Congressman Mackenzie Visits Second Harvest Food Bank, Maternal and Family Health Services to Discuss Threats to SNAP & WIC from Shutdown

Allentown, PA - Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, visited Second Harvest Food Bank and Maternal Family Health Services in recent days to highlight the growing strain on local food assistance programs as the government shutdown continues. The Congressman met with staff at both organizations to discuss the risks of food insecurity posed by lapses in SNAP and WIC benefits. Second Harvest is the region's largest network of food banks. Maternal Family Health Services operates the Lehigh Valley WIC Center.

Now entering its fifth week, the shutdown is having a real impact on families across the region. With federal employees - including our men and women in uniform - missing paychecks, SNAP benefits on hold, and WIC funding running out, food banks like Second Harvest are seeing increased demand. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services recently announced that SNAP benefits will not be issued again until the federal government reopens. Likewise, WIC's funding is dwindling quickly.

"The shutdown isn't just a headline; it means empty pantries for families across the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos," said Congressman Mackenzie. "Essential government programs that support local families are in immediate danger. Tens of thousands of local families depend on SNAP and WIC, and local food banks will struggle to keep up with the surge in demand if these programs are allowed to lapse. It's time for partisanship to take a back seat to the lives of American families - the government must be funded."

Congressman Mackenzie previously voted for a clean, bipartisan funding bill that would have kept the government open and ensured continued support for essential programs like SNAP and WIC. That bill passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support but remains stalled in the Senate, where additional votes are needed to move it forward despite continued support from a bipartisan majority.

Local organizations have expressed mounting concerns regarding the threats posed by the government shutdown to essential programs.

"As the largest provider of WIC benefits in the state of PA, an average of 50,000 participants rely on Maternal and Family Health Services to deliver the WIC program for essential nutrition support each month," said Maria Montoro Edwards, PhD, President and CEO of Maternal and Family Health Services. "Through WIC, families gain access to the nutrition, education, and resources they need for a healthy start in life. Continued investment in WIC is an investment in the health and future of our communities and we're grateful to Congressman Mackenzie for his interest and support of these essential services."

"Food banks are already struggling to meet the needs of those facing hunger and cannot fill the gap if SNAP and WIC payments are halted," said Dawn Godshall, CEO of Community Action Lehigh Valley. "USDA can, and must, use all available options to ensure that millions of families across the country, including nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, can put enough food on the table come November."

Residents impacted by the government shutdown can find information about available food assistance and other federal resources on Congressman Mackenzie's Government Shutdown Resources Page.

Photos and video from the stops are available here.

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