing, utilities, and childcare, many families are being forced to make impossible choices. Our community can step up to make sure no one goes hungry in Bucks County.”
SNAP recipients still retain any unspent funds on their electronic benefits transfer, or EBT, cards. The benefits do not expire monthly and can be spent for a calendar year, provided the card is used at least once every nine months, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
The Bucks County Opportunity Council is requesting community donations, food drives, and volunteers. They also urge residents to contact elected officials to demand funding restoration.
The expiration of SNAP funding comes as Pennsylvania grapples with a months-long budget impasse, which has already strained service providers.
The Bucks-Mont Collaborative, a group representing more than 130 health and human service providers in Bucks and Montgomery counties, released a report this week detailing the impact of the state budget impasse.
Nonprofits have already reported delaying payments, cutting spending, reducing staff or turning away community members. Eleven percent of surveyed organizations expect to make additional cuts if the state funding remains frozen over the next two months.
“Behind every number in this Snapshot is a nonprofit leader worrying about next month’s payroll, a case manager trying to stretch limited resources, a food pantry coordinator watching shelves go empty,” said Kristyn DiDominick, executive director of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative. “The nonprofit sector has always stepped up, but the weight it’s carrying now is unbearable.”
The federal government’s failure to fund the program has drawn criticism.
“This is the first time since SNAP’s inception that individuals and families who qualify for this program will not get their expected SNAP payment,” said Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Deputy Secretary Hoa Pham. “The repercussions from this delay are cruel and harmful to our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians who need food on their tables.”
The deputy secretary called the situation an “avoidable crisis.”
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, a Democrat, urged the federal government and lawmakers to act, saying the current situation is “deliberately causing pain to people in need, people who rely on food assistance to feed their families.”
Pennsylvania is one of 22 states plus Washington, D.C., suing the federal government after the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled a plan to use $6 billion in contingency funds to continue the SNAP program during the shutdown.
A list of food banks in Bucks County:
Bensalem Presbyterian Church
2826 Bristol Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-757-7800
Wednesday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
This food pantry only services zipcodes 19020, 19021, 19047 and 19053
Bible Evangelical Methodist Church
1601 Lakeland Ave
Bristol, PA 19007
215-498-1179
Wednesday: 6 – 8 p.m.
Thursday: 12 – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Bristol Borough Community Action Group, Inc.
99 Wood Street
Bristol, PA 19007
267-907-6368
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Bucks County Housing Group
Penndel Food Pantry
349 Durham Road
Langhorne, PA 19047
215-750-4344, ext. 104
Monday & Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 3 – 6 p.m.
CBC Bread of Life Food Pantry
225 Radcliffe St.
Bristol, PA 19007
267-878-0894
Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday: 12 – 1:15 p.m.
Cares Cupboard
Penndel Mental Health Center
2080 Cabot Blvd., Ste. 100
Langhorne, PA 19047
267-587-2300
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Christian Care at Calvary Baptist Church (Bristol)
250 Green Ln.
Bristol, PA 19007
A Church of Living Hope Cares Food Pantry
Tuesday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. or 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.
A Church of Living Hope Cares Food Pantry
1271 E. Maple Avenue
Langhorne, PA 19047
215-757-8782
Thursday: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Please call for an appointment
Emergency Relief Association of Lower Bucks County
580 Middletown Blvd.
Langhorne, PA 19047
215-547-1676
Monday: 6 – 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday & Friday: 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Faith Baptist Church
1515 Wister Road
Fairless Hills, PA 19030
215-946-7550
Tuesday: 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12:30 – 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Visit website to sign up for pantry appt.,
faithbaptistfoodbank.com
Family Service Association of Bucks County
4 Cornerstone Dr.
Langhorne, PA 19047
Ph: 215-208-7233
Monday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Food Pantry at First United Methodist Church of Bristol
201 Mulberry Street
Bristol, PA 19007
267-202-1742
Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Thursday 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Greater Works Food Pantry
Love Fellowship Tabernacle
5918 Hulmeville Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-741-0525
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Curbside pick-up available.
Harvest Ministries
Cornwells United Methodist Church
2284 Bristol Pike
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-639-0436
Tuesday & Friday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. appt. only
Wednesday: 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Signups are by appt. only, done via the Signup Genius app or
link on our Facebook page.
Interfaith Food Alliance Pantry for food insecure children &
their families in Morrisville.
