Hungry? Just Harvest Can Help

More than 14,000 people in Allegheny County are currently living in poverty, a rate of 12%. That means one in eight of our neighbors are facing deep hardship and may not know where their next meal is coming from. As the pandemic grinds on causing inflation to rise, many more of us are barely getting by.

Disabled veteran Mike Hughes knew what it meant to struggle. He had one knee replaced already – a surgery which allowed him to keep working but did not take away the chronic pain that he has lived with for years. For many of those years he worked double shifts on a regular basis, working long days and graveyard shifts in order to feed his family. But the rising cost of living outstripped all that hard work. His employers weren't raising his wages to cover his increasing rent, food, and transportation costs.

Despite his family’s strict budgeting, the Hughes lost their house, their car, and the ability to buy healthy food. Mike called Just Harvest for help with his Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application. SNAP benefits (or “food stamps”) is this country’s first line of defense against hunger.

Like most of those who are working who apply for food stamps, SNAP allowed Mike to move through a difficult period and back to self-sufficiency. Within a couple of months, he found a better job with better wages and no longer needed food stamps, although he continued to work many hours of overtime.

For seniors and people unable to work, SNAP helps them eat more healthfully and prevent the meal gaps that can arise when living on Social Security. It also helps feed the children in struggling households.

Everyone who is eligible should be aware of SNAP and able to access these benefits. Just Harvest works with applicants to overcome any barriers that may prevent them from receiving this Federal entitlement.

Just Harvest has expert Food Stamp specialists that help those who contact us with screenings and applications. These can be done over the phone and transmitted electronically from our office directly to the PA Dept. of Human Services, which administers the SNAP program. For those who experience an unfair termination or denial of benefits, we answer their questions and provide advocacy so they get what they are owed.

There’s no shame in getting help when you need it – that’s what SNAP is for. We all fund this safety net program with the taxes we pay throughout our lifetimes so that when we fall it catches us. SNAP helps us stay fed, stay healthy, and able to live our lives.

For more information, contact Just Harvest at (412) 431-8960 (option 3) or visit justharvest.org/FoodStamps.