Clinton County proclaims September Hunger Action Month
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LOCK HAVEN -- The Clinton County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed September 2026 as Hunger Action Month, drawing attention to food insecurity locally and across Pennsylvania and recognizing the work of organizations serving residents in need.
The proclamation, approved during the commissioners' Sept. 24 meeting, notes that more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians -- about 13.5 percent of the state's population -- experience food insecurity, according to Feeding America. It also states that one in five children face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from.
In Clinton County, the proclamation cites food insecurity affecting approximately one in seven residents and one in four children.
The proclamation also points to rising food costs as a contributing factor. According to the county, food prices increased more than 33 percent between 2019 and 2026, contributing to increased demand for charitable food assistance.
According to the most recent available 2024 data cited by agency services manager at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Tracy Haas-Ungard, more than 5,500 people in Clinton County experience food insecurity, including more than 600 children. Children face a higher food insecurity rate than the overall population, with 22.4% of children living in food-insecure households compared with 15.2 percent of the county's overall population.
Haas-Ungard said food insecurity has also increased across Pennsylvania, rising 44% since 2021.
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank distributed more than 61.3 million pounds of food to Pennsylvanians experiencing food insecurity during fiscal year 2026. More than 955,000 pounds were distributed in Clinton County alone, according to the proclamation.
The food bank works with four program sites in Clinton County, along with Fresh Express distributions and meal programs such as More Than Bread through the Salvation Army-Lock Haven. Other efforts include a backpack program serving children through local schools.
Haas-Ungard also pointed to changes in participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Since January 2025, SNAP participation in Clinton County has declined 10.8 percent, compared with a 14.2 percent decline statewide, according to figures she presented to commissioners. She attributed the changes to provisions of the federal legislation commonly referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," saying the changes have pushed more residents toward charitable food assistance.
"Hunger Action Month is a time for us to reflect on the extent of hunger in our communities as well as the work that our network has achieved over the past year," Haas-Ungard said.
The county's proclamation calls on residents to recognize September as Hunger Action Month and to support efforts to address food insecurity.
"Support from our county commissioners and community makes a huge difference in reducing hunger for neighbors in need," Haas-Ungard said.
The commissioners' meeting also included consideration of several other county matters, including an amendment extending the county's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through Sept. 30, 2027. TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low-income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost
In other business, the commissioners:
-- Approved the county's 2027 holiday calendar and commissioners' meeting schedule.
-- Approved a memorandum of understanding with Diakon Community Services/AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP to provide volunteer opportunities for older residents.
-- Appointed Clinton County Director of Planning and County Engineer Steve Gibson as Section 504 compliance officer to establish a grievance procedure for accessibility complaints involving county facilities and programs.