Despite rising food insecurity, enrollment in the program fell from 1.96 million to 1.74 million in the last year in Pennsylvania.
ByIan Karbal-August 24, 2026 4:00 am
This year, a series of overlapping economic issues and federal policy changes have affected both the food bank’s client base and its ability to stock its own shelves.
Wages haven’t kept up with inflation. Tariffs have increased the price of foreign goods. The war with Iran has spiked gas prices. Energy costs are rising across Pennsylvania. On top of all of that, a spring freeze hit fruit farmers across the commonwealth, affecting the price of some fruits and growers’ ability to support food banks.