The State Food Purchase Program is the nation’s largest state-funded initiative dedicated to meeting the nutritional needs of families at risk for hunger and food insecurity. Members of the bipartisan Hunger Caucus recently joined anti-hunger advocates and charitable food organizations to celebrate two important milestones for the program -- the 30th anniversary of its creation and the 20th anniversary of being permanently adopted by the General Assembly.

Created in 1983, the State Food Purchase Program provides grants for counties to purchase food at wholesale prices to be distributed to needy families through nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations and charitable food organizations in their local community. Eligible recipients are individuals in households that are currently receiving unemployment compensation, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, cash assistance or medical assistance, as well as households with income at or below 150 percent of the poverty level. The program also includes guidelines to ensure any food purchased and distributed to recipients is sufficient to fulfill their nutritional needs.

In recent years, food banks and pantries have seen demand for services skyrocket due to the recession and slow economic recovery. The program plays a critical role in supporting charitable food efforts in communities in every corner of the state. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the program served more than 1.3 million needy state residents during the 2010-11 Fiscal Year. Lancaster County alone benefited from more than $437,000 in total food purchased for local food banks, pantries and other charitable food organizations as a result of the State Food Purchase Program.