From Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Photo courtesy of AbsolutVision on Unsplash
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh announced a new tool to connect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients with volunteer opportunities that will help them meet new federal work and reporting requirements for the program and keep their benefits. SNAP recipients can now visit PA Navigate and search for volunteer opportunities in their zip code.
“DHS is committed to doing everything we can to connect Pennsylvanians who receive SNAP with tools and information to help them keep their benefits and feed themselves and their families. Adding volunteer listings to PA Navigate both helps SNAP recipients meet the new federal requirements and helps community-based organizations fill volunteer roles, which are often so important to their ability to serve their communities,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “I encourage organizations that need volunteers to list those roles on PA Navigate so they can meet their organizational needs and find qualified volunteers among the SNAP recipients who are looking for those opportunities to maintain their benefits.”
Under new federal rules, to keep or become eligible for SNAP benefits, certain people have to meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, and/or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours a week (or 80 hours each month) AND report that they are meeting these requirements.
If SNAP recipients do not meet the new work and reporting requirements, they can only receive three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period. If someone loses SNAP benefits, they can reapply for SNAP anytime and should reapply if they start to meet work, training, education, or volunteering requirements or if they meet an exemption.
Following the passage of the Republican Budget Bill in July 2025, the Shapiro Administration mobilized quickly to develop resources and solutions, enhance existing tools, and develop new ways to help Pennsylvanians whose benefits are at risk because of the new requirements and the additional bureaucratic red tape states must enforce. PANavigate’s new volunteer search will connect nonprofits looking for volunteer help to SNAP recipients who must comply with the new federal rules to keep their access to food assistance.
To find volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate:
- Go to pa-navigate.org, enter your ZIP code, and search for “volunteer opportunity.”
- A list of local programs offering volunteer opportunities appears.
- Contact the organization where you want to volunteer to learn more and get connected to volunteer opportunities.
- The organization where you volunteer completes the Community Service Verification Form to track your volunteer hours.
If a community-based organization would like to list volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate, visit panavigatehelp.org.
PA Navigate is a statewide community information network, designed to address health and social care needs for individuals by connecting them to community organizations that can help, while keeping care teams in the loop. The PA Navigate Consortium is composed of four Pennsylvania Health Information Exchanges, including ClinicalConnect, Central PA Connect, HealthShare Exchange, and KeyHIE.
Providing resources and support to fight food insecurity has been a goal of the Shapiro Administration from the beginning. Governor Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget delivers major investments to combat hunger, strengthen the charitable food network, and support Pennsylvania farmers. The budget includes a historic $11 million increase for food security, including:
- $5 million in new funding to Pennsylvania food banks,
- $3 million for the State Food Purchase Program and $1 million for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS); and
- $2 million for a new state Food Bucks program to supplement SNAP.
SNAP recipients with questions about how to report work, education, training, or volunteering activities can contact their caseworker at DHS’s County Assistance Office or call the Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930 (or 215-560-7226 if you live in Philadelphia).
For more information about work and reporting requirements, visit dhs.pa.gov/work.
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