“Pittsburgh, PA – CitiParks is working with local farmers to bring accessible markets to Squirrel Hill, East End, Carrick, and Northside throughout the year. All markets will accept food stamps (SNAP), credit and debit cards as part of Just Harvest’s Fresh Access program.”

“The reconciliation budget, often referred to as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” made several major changes to SNAP that will weaken the program’s effectiveness and increase hunger for families in our region. When it comes to SNAP, this legislation creates more burdens for households who are trying to access benefits, and threatens the long-term stability of the program.”

“So, this law changes the entire structure of the food stamp program. Right now, states and the federal government split the program’s administrative costs, but the costs of the food benefits themselves are fully covered by the federal government. Once this law takes full effect, for the first time, some of the costs of the food stamp benefits will be shifted to states.”

“People will go hungry because of [this bill],” said Ann Sanders, director of public benefits policy and programs for anti-hunger group Just Harvest, speaking at a lunchtime demonstration Monday afternoon outside of the offices of Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick in downtown Pittsburgh.”

“We urge lawmakers to make it as easy as possible for families to access family-supporting EITC funds. Jimena Willey, a Free Tax Prep site coordinator at the Just Harvest South Side location, helped a taxpayer claim EITC for the first time last year. With her $7,000 refund, that taxpayer made a down payment on a house for herself and her three children.”

“This year’s very exciting because, along with our Food Bucks program, which provides shoppers additional money to get fruits and veggies, we also have a full SNAP match at select markets,” said Just Harvest Communications Coordinator, Katherine Taylor….”