Montgomery County food pantries receive $500,000 grant amid soaring need

WILLOW GROVE — Over 50 Montgomery County food pantries will be better positioned to serve needy families after receiving a $500,000 county grant.

The check was presented by the Montgomery County Commissioners Tuesday morning at the Willow Grove SDA Church food pantry. The grant matches a $500,000 donation made last year, bringing the county’s total contribution to $1 million.

“September is Hunger Action Month, and we are starting off this month with a bold action of our own,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder.

The funding comes at a critical time, with a 60% increase in food pantry visits over the past year. Approximately 20% of Montgomery County families are food insecure, a 43% increase over the previous year. The growing need has put a significant strain on food pantries, with a recent survey finding that 52% of county food pantries lack adequate food.

“We’re witnessing a food crisis unfurling in Montgomery County, and it’s been very hard at the local pantry level seeing this ongoing lack of food,” said Shannon Isaacs, executive director of Montco Anti-Hunger Network, a coalition of organizations working to alleviate food insecurity.

At Tuesday’s press conference, the commissioners attributed the rising need to inflation, citing the skyrocketing cost of groceries.

“Like everything else, the cost of food continues to rise,” said Winder. “Parents working full-time to make ends meet may find that it isn’t enough when it’s time to gather around the dinner table at night.”

“People are in this situation today not because of their own fault. They’re working hard; they want better,” said Commissioner Tom DiBello. “They’re trying the best they can, but sometimes we fall short of our goals and initiatives.”

“Groceries are much more expensive than they used to be, and wages have not caught up with inflation,” said Commissioner Neil Makhija. “In July of this year, there were more than 66,000 Montco residents enrolled in SNAP benefits, which is more than any other time in the last 20 years. So this moment is exceptional.”

Winder added that the county hopes to reduce the stigma associated with food assistance.

“Our residents should not hesitate to use these vital services,” said Winder. “There’s no shame in it. We’re all neighbors, and we’re all here to help.”

Isaacs noted that food insecurity has numerous negative effects, including poor academic performance and a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and mental health issues. She added that food pantries help prevent homelessness.

“We are supplementing monthly budgets at a time when evictions are through the roof,” said Isaacs. “In May 2021, there were 276 evictions. In May 2024, there were 796 evictions. This is a statement of how hard inflation has hit citizens here.”

The growing need has particularly hit Willow Grove SDA food pantry, which expanded its operation from once a month to three times a week after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We not only sympathize with the people but we empathize because we are feeling the same thing,” said volunteer Elaine Williams. “We are all going through this together.”

Muneera Walker, founder and Executive Director of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a human services organization in Lower Merion, underscored the urgent need for additional funding, pointing to a recent recipient whose SNAP benefits were abruptly cut.

“She went to the market to make a purchase and there was a zero balance,” said Walker. “So out of nowhere, we had to provide what we normally provide with supplementation for the entire month for her, her children and her grandchildren who all live in the same household. So this is where funding like this is key.”

Walker concluded by expressing hope that the grant will become a line item in the county budget.

“The results in our community are clear,” said Walker. “The children don’t have as many sick days, they’re more excited about their work and our community as a whole is much happier. I hope we will do this every year.”