Begin Main Content Area

 Blog Post

Need food? No transportation? You’ve got options.

June 17, 2020 12:00 AM
By: Admin

Blog Header Image

Pennsylvania food banks have seen an average 56% increase in demand in the last few months, according to Feeding Pennsylvania. To help make food as accessible as possible, there is no need to verify eligibility when you go to a food bank or pantry through June 25.

Just show up and get your food.

But, what if you don't have a reliable or consistent transportation?

No Pennsylvanian should go hungry. There are delivery and travel assistance programs available across the commonwealth for those who need food assistance without transportation.

There are a wide variety of meal programs available in Pennsylvania that can help with finding places that will deliver meals to your home, locations to eat a meal in the company of others, food pantries, and more. Options include both private pay and publicly funded programs.

If you are finding yourself facing this hardship, begin by contacting your local food bank to see if they have options to deliver food. Many food banks across the commonwealth are working with volunteers or other services to provide home delivery to vulnerable populations.

Additional program options are available in PA for food delivery assistance during COVID-19:

 

Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania

Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania is the unified voice of Pennsylvania non-profit home-delivered meal providers to build, sustain and empower effective programs. Vulnerable seniors are at the greatest risk amid COVID-19. Local Meals on Wheels programs are on the front lines every day, focused on doing all they can to keep older Americans safe and nourished in communities across the country.

Pennsylvania 211: Get Connected. Get Help.™

If you need to connect with resources in your community but don't know where to look, Pennsylvania 211 is a great place to start. From help with food assistance, utilities bill, to housing assistance, after-school programs for kids, and more, you can dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free. Specialists will listen to your needs and give you information on programs in your community that might be able to help.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Individuals receiving SNAP benefits can take advantage of the SNAP online pilot. SNAP online purchase pilot allows pick-up or home delivery of groceries. There are currently 4 vendors approved in PA to offer the program – Walmart, Amazon, Shop Rite, and Fresh Grocer.

SNAP Special Allowances includes transportation assistance. There are several transportation options that may be covered for you, such as: bus pass, taxi fare, gas money for yourself or your volunteer driver, van/carpool, and car repair.

PA Department of Aging Services

Aging services offers in-home meals that can be delivered to an eligible individual's home. The individual or a family member is interviewed to determine eligibility. For more information about meal programs in your area, use the Area Agency on Aging Locator and contact the AAA serving your local county.

York County Home Delivered Meals Program

The York County Home Delivered Meals Program is designed to provide a well-balanced daily meal to homebound older adults who are unable to prepare adequate meals for themselves and have no other means for assuring healthful nutrition. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a hot meal is delivered to the older adult's home. Tuesday and Thursday meals are a cold bag lunch delivered with the previous day's hot meal. Those eligible for this program receive seven meals per week, with the addition of two frozen meals.

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA)

Home-delivered meals provided by PCA meet one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for older adults, meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and are moderately low in fat and sodium. PCA provides this service to frail older individuals and people with disabilities who struggle to afford balanced meals, are unable to cook or shop for food, and have no one to help prepare meals.


Share This