Gov. Shapiro’s 2025-26 draft budget includes $8 million in additional funding for two of the state’s most important anti-hunger programs.

Pennsylvania’s charitable food network is overwhelmed, and demand for food assistance remains above pre-pandemic levels.

For the first time ever, the budget would provide $1 million to the Senior Food Box Program.

State and federal governments can at least mitigate the harm by making modest changes to the pre-pandemic system.