COVID-19: Information for Partner Agencies

Dear Amazing Partners,

As many of you have seen firsthand, demand for food assistance in central Pennsylvania is lower now than it was at the peak of the crisis, though it is still up significantly compared to 2019. As restrictions ease and the economy continues to improve, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is now shifting into a crisis recovery mode rather than crisis response. While we know there is still much work to be done, we are looking ahead to a brighter future.

The signs of recovery in our communities are exciting and encouraging, but we know many families will still need a helping hand for months or even years to come. We will maintain our recovery efforts as long as they are needed and, as we do that, we will also make investments in partners like you to build an even stronger, more sustainable network as we move forward in 2022 and beyond.

Our territory is wide, but our impact is local, thanks to you, our partner agencies. You are on the front lines of ending hunger, and we couldn’t be more grateful and proud to support you in your service to our neighbors in need. Thank you for what you have done, and thank you for what you continue to do every day!

Stay safe and healthy!

Food Supply Updates

INVENTORY UPDATES

Procurement of Foods – Our food sourcing and logistics team have been working extremely hard and focusing on procurement of foods, including canned fruits and vegetables, foods all our partner agencies so desperately need and want. While we are having some success, this is a daily struggle across the nation, even with the help of Feeding America and the big national producers. Thank you for being patient as some products we need are either unavailable or we are limited in the quantity we can order and is gone as fast as it hits the inventory list. We are also seeing our orders being delayed or even cancelled. Despite our best efforts, we expect to continue to experience product availability issues as the shelf-stable food supply chain IS NOT back up to normal levels. Given these challenges, we will continue to leverage all other food sources, including fresh produce, eggs, and many other fresh foods, and strong supplies of frozen foods.

Crisis Response Food – We believe that the economic crisis will continue for months, so we are once again extending our policy of free Crisis Response food. The free crisis response items will be identified on our shopping list with the prefix letters CR. Please be aware as our inventory changes, so will the product that is in our crisis response boxes. What’s on our inventory list is what we are using to put in our CRB’s.

Inventory Limits – Due to certain shortages (meats, veggies, etc.), several of our inventory items will incur limits. Limit numbers will be determined by the size of your agency. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your agency representative.

New Items – Keep an eye on our shopping list for new products such as Chobani yogurt, plant-based meat alternatives, frozen meals and boxed product.

#10 Cans – While small cans of fruit and vegetables have been a challenge to procure, #10 cans of fruit and vegetables are readily available. These cans are ideal for families with leftovers to spare for the next day or two depending on the size of family. Give it a try and let us know what your clients think.

REMINDER!

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE INVENTORY THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR DISTRIBUTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US! (Our wonderful customer service team are usually able to perform some magic.)

SNAP Updates

Food Stamps Helpline – Please encourage your clients to sign up for SNAP benefits through our bi-lingual Food Stamps Helpline, 1.877.999.5964. Our team will help households navigate signing up for SNAP benefits and guide through the entire process. Download our flier!

SNAP Enhancements – The latest COVID stimulus bill will continue the emergency allotments until 30 days after the public health emergency ends. Student eligibility has also been expanded to include students who would be eligible for work study or have an expected family contribution of zero through FAFSA and excludes the work requirement.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program – The Department of Human Services (DHS) is overseeing allocation of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which is now taking applications. For more information and to apply read this article.

Water Assistance Program – The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a temporary emergency program to help low-income families pay overdue water bills. LIHWAP is a grant. You do not have to repay it. For more information and to apply read this article.

Heating Assistance Program – The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. You do not have to repay it. For more information and to apply read this article.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer – Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) helps families cover the cost of breakfasts and lunches their children would have been eligible to receive for free or at reduced price through the National School Lunch Program. These benefits are put onto separate P-EBT cards and not a household’s SNAP EBT card. For more information and updates on the program, please read this article.

Health & Safety

FOOD BANK GUIDANCE AND PRECAUTIONS

Partner Pick-up/Appointment Updates – For your safety and the safety of our staff, the following changes have been made to both CPFB Hubs:
– Shopping areas are closed until further notice. Add-on’s are still being offered.
– Masks must be worn when picking up orders at a CPFB Hub.
– One person limit at customer service check-in.

Risk Mitigation Module – For continued workplace health and safety recommendations, please view this complete guide proved by our friends at Feeding America. We have also developed a Risk Mitigation Guide.

DELIVERY

Masks – Many of the counties we serve have hundreds of COVID-19 cases, which is why all CPFB staff are following CDC guidelines very carefully. For the safety of our partners and our drivers, we are asking that our partner agencies wear masks when CPFB delivers your order. If you are in need of masks, please contact your agency representative.

Social Distancing – Please practice social distancing when our drivers deliver your orders. We suggest keeping the pallet of what is being delivered between you and the driver. If additional volunteers are at the site during delivery, please have them wait in a separate social distance area and away from our trucks and driver until our driver is finished unloading. For extra precaution, when feasible, we have asked our drivers to deliver as a drop and go model.

State & Federal Feeding Program Waivers

All U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs have flexibilities and contingencies built in to allow them to respond to on-the-ground realities in the event of a disaster or emergency situation.

SFPP/TEFAP Participant Signature Waiver through June 30, 2022. SFPP/TEFAP participant should or will receive communications from their lead agency. For more information, please review the SFPP/TEFAP Signature Waive r (Expires 6/30/2022).
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program regulations will be temporarily modified to waive the signature requirement through December 31, 2021. For more information, please review document CSFP Signature Waiver (Expires 6/30/2022).
FNS is extending the following waivers nationwide through September 30, 2021:
- Non-Congregate Feeding: FNS is allowing meals to be served to children outside of the normally required group setting to support social distancing.
- Parent Pickup: FNS is allowing parents and/or guardians to pick up meals and bring them home to their children.
- Meal Times: FNS is waiving requirements that meals be served at certain standard times to allow for grab-n-go options. This also allows for multiple days-worth of meals to be provided at once. For more details, click here.
Beyond September 30 (and through June 2022), School Districts have the option to use the SSO (Seamless Summer Option) to operate their National School Lunch Programs and School Breakfast Programs, which all children no matter what their families income level is to eat Breakfast and Lunch for free. The Districts will receive the free reimbursement rate for all meals served.

“One of the most remarkable things we can do is make sure nobody goes hungry. It is a beautiful picture of a partnership, that the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank provides great knowledge and great resources for us to make a difference, to make our community a better place.” – Eric, New Hope Ministries

As our partner on the front line, your story is a powerful tool in fighting hunger and its root causes. If you have a story that stands out from someone who is coming to your pantry for the first time or if you have assisted someone with SNAP, please tell us now and throughout the year.

Share Your Story With Us

Donations

Retail Donations – Please continue to make every effort to pick-up your retail donation. At the local level, communication between food banks and retail partners is extremely important. If you are considering pausing your retail donation pick-ups, please contact Cindy Pasi, ASAP at 717.547.6256 or cpasi@centralpafoodbank.org.

Community Donations – Many of you have asked if it’s okay for your agency to accept food donations from the community. Due to the amount of manpower it takes to sort through food drives and safety concerns, CPFB continues to not accept community food drives. If your agency does decide to accept food drive donations, we encourage you to have the proper means to safely handle the donations and as well as the appropriate number of volunteers or staff to help.