501 Maple Ave.
Morrisville, PA 19067
215-378-0202
2nd & 4th Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tuesday: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., the week prior to Saturday pick ups
Lester Bahrt Pantry
First United Methodist Church
840 Trenton Road
Fairless Hills, PA 19030
215-946-5800
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mary’s Cupboard
100 Levittown Parkway
Levittown, PA 19054
215-949-1991
Wednesday and Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Please call for an appointment.
Mitzvah Food Pantry
2909 Bristol Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-752-3468
Tuesday: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
The Food Center at Morrisville Presbyterian Church
771 N. Pennsylvania Avenue
Morrisville, PA 19067
215-295-4191
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
First Tuesday of each month: 7 p.m.
New Creations of Life Community Pantry
5401 Beaver Dam Road,
Bristol, PA 19007
267-945-4881
Tuesday & Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Christian Food Pantry Center
2990 Street Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-639-7000
Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Salvation Army of Lower Bucks
215 Appletree Drive
Levittown, PA 19055
215-945-0717 ext. 19
Tuesday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Scheduled appointments are available upon request.
Soulful Blessings
Second Baptist Church of Bristol
640 Race Street
Bristol, PA 19007
215-788-1440
Tuesday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday: 1 – 3 p.m.
St. Stephens Lutheran Church Food Pantry
65 East Street Road
Feasterville, PA 19053
267-261-8672
By appointment only. Please call.
YWCA of Bucks County
Country Commons Family Center Food Pantry
3338 Richlieu Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-639-5853
Monday: 12- 2:30 p.m. Please call in advance.
Bucks County Housing Group
Doylestown Food Pantry
470 Old Dublin Pike
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-345-4311, ext.101
Sunday: 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Wednesday: 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For hours not listed, please call for an appointment.
Jesus Focus Ministry
1717 Street Rd.
Southampton, PA 18966
215-208-3826
Monday through Friday 9-11:30 a.m.
Hatboro Community Cupboard
505 N. York Rd.
Hatboro, PA 19040
215-675-2031
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
Thursday: 6 p.m.-7:50 p.m.
Dublin Food Pantry at Living Hope Community Church
22 H West Route 313
Perkasie, PA 18944
215-249-1133
Friday: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
New Britain
Food Pantry
22 East Butler Avenue
New Britain, PA 18901
215-345-9170
Monday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m.–12p.m.
St. Phillips Episcopal Church
10 Chapel Road
New Hope, PA 18938
215-862-5782
Every Thursday 3pm – 5pm
Warminster Food Bank
495 E. County Line Rd., Town & Country Shopping Ctr., Hatboro, PA 19040
215-323-4797
Monday & Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Call for an appointment.
Warrington Fellowship Church
(Food Pantry located in Frazier Hall)
1455 Cooper Lane
Warrington, PA 18976
Thursday: 6 – 7 p.m.
215-200-0733
Willow Grove Baptist Church
3600 Welsh Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
215-813-4931
Monday & Saturday: 11 a.m. -1 p.m.
Thursday: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry
Providence Presbyterian Church
2200 Krammes Rd. (Milford Township)
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-2881
3rd Saturday of month: 8:30 – 11:00 a.m.
FEAST Pantry
218 E. Broad St.
Trumbauersville, PA 18970
215-536-3193
Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thursday: 6 – 8 p.m.
3rd Saturday of month: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fresh For All – Grace Bible Church (parking lot)
423 Main Street, Souderton, PA 18964
215-723-3992
Tuesday: 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Heaven’s Bounty
Quakertown First Church of the Brethren
455 Trumbauersville Road
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-1317
Tuesday & Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Keystone Opportunity Center
104 Main Street
Souderton, PA 18964
215-723-5430
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
First Thursday of the month: 4 – 6 p.m.
Souderton School District Only
The Lord’s Pantry
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
4050 Durham Road (Route 412)
Ottsville, PA 18942
610-847-2402
Monday: 2 – 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Pennridge FISH
800 West Chestnut Street
Perkasie, PA 18944
215-257-7616
[email protected]
Monday and Wednesday: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
To receive food, you should be a resident of the Pennridge School District.
Quakertown Food Pantry
101 B 3rd Street
P.O. Box 278
Quakertown, PA 18951
Ph: 215-536-0240
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 6 – 8 p.m.
St. Isidore’s Food Pantry – Old Parish Office
603 W. Broad Street
Quakertown, PA 18951
Ph: 215-326-9127
Tuesday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
