HARRISBURG – Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-20) were joined by state and local leaders and hunger advocates as they discussed the increased effects of hunger across Pennsylvania as well as reflected on the end of the 16th Hunger Garden season.
According to Feeding Pennsylvania, one in seven Pennsylvanians are experiencing food insecurity.
“The rising costs of household bills as well as local goods and services continues to put strain on Pennsylvania families – many living paycheck to paycheck and having to decide between buying groceries and making a bill payment,” Vogel said. “Our area food banks, community hunger advocate groups, and state and local agencies play an integral role in providing services and resources to those in need. We all have a role we can play to help better our communities and it doesn’t just start here in Harrisburg – it starts in our neighborhoods.”
Vogel authored Senate Resolution 371 designating September 2026 as Hunger Action Month in Pennsylvania and hosted a capitol and district food drive in September where he collected nonperishable food items which were donated to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and a local food bank in the 47th Senatorial District.
“Every harvest at the Capitol Hunger Garden is a reminder that when we choose to work together, we can feed people in communities across the commonwealth,” said Kinkead. “Over the course of 16 years, just a small patch of land outside the Capitol has provided thousands of pounds of produce to neighbors in need in Harrisburg. Imagine what we could achieve if we, as legislators and advocates, moved beyond politics and acted to ensure that every Pennsylvanian had access to high quality, nutritious food. I am so proud to see this garden leading by example on that front year after year.”
Kinkead sponsored House Resolution 317, a companion to Senate Resolution 371, recognizing September in both 2025 and 2026 as Hunger Action Month. She is also the prime sponsor of legislation that would provide universal school meals to all K-12 public schools students, ensuring that every child gets access to breakfast and lunch at school – regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Vogel and Kinkead are the co-chairs of the Legislative Hunger Caucus whose mission is to spread awareness about hunger in Pennsylvania and is in charge of overseeing the Capitol Hunger Garden.
With the garden approaching the end of its 16th season, volunteers have collected more than 800 pounds of produce that was donated to Downtown Daily Bread to help those in need in the city.
State Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Heidi Secord promoted the role Pennsylvania farmers play in helping combat food insecurity.
“Our farmers are an essential part of the solution to food insecurity — and we’ve come together to invest in proven solutions that help feed Pennsylvania’s families facing hunger and create opportunities for the farmers who feed them to thrive,” said Heidi Secord, Deputy Secretary of Farm, Food and Market Access at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Executive Director of the Rural Development Council. “Through increases we’ve secured for programs like the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System and the State Food Purchase Program, we are connecting the strength and abundance of Pennsylvania agriculture with the charitable food network and helping put nutritious, Pennsylvania-grown food on the tables of families who need it. Addressing hunger takes all of us — farmers, nonprofits, communities, and government — working together to build a stronger, more resilient food system for every Pennsylvanian.”
State Department of Human Services Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes discussed the benefits of the SNAP and SUN Bucks programs which help provide access to food for more than $1.7 million Pennsylvanians.
“Everyone deserves access to healthy, nourishing food that makes it possible to go to school, work, and live their lives with the health and dignity we all deserve,” said Barnes. “We are proud to support programs like SNAP and SUN Bucks that help more than 1.7 million adults and children around Pennsylvania eat every day, but we know that these services alone cannot meet the extent of need in our communities. As this year’s Hunger Action Month comes to an end, I encourage my fellow Pennsylvanians to continue to support your local food banks and pantries however you can throughout the year – your support allows them to keep doing their lifesaving work.”
Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between governments and local organizations in times of crisis and the effectiveness of working together.
“The Capitol Hunger Garden is not only a source of fresh produce for neighbors experiencing hunger but also a reminder of what can be accomplished when communities, policymakers, and organizations work together to address a crisis,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO, Feeding Pennsylvania. “As the need for food assistance continues to grow across the commonwealth, we are grateful for the strong partnerships among legislative leaders, state agencies, volunteers, and hunger-relief organizations that sustain this work every year.”
Other speakers included Downtown Daily Bread Executive Director Kristen Herman, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Community Engagement and Advocacy Specialist Katie Kerr and Area Master Gardener Coordinator Christa Shoreman.
The full press conference can be viewed here.
CONTACT: Heather Burke (Vogel)
Aaron Troutman (Kinkead)
Ali Fogarty (PA Dept. of Human Services)