snap/liheap crisis: A letter to our churches and supporters from our executive director

Dear church partner and LCCM supporter! 
 
Thank you to those who attended the October delegates meeting. As I mentioned at the meeting, we are about to experience the convergence of three undesirable situations all hitting our at-risk community simultaneously. We are currently without a state budget, SNAP benefits are withheld in November, and the government just delayed the opening of LIHEAP from November 5 to December 3. 
 
What does this mean? We need your help! 
 
No state budget – the impact of no state budget is a lack of cash resources to procure food and support other community charitable food partners across Lebanon County. The state is currently $100,000 behind on state food funding support and will be another $50,000 behind in January. These are real dollars that purchase food. 
 
SNAP – notice has been shared with SNAP recipients that they will receive no SNAP benefits in November. An estimated 2 million Pennsylvanians will not receive the SNAP resources in November, many of whom are already facing food insecurity. It is estimated nearly 18,000 people are receiving SNAP in Lebanon County alone. LCCM is anticipating an increased need in food, impacting the Market on 7th – charitable food pantry. 
 
LIHEAP – the LIHEAP energy heating assistance program is on pause through December 3rd, from the initial November 3rd start. This will directly impact the utility assistance program, upLIFT Lite, at LCCM. These are real dollars invested in utilities and will be real dollars covered by LCCMs donors and not be supported through government reimbursement. LIHEAP is a government program aimed at providing cash assistance to fund heating needs. Households requesting this financial assistance can receive from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income, and fuel type. LIHEAP is a one-time payment, and the funds are sent directly to a utility provider or fuel company to be credited to the household’s account.  
 
Our upLIFT Lite program requires households to apply for LIHEAP prior to our crisis funding assistance. In the absence of the LIHEAP program, we anticipate significant increases in the number of people seeking our assistance. We have implemented temporary guidance for our team on how we will address these needs, and the board has made a financial commitment to bridge this gap of funding. 
 
The LCCM board has approved the commitment of $350,000 to directly impact the purchase of food and to commit financial resources to address utility assistance. We anticipate $150,000 will be reimbursed by the state food purchase program once a budget is passed, but funds committed to cover the lack of LIHEAP will be donor dollars invested in our community and not recovered. 
 
We believe it is time to lead and be the CHURCH! The church is built to support the community when the government fails to act. Help us help our community and consider financial commitment.