Central Pa. sees huge jump in need for food assistance

July 25, 2022 | 14:31

• scott lamar
  

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.

  LaMar is currently the host and executive producer of the daily news and public affairs program Smart Talk on WITF-FM, 89.5 and 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Senior Producer for Public Affairs, producing the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs television show, Smart Talk.

  LaMar was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 US presidential election.

  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with its national Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2020. LaMar was the only national recipient of the award. He has won more than a dozen Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcast Awards since 2000 and has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.

  LaMar and Smart Talk have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community, including the first-ever ADVOZ Lancaster “Dignity in Dialogue Award,” the South-Central Assembly “Regional Citizen Award,” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero ” by the Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.

  A native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, LaMar has also worked as a newscaster, sportscaster and manager.

Young woman volunteering to organize donations at a large food bank

Issue date: July 25, 2022

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 12pm and 8pm on WITF 89.5 and 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF radio”.

The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a substantial increase in the number of people seeking food assistance. With stimulus money from the federal government, a return to work, and many new jobs, demand has slowed.

However, just as many Americans have put the pandemic behind them, there have been a significant number of people unable to put food on the table and the Food Bank of Central Pennsylvania is seeing an increase in customers. For example, in Lancaster County, more than 28,000 people were served in the first six months of 2022 compared to 18,000 in the same period last year, an increase of 56%.

during monday smart talkJoe Arthur, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, said higher food prices are a major factor in driving more people to seek help. Inflation has also affected what the Food Bank can buy, but Arthur said an emergency fund was used to stock its shelves.

Arthur also said that there is a disparity in rates of food insecurity among people of color. According to the Food Bank, black and Hispanic people experience food insecurity at three times the rate of whites.

Arthur encouraged those who need help to contact the Food Bank of Central Pennsylvania.