Central Pa. sees a big jump in the need for food assistance

• Scott LaMar/WITF
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  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Young woman volunteering to organize donations in large food bank

Airdate: July 25, 2022

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, the return to work and many getting new jobs, the demand slowed down.

However, just as many Americans have left the pandemic behind them, there have been a significant number of people who aren’t able to put food on the table and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is seeing an increase in clients. For example, in Lancaster County more than 28,000 individuals received service in the first six months of 2022 compared to 18,000 in the same period last year — a 56% increase.

During Monday’s Smart Talk, Joe Arthur, the executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, indicated higher prices for food is a major factor in more people seeking assistance. Inflation has also impacted what the Food Bank can purchase, but Arthur indicated an emergency fund was used to stock their shelves.

Arthur also said there’s a disparity in food insecurity rates among people of color. According to the Food Bank, Black and Hispanic individuals are experiencing food insecurity at triple the rate of whites.

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