Skip Navigation

Hunger in spotlight as cans lined road to State Capitol

canhunger.jpg

Photo by Central PA Food Bank

(Harrisburg) — The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is highlighting hunger in the midstate, and among its efforts was the recent lining of a portion of Harrisburg’s State Street with canned goods.

The “Can Hunger” event is meant to collect canned goods for distribution, but also get people’s attention.

It’s the second straight year the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank put together the display of cans, running a full city block to the state Capitol.

The nonprofit’s Brad Peterson says it’s important to recognize how far a donation can go.

“One dollar will provide six meals through the food bank network. Through our buying power, through the power we have receiving donations, one dollar will provide six meals,” says Peterson.

Community support is vital to distribute meals to 55,000 families every week, adds Peterson.

“Whether that’s a food drive that the Boy Scouts does, or whether that’s a retailer like Giant Food Stores, or a manufacturer like General Mills making a donation, we truly are blessed by the community to make everything we do happen.”

In February, President Obama signed into law the five-year farm bill passed by Congress.

It slashes food stamps spending by $9 billion over the next decade.

But the cuts don’t affect Pennsylvania because Governor Corbett boosted assistance to a program tied to food stamp funding.


This article appeared originally on witf.org.