WCM in the news….
How can you influence changes to the “big beautiful bill”? Contact your Senators!
The proposed Budget and Tax Reconciliation Bill would cut funding from such programs as the SNAP and the Community Eligibility program that help the poorest and most vulnerable Americans, while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest.
Here’s what you should know:
Every child in the Wilkinsburg, Pittsburgh, and Woodland Hills school districts receives breakfast and lunch because these school districts participate in a program that bases charges for school meals on the broader eligibility of children in the school and/or district. In these districts, over 60 percent of the children are in families that rely on programs like SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) .
(TANF is a federal program that provides grants to states to help low-income families with children. TANF funds are used to provide cash assistance, child care, and other services designed to support families in achieving self-sufficiency, such as job preparation, work, and child care assistance.)
The CEP program allows eligible high-poverty schools, groups of schools, or school districts to offer free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students, regardless of individual household income. It means that children can qualify without their parent/guardian having to complete masses of separate paperwork with the school district.
Instead of collecting individual free/reduced meal applications from every family, schools participating in CEP use a percentage of “identified students” (those who are directly certified for free meals through programs like SNAP, TANF, foster care, homelessness, etc.) to determine their reimbursement from the USDA. The program insures that all students receive free breakfast and lunch, which:
- Increases meal participation.
- Simplifies meal counting and claiming for the district.
- Eliminates student meal debt.
- Reduces the stigma associated with receiving free or reduced-price meals
The budget proposal calls for a direct $12 billion cut in funding for CEP over 10 years and a $ 230 billion cut in SNAP benefits.
Proposed budget cuts:
- Changes to eligibility: These cuts would be achieved by adjusting the school qualification for CEP and potentially requiring individual income verification of every child for school meal programs. This could result in over 24,000 schools serving more than 12 million children becoming ineligible for the program.
- Impact on SNAP: Proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could also indirectly impact CEP eligibility, as many children qualify for free school meals through SNAP.
- Downstream effects: These changes could lead to a decrease in the number of schools eligible for CEP and reduced federal reimbursement for qualifying schools.
This proposed bill also cuts $880 billion from Medicaid (health coverage for low-income people). This means that hospitals will raise their costs to cover the expense of treating the sick and injured who no longer have Medicaid. These cuts would hurt millions: 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, and 72 million depend on Medicaid. And not everyone on Medicaid is unemployed. Some people require Medicaid to help them stay employed.
Despite what some say, these cuts will harm real people, including seniors and people with disabilities. They claim the cuts reduce “waste and fraud,” while also pushing to extend $5.3 trillion in tax breaks with no stated cost.
Everything has a cost.
This bill would shift the cost of health care for uninsured people to those who are insured, and to medical facilities and hospitals themselves. Contrary to some statements (“Everybody dies…” “Get a job and use that health insurance!” and “The best health insurance is a job…”) not every employer offers insurance (about half do), and not everyone can work!
While not every employer offers health insurance, especially among smaller businesses, the majority of workers in the U.S. are indeed employed by companies that do provide access to employer-sponsored health benefits. Employer-sponsored insurance remains the primary source of health coverage for the non-elderly population in the U.S., covering about 165 million people in 2023. As of May 2025, the Labor Force Participation Rate in the US was 62.4%. This means that 62.4% of the civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and over were either working or actively seeking employment.
Contact Senator Fetterman
Pittsburgh 412-803-3501 and Washington, DC 202-224-4254
Contact Senator McCormick
Pittsburgh 412-803-7370 and
DC 202-224-6324
Help protect federal nutrition programs TODAY!
Annually, we report to the congregations that support us: See the most recent report to the Sixth Presbyterian Church (Squirrel Hill) here The last link will take you to another page.
https://www.facebook.com/WCM15221/videos/1190403838962811
Our donors in 2024!
Annually, we report to the congregations that support us: See the most recent report to the Sixth Presbyterian Church (Squirrel Hill) here The last link will take you to another page.
