LANCASTER – PA Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh visited The Factory Ministries in Lancaster to highlight Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget proposal to support Pennsylvanians facing hunger. The Food Hub is a location of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s Food Farmacy Program that supports access to food for persons navigating health issues and food insecurity. The proposal includes an investment of state funds to boost the minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefit for older adults and people with disabilities. The proposed $16 million would increase the minimum monthly benefit by over 50% from $23 to $35 a month. It also allocates $3 million to make it easier for PA parents during the summer. This year, PA opted in to the new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program, a federal program allows states to offer a nutrition benefit during the summer to families who receive free or reduced priced meals during the school year. About 1.2 million children in PA would qualify for the new program.
