By State Rep. Kinkead

As we look forward to the coming summer months and the end of the school year, I wanted to take the time to highlight an incredibly important change for many families in our region this summer. The last of the pandemic programs are coming to an end and as a result, families with students ages 6-18 will no longer automatically be receiving Summer EBT (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)) benefits. But there is a permanent replacement program that you should know about.

SUN Bucks is a federal child nutrition program that continues to be aimed at keeping kids fed during the summer months by providing $40 per summer month per child via a summer-specific EBT card. However, this program requires families or students to meet at least one of the following qualifications:

• Receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medical Assistance with qualifying income, including families with home schooled and cyber school students.
• Meet income eligibility requirements for free or reduced price school meals.
• Be a foster child or migrant.
• Be experiencing homelessness.

During the pandemic, all students in school districts like Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS), which qualify for the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program and, therefore, provide free meals to all students, automatically received Summer EBT without needing to qualify. SUN Bucks, unlike the pandemic program, requires students to be individually qualified for the program through income eligibility or participation in an income-based program like SNAP. Some income-eligible families may need to apply directly for this benefit.

It is important for any family that would qualify for SNAP or other assistance programs but who are not enrolled in those programs to apply now in order to ensure that you and your family can receive the SUN Bucks support throughout the summer. Folks can receive help enrolling in SNAP by filling out a form on the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank website (pittsburghfoodbank.org), by calling (1-833) 822-SNAP (7627), or by texting SNAP to (412) 435-4446.

Our region is fortunate to have resources available for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in our area this summer. North Hills Cares is providing free lunch to kids 18 and under, including preschoolers, at the North Hills United Presbyterian Church in West View beginning June 3 and ending Aug. 16. Online registration on their website (northhillscares.com) is required for this program. Individuals without internet access can call Lynne Sciulli at (412) 951-8458 to register.

In addition to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, there is a strong food pantry network here in northern Allegheny County:

• North Hills Community Outreach – (412) 487-6316
• North Hills Food Bank – (412) 366-7477
• West View HUB – (412) 3018381
• Northside Food Pantry – (412) 323-1170

Additionally, Allegheny County residents who have been enrolled in SNAP for more than two months will soon be eligible for a 50% discount on rides for all Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) vehicles thanks to Allegheny Go, a new partnership program between the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Pittsburgh Regional Transit. All members of a SNAP household who are between ages 12 and 64 will be eligible for the new program expected to launch in June. Email DHS-allegheny-go@alleghenycounty.us for any questions about Allegheny Go.

Working to fight hunger in our local neighborhoods and across Pennsylvania is one of my top priorities as a community advocate and a state lawmaker. As House chair of the Legislative Hunger Caucus, I’m proud to help lead a bipartisan group of legislators in Harrisburg in this effort. As we are working toward long-term policies like free school lunch for all public school students, we recognize that one of best things we can do right now to reduce food insecurity in the Commonwealth is to spread the word about the programs that currently exist like the SUN Bucks I mentioned above, SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and more.

Unfortunately, many of the folks who would qualify for these programs don’t know about them or are not sure how to apply. Telling your friends and neighbors about these assistance programs is a great way you can help reduce hunger locally, especially as the pandemic-era food assistance programs are tapering out.

If you know someone who is struggling with food insecurity, have them reach out to my office and we will be happy to help them identify and sign up for any state services for which they may qualify. Please call (412) 321-5523 or email RepKinkead@pahouse.net. They may also stop by my district office in person, located at 658 Lincoln Ave. in Bellevue. And as always, if you have any state-related needs or concerns, hunger-related or not, my office is always here to help.