(Media) – As thousands of Delaware County families face the possible loss of SNAP benefits amid the federal government shutdown, The Foundation for Delaware County and The Community’s Foundation have activated the Delaware County Rapid Response Fund.
The Foundation for Delaware County’s President, Michael Kellerman, said in a statement that “SNAP food benefits impact more than 77,000 Delaware County residents who rely on SNAP to feed their families. Thousands of federal employees are also missing paychecks, compounding the strain already felt by families affected by Crozer Health layoffs and other local job losses.”
This fund will help the already taxed nonprofit sector to address the growing crisis caused by the federal government shutdown and the delayed state budget, which are leaving thousands of Delaware County residents without access to basic needs, including food, healthcare, and housing. The Foundation for Delaware County and The Community’s Foundation are seeding it with an initial investment of $25,000 each, for a total of $50,000 to support local organizations.
“This is a critical moment for Delaware County,” Kellerman continued. “Our nonprofit partners are on the front lines, ensuring families have food, shelter, and stability during this crisis. By working together with The Community’s Foundation, we can mobilize resources quickly and help our neighbors when they need it most.”
“The Community’s Foundation is proud to stand alongside The Foundation for Delaware County in this urgent effort,” said Dierdre Konar, President of The Community’s Foundation. “Collaboration is essential in times like these. Our shared investment is just the beginning — we invite others to join us in ensuring that no one in Delaware County is left behind.”
SNAP disruptions are adding to a mounting crisis: 12% of Delaware County residents are food insecure, and the county ranks fourth in Pennsylvania for evictions. Shelters are at capacity or closing, and food pantries are struggling to meet record demand amid rising costs and federal funding cuts. The Community Action Agency of Delaware County warns it may have to suspend much of its housing and shelter programs without state funding, while the SHARE Food Program, which supplies food to local pantries, has already faced an $8 million federal cut this year.
As more families turn to food banks and nonprofits for help, these resources are stretched thinner than ever and under increasing strain. The Foundation cites the success of its COVID-19 Response Fund as proof that local giving can drive meaningful impact in times of crisis.
You can give to the fund here: https://delco.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=7075
Apply for a Rapid Response Fund grant here.
How to Give
The Foundation for Delaware County Rapid Response Fund 200 East State St, Suite 304, Media, PA 19063 EIN: 22-2540853
For more information, please contact Katy Lichtenstein, Vice President of Communications at klichtenstein@delcofoundation.org or call 610.744.1017.
