Hunger in Pennsylvania

                                                                                  by Berry Friesen

Berry Friesen, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (208 N. Third Street, Suite 200, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-233-6705) reflects on the incidence of hunger in the Commonwealth in a conversation with InterSections.

InterSections:  What is the mission of the PA Hunger Action Center?

Mr. Friesen:  The PA Hunger Action Center is an outgrowth of the PA Coalition on Food and Nutrition that was formed in 1978. Its mission is to advance the cause of accessibility to food sources and adequate nutrition. It particularly gives supportive services to food pantries, assists the state in its review of the food stamp program and promotes policies to reduce hunger and improve nutrition.

InterSections:  Where can hunger be found in PA?

Mr. Friesen:  Hunger exists where there aren’t any food pantries or where the supplies in those pantries have been depleted. Many times in rural areas the pantries are at some distance from people. In this day of high gas prices, some people cannot afford to go to the Pantry. One of the persons that called our office this week was from Jefferson County and she lives 25 miles from the pantry in that county. She cannot afford to pay someone to take her to the pantry and there isn’t any public transportation.
The system of food pantries, almost always operated by volunteers, is very good. Without them our food problems would be much greater. We know that there is hunger throughout the state. We operate a hot line for persons without food. We received over 4,000 calls last year.

InterSections:  Is hunger increasing?

Mr. Friesen:  Yes. On an annual basis, the U.S. Census Bureau, through its Current Population Survey, conducts a food security assessment of U.S. Households. The study classifies the population as “food secure” (access at all times of the year to enough food for an active, healthy life) and “food insecure” (as a result of lack of resources, the households are unable to gain access to enough food for an active and healthy life without recourse to extraordinary means). In 1996, the percentage of food secure homes in PA was 91.7%; insecure 8.3%. The latest published numbers for PA are 89.8% secure and 10.2 % insecure. Translated into human terms, the number of Pennsylvanians living in food insecure households has reached 1.4 million.

InterSections:  In your opinion, what needs to change in PA policy to help alleviate hunger?

Mr. Friesen:  I immediately think of several things. Pennsylvanians have an aversion to mandates, but we really do need a state mandate to school districts to provide summer lunch programs. During the school year, districts provide breakfast and lunch to children of poverty. When school is out, these programs are discontinued. We have worked to get mandates passed. The school districts would not need to do the actual feeding. It could be done by churches, boys and girls clubs, etc. But, someone needs to be held accountable for organizing the
program.

InterSections: Do you have another example where mandates would help?

Mr. Friesen:  Regulation of food services in the relative/neighbor child care homes would be very helpful. Many times the children
in these settings eat only “junk” food. Nutrition is missing. Federal programs will pay the cost of the food; but, the state government is reluctant to regulate these settings; so child care providers can not gain access to the funding that otherwise would be available.

InterSections: Are there things for which we should serve as watchdogs in the upcoming PA legislature?

Mr. Friesen:  There is always the potential of change in tax policies. A higher sales tax would reduce the resources available to low-income persons to obtain food. There is
talk at times of starting to tax food products at the grocery store. This should be opposed. The state food stamp outreach budget is coming up for renewal. This should be encouraged.
Three of the significant ways that hunger is fought is through the development of meaningful work opportunities, food stamps and pantries. Lutheran Advocates should keep their eyes on any policy related to any of these resources.
Watch the outcome of the debate on the Federal Farm Bill. The Dept. of Agriculture has many food programs.

InterSections:  Have there been any PA governmental actions that have been positive in reducing hunger?

Mr. Friesen:  The big one is the raising of the minimum wage. I know that a number of Lutherans put an effort into that action. Both the Schweiker and Rendell Administrations adjusted policies to make the Food Stamp Program more accessible to low-wage working families. The restoring of two- and three-year-olds to the WIC-Farmers Market Nutrition Program is sig-nificant. It provides vouchers to purchase produce from farm markets. That helps with nutrition and also brings fresh foods to urban neighborhoods.

InterSections:  We understand the justice and compassion issues in feeding the hungry, but are there practical reasons for society to address these issues?

Mr. Friesen:  Oh yes. There is a direct correlation between societal cost and the accessibility to food, eating habits of a young child, and the nutrition of the meals. The societal cost comes through the development of chronic illness that many times starts in childhood, which leads to huge medical costs. The costs directly impact Medicaid, Medicare and costs that are absorbed into society for the uninsured. It is an amazing loss of resources for our state and nation.

InterSections:  Thanks for your time and information. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry looks forward to addressing some of these issues with you during the next year.

Mr. Friesen:  And we look forward to being in coalition with you.