Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Registered households increased by 16% in four days

Late last week, we posted about our commitment to support pet owners who have/will lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits in November due to the Republicans shutting down the Federal Government. Mind you, the program is structured so it is funded, but Republicans resist that version of reality and decided to end SNAP funding.

Two federal judges (so far) have said “no, no” and order the Trump Administration to fund the program. In the meantime, over 47 million Americans are left in limbo. Two million of those folx are in Pennsylvania. Allegheny County has documented over 165,000 households receiving SNAP benefits.

Not all of those people will lose benefits – there are exceptions. But even the possibility is unnerving and destabilizing to the entire nation. And destructive to people who do lose them. Because it opens the door to similar actions with other safety net programs.

UPDATE – the Trump Administration is going to issue partial SNAP benefits. Maybe soon, maybe in months. And when those partial funds run out, we’ll be right back here again.

SNAP cannot be used to purchase pet food. However, the need to reallocate financial resources to make up for the food stamps will strain buying pet food. We are trying to help.

Since I first posted about this on Thursday, 11 new caretakers and household have registered with our pantry – that’s a 16% increase in four days.

We welcome folx to register. We hope other neighbors will contribute so we can sustain long term support.

Our program is supplemental, too. We provide 5-10 lbs of dry food and 5-10 cans of wet food. That’s not enough food for an entire month, but we have to work with what we have on hand.

It is likely more people will register. So we continue to need your help with donations of food and financial support.

• Venmo @PittsburghLGBTQ
• Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ
• GoFundMe bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx
• Check payable to Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities mailed to 1439 W. North Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233
• Use our wishlist’s at Chewy (bit.ly/TheChewyList) or Amazon (bit.ly/TheRuffList)
• Physical donations of food can be dropped in our donation bin at 1440 Faulsey Way Pittsburgh, PA 15233 (this is a backyard address so you won’t see a house sign, you’ll see a gravel parking lot with yellow #PghCatFolx signs)