Allegheny County has fewer farmers market vouchers for seniors this year
On Tuesday, hundreds received vouchers while hundreds more were turned away. At the Mount Washington Senior Center, a volunteer said they ran out of vouchers in 50 minutes. People were then given applications so they could join a waitlist.
"The seniors are the one's that are suffering," said volunteer Joanne Freeborn. "The people that really need the food."
Freeborn said they probably turned away over 100 people.
The centers KDKA-TV spoke with say this year, they were given fewer vouchers to distribute, and the voucher amount was reduced.
"Last year, we had $50 worth of vouchers. This year, we only got $25. I mean, something is better than nothing, but it's still a hardship," Freeborn said.
There are changes this year to the Farmers Market Nutrition Program due to federal funding cuts. The director for the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging said they got 25% fewer vouchers this year.
"We only had a 120 this year as opposed to 500 last year, so we really took a big hit," said Freeborn.
The Allentown Senior Citizen Center said they ran out in under 90 minutes. This year, they had at least 200 vouchers to distribute compared to more than 300 last year.
Anyone who doesn't get a voucher can fill out a form to join a waitlist.
Freeborn says this isn't right.
"We are the most vulnerable and thank you so much for cutting us, I really appreciate it," Freeborn said sarcastically.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
Detroit block party connects families with life-changing resources ahead of school season
Just in time for the back-to-school season, a Detroit block party is doing more than bringing music, games, and food to the community; it's changing lives. Led by the Teen Infant Parenting Services program through MCHS Family Services, the event blends fun with vital support for young, underserved families. At the heart of the celebration is a powerful mission: to connect parents of children under five with the tools and resources they need to thrive. Dozens of local service agencies lined the street for the TIPS Resource Fair and Block Party, offering everything from parenting support and life skills training to transitional housing and healthcare. For people like Tjzhane Taylor and her 4-year-old son, the support has been transformational. "Before I got here, I was sleeping in a car with my child, so we didn't have a roof over her head, so MCHS took that off of my plate. Childcare. I wasn't able to get childcare before, of course, because of a lack of a job," Taylor said. Organizers say sometimes simply asking for help can be the hardest part. "It takes a lot of courage to ask for help," said Daniel Robinson, MCHS Director of Transitional Programs. "And that's why we're here — to be that support system. When someone takes that first step, we're ready to walk with them every step after." Families received essentials like book bags, diapers, wipes, and health services, but just as important, they were reminded that they're not alone. "We have so many different resources that are available for people who may not even know this stuff exists for them," Robinson said. The event marks a continued effort by MCHS and the TIPS program to uplift families through education, empowerment, and a strong sense of community. Taylor says she has now been inspired to keep giving back, even with limited resources. "Five years from now, I can actually see myself trying to start the nonprofit that I've been working on, that I've been trying to get support with, just because I don't have a lot," she said. "There's still a lot that I can't give, and I've been wanting to start up that resource center, and being here at MCHS has helped me get support and network with other people. "
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Pennsylvania high school ranks in the top 10 nationwide
The Brief Julia R. Masterman Secondary School in Philadelphia has once again been ranked in the top 10 high schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The competitive magnet school is ranked No. 8 on the national list for 2025. The school has a highly selective admissions process and is considered one of the best public schools in Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - In a country with tens of thousands of high schools, a single Philadelphia institution has earned a spot among the nation's top 10. What we know According to the U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 Best High Schools rankings, Philadelphia's Julia R. Masterman Secondary School has been named the eighth-best high school in the nation. The rankings, which evaluate nearly 18,000 public high schools across the country, are based on a rigorous analysis of key statistics, including state test scores, college readiness and graduation rates. Julia R. Masterman Secondary School is a public magnet school located in the city of Philadelphia that serves students in grades 5 through 12. The school has a 9-12 enrollment of 465 students and is considered one of the most difficult schools to get into in the country, with a high school acceptance rate of approximately 3%. The Julia R. Masterman Secondary School, which has a highly selective admissions process, finished fourth in the 2024 rankings. Other Pennsylvania schools also made the list, including Downingtown STEM Academy in Chester County, which placed 22nd nationally. The school is ranked first in the School District of Philadelphia and in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the report, 99% of the school's students reportedly have taken at least one AP exam. Local schools in the top 300 Pennsylvania schools 8th: Julia R. Masterman Secondary School, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County 22nd: Downingtown STEM Academy, Downingtown Area School District, Chester County 208th: Central High School, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County New Jersey schools 27th: High Technology High School, Monmouth County Vocational School District 41st: Bergen County Academies, Bergen County Vocational Technical School District 59th: Edison Academy Magnet School, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School District 77th: Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School, Jersey City Public Schools 79th: Union County Magnet High School, Union County Vocational-Technical School District 80th: Biotechnology High School, Monmouth County Vocational School District 82nd: Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro, Bergen County Vocational Technical School District 90th: Woodbridge Academy Magnet School, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School District 94th: Academy for Information Technology, Union County Vocational-Technical School District 114th: Academy for Allied Health Sciences, Union County Vocational-Technical School District 186th: Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Monmouth County Vocational School District 244th: Millburn High School, Millburn Township School District 282nd: Glen Ridge High School, Glen Ridge Public School District 283rd: STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges, Orange Board of Education School District 288th: Monmouth County Academy of Allied Health and Science, Monmouth County Vocational School District Delaware schools 87th: Charter School of Wilmington, New Castle County 273rd: Sussex Academy, Sussex County The Source This article uses information sourced from the U.S. News & World Report. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New report: 2 NE Ohio public high schools named among Top 5 in state
**Related Video Above: Should the school year be extended to make up for learning loss? SOLON, Ohio (WJW) — The 2025-2026 U.S. News and World Report rankings for best high schools is here and Northeast Ohio pulled several Top 20 spots in the state. From a review of more than 24,000 public high schools nationally, the Northeast Ohio school faring the best was Solon High School, which scored No. 174 in the country and No. 4 in the state. Norton cancels football game due to illness The publication considered the following factors when putting together its rankings: college curriculum options, math and reading proficiency and testing, college preparedness, graduation rates and underserved student performance. The data used in this year's ranking U.S. News and World Report was pulled from the 2022-2023 school year. 'Heartbroken, disgusted and sad': Family speaks out after Sebastian's Playground in Solon vandalized again Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati nabbed the No. 1 spot in the Buckeye state, ranking No. 91 nationally. Other Northeast Ohio schools to rank in the state's Top 20 (OK, 21) include the following: No. 5 — Rocky River High School No. 11 — Hudson High School No. 15 — Aurora High School No. 19 — Highland High School No. 20 — Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School No. 21 — Bay Village High School Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
