PITTSBURGH – The PA Legislative Hunger Caucus teamed up with the Pittsburgh Pirates and advocates from across the state calling for action to solve hunger. Allegheny County Rep. Emily Kinkead, Co-Chair of the Hunger Caucus, said food insecurity is more prevalent now than it was during the pandemic as 1 in 8 Pennsylvanians are facing food insecurity. She discussed her House Bill 180 which would create a universal school meals program in PA and eliminate existing school lunch debt. She has also been a vocal advocate for expanding state budget funding to the State Food Purchase Program and PA Agricultural Surplus System as a strategy to combat hunger. The month of September is Hunger Action Month. The PA Legislative Hunger Caucus aims to raise hunger awareness in the state, especially among lawmakers. One of the more visible projects of the Caucus is the Capitol Hunger Garden, which has harvested thousands of pounds of produce since its first season in 2010.
REP. EMILY KINKEAD