https://www.facebook.com/WCM15221/videos/1190403838962811
Congregations
- Christian Church of Wilkinsburg
- Church of the Redeemer
- Covenant Church of Pittsburgh
- Covenant Fellowship Reformed Presbyterian Church
- First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood
- Forest Hills Pres. Mission Committee
- Metropolitan Community Church of Pgh
- Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church
- Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church
- New Testament Missionary Baptist Church
- Saint Mark AME Church, Wilkinsburg
- Sixth Presbyterian Church
- South Avenue United Methodist Church
- Sts Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Braddock
- St Stephen’s Episcopal Church
- United Methodist Women of South Avenue United Methodist Church
- Waverly United Presbyterian Church
Foundations
- Anonymous Charitable Trust
- Heinz Endowments
- Hillman Foundations
- John R. and Margaret S. McCartan Charitable Fund
- Lee and Myrna Silverman Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation
- Hays Foundation of the Pittsburgh Foundation
- Snee Reinhardt Charitable Foundation
- Milton Burkart and Patricia Crumrine Charitable Trust of the Pittsburgh Foundation
- The Pittsburgh Foundation
There was a time when Ruth Kittner only had $600 for the entire winter — an amount that was very little money even in 1978. With that money, she was able to pay her rent in Denver, utilities and phone but needed some extra support to pay for groceries, so she applied for food stamps. “I could buy 6 ounces of beef, a bunch of rice and potatoes, a bunch of beans. And that 6 ounces of beef would last me 10 days,” said Kittner. “And I got criticism at the checkout because I bought beef on my food stamps.” Kittner is now the executive director of the Wilkinsburg Community Ministry [WCM], which operates as a food pantry aiming to provide people with access to fresh and healthy foods. [read the rest of the article here
Our Newsletter: The Well
January – July 2024 in Numbers
So far in 2024, we have acquired about 300,000 pounds of food purchased from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and donated by local food vendors–Market District, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and several bakeries.
At our brick-and-mortar pantry we have served an average of:
1490 repeat Households / 559 unique household visits
3426 repeat individuals / 1547 unique individuals
At the Mobile Pantry:
The Mobile pantry operates at 8 sites per week (weather permitting). We serve an average of 55-65 families at each site and distribute approximately 50 lbs of food and products to each family. Forty percent of families come more than once a month!
2023 Donations
- Klara Awodey
- Paula Addlespurger
- Andrew Bloomgarden
- Bambi & Jeremy Brewer
- Oliver Brewer
- Kelly Britcher
- Donald Borneman & Keith Edwards
- Dr. Doreen Boyce
- Edgar & Elizabeth Ann Benedum
- Elaine Bellin
- Gary Burdick & Bob Bonessa
- George Bradley & Joe Marchisani
- Greg Broujos
- Louise & John Broujos
- Marilyn & Guy Berry
- Dorothy Buckoski
- Ruth Brebner
- Sarah S. & Mike Bogie
- Douglas Chaffey & Douglas Mills
- Norma Caquatto
- Shaun Cloonan
- William & Martha Crean
- Alexander & Stephanie Denmarsh
- Cathy & Ernest Dettore
- Edward Donnelly
- Ed Donovan
- Eva Damianos
- Jim Donnell
- Linda & Frank Davoli
- Marshall & Nancy Davenpeck
- Mathew Dugan
- Moira Dunn
- David Duncan
- Carla Depperman
- Delores Derco
- Ashley Deal
- Mary Joel Davis
- Nancy & Peter V DelPresto
- Sally Donnelly
- Beverly Fafata
- Cyril & Jane Fox
- Thomas & Eleanor Fisher
- Deb Gausmann & Craig Stevens
- Gaylord & Catherine Gillis
- Gail Gratton
- Peggy Galley
- Nettie Glickman
- Peter Gilmore
- Stuart & Joan Gaul
- Sylvano Gaslow
- Velva Gibson
- Clair Nelson Hayes IV
- Debbie Hardin
- Donna & Ralph Hansen
- Donna Harsch & George Loewenstein
- Donna Isaac & David Hosmer
- James & Mary Hamilton
- Joseph & Catherine Hajdu
- Judy Hartley
- Leonie Heystek
- Mary Hart
- Harry Hagerty
- Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hull, II
- Steve & Janet Hellner-Burris^
- Edgar Harper
- Marcia Haley
- Nancy Hamilton
- Pamela Hogan
- Paulette & Larry Harvey
- Peggy & Maurice Heidish
- Robert Hauser
- Y.C. Ho
- Cora Ingrim & Harry Andrews
- Janet Ingram
- Levi Ike & Adaeze Otue Ezekoye
- John & Virginia Irwin
- Jane Jessell
- Charles Jefferson & Cynthia Dagostino
- Clifford & Nora Johnson
- Mr & Mrs Theodore Johnson
- Timothy Jessell
- Cynthia Kerr
- Diane Kerr & John McCall
- Judith Kroll
- Kelli Kane
- Peter & Leslie Kaplan
- Michele Kerr
- Sheila Kier
- Evelyn Kittner ^
- Ruth Kittner ^
- Rev & Mrs David Keller
- Lori King
- Susan & Peter Koehler
- Curtis Kovach
- Kenneth Kratovil & Linda Rubinstein
- Willliam Lafe & Carol Hochman
- Stewart & Jeannette S. Lawrence
- J Gary Lewis
- James Lynch
- Dorothy Lowry
- Allyson Lubimir ^
- Andrew & Karen McNabb
- Darlane McGill ^
- Deborah Martini
- Douglas Marshall
- Joel Minnigh
- Gregory Mcdonald
- Burl Moone III
- James & Amy Moore
- Matthew MacCarthy
- Mr. & Mrs. Andrew McGhee
- Mr. & Mrs. Donald Mairose
- Mabel & Glenn Matteson
- Bud & Beth Murray
- William Mistick & Mary Ann Ference
- J. Michael Milberger
- Rick Masten
- Elizabeth Mulvaney & Mr. Christopher Ramsey
- Joyce Magill
- Nathan McKerley
- Richard & Betsy Monheim
- Nancy Neff
- Frederick W Okie Jr
- Tom & Connie Ochs
- Barbara Patchan
- Gordon & Barbara Conner
- Joan Paul
- Marcus & Nancy Patterson
- Mrs. Margery Peffer
- Ms. Deborah Pike
- Ruth Pickering
- Timothy Podnar
- Gerald Postlethwaite ^
- Tracy & Jim Partridge
- Wendy Pardee & Thomas Butterworth
- Dr. Leila Richards
- Joni Rabinowitz & John Haer
- Margaret & Frank Reed
- Margaret Reding
- Narda & Arthur Rathbun
- Mr. & Mrs. William Rau
- Debra Raubenstrauch
- Sarah Ramaley
- Paula Rossi
- Audrey Spieler
- Carol Swift
- David & Melanie Sprenkel
- David Speakman
- Deborah & Joe Stuligross
- Diane Startari
- Gary & Andy Slafka
- Henry Shapiro
- Jack & Carol Snyder
- John Stanton
- Minette Seate
- Lee Silverman
- Frederick Steinberg
- Joseph Smith
- Joan Schrysen
- Sue Schneider
- Paul & Diane Shepard
- Rayden Sorock
- Paul & Carolynn Schrading
- Roger & Victoria Schneider ^
- Terri Supowitz
- Theresa Sable
- Vivienne & Jerome Selia
- Barbara & Robert Thaw
- Adele Towers
- William Taymans
- Richard Thomas
- Sara Alice Thomas
- Betty F & David W. Voigt
- David Walton
- David Waters
- Dodie & Rick Wellock
- Eleanor Walker Michael & Shelby Wherry
- Clark & Jean Walter
- Thomas Williams
- Betty Wilson
- Lois Winslow
- Cathy Wilkie
- Mary Chester Wasko
- Nancy Jane Welsh
- Phil Wilson
- Regitze Weingartner
- Ronni Weis
- Congregations
- Covenant Church of Pittsburgh ^
- Covenant Fellowship Reformed Presbyterian Church
- Dormition of Theotokos Greek Church in Oakmont
- First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood ^
- Forest Hills Pres. Mission Committee
- Hamilton Presbyterian Church
- Metropolitan Community Church of Pgh
- Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church
- New Life Church of God
- Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church
- New Testament Missionary Baptist Church ^
- Sixth Presbyterian Church
- South Avenue United Methodist Church ^
- Ss Peter & Paul Parish
- Third Presbyterian Church
- United Methodist Women of South Avenue United Methodist Church
- Waverly United Presbyterian Church
- 2023 Critical Needs Day of Giving
- Donald Block
- Greg Broujos
- Gerald Dalton
- Marshall Devenpeck
- Jennifer Flanagan
- Cyril & Jane Fox
- Carolyn Fronapel
- Peter E. Gilmore
- Frances Hardic
- Patricia Hauser
- Peggy Heidish
- Yee Ho
- Jeffrey Hoener
- Donna Isaac
- Karen Johnese
- Ruth Kittner
- Rebecca Klaw
- Stewart Lawrence
- Judith Lightner
- Mabel &, Glenn Matteson
- Melissa Mencotti
- Candace Morgan
- Kathleen Mulligan
- Thomas Ochs
- Mark Roth
- Joyce Rothermel
- Sue Schaefer
- Roger Schneider
- Mary Beth Simon
- Pamela Sovich
- Melanie Sprenkel
- Barbara Thaw
- Claudia Viehland
- Mary Chester Wasko
- James Weddel