Over the past several months, the Sarah Ralston Foundation has funded several emergency funding requests that, taken together, point to a clear and concerning trend across our nonprofit partner network.
While each organization serves a different community and mission, many are experiencing the same underlying challenges: a sharp increase in demand for services, driven in part by late 2025 disruptions to SNAP benefits.
For older adults—particularly those living on fixed incomes or navigating complex health and social needs—these pressures can quickly compound. Food insecurity and financial instability are deeply interconnected, and when one system is disrupted, the effects ripple quickly.
“What we’re seeing across our partners is not just an increase in need, but a shift in how that need is showing up—more urgent, more complex, and ongoing even after the initial crisis passes,” said Heather Finnegan, Executive Director of the Sarah Ralston Foundation. “This moment calls for us to listen closely and respond in ways that are both immediate and thoughtful.”
In response, the Foundation has provided emergency funding to several partners working on the front lines of these challenges:
Face to Face — $25,000
Face to Face is experiencing a significant increase in demand for daily meals. Recent changes to SNAP eligibility and short-term pauses in benefit distribution led more individuals to seek daily food support, even after benefits were reinstated. Emergency funding will help sustain meal services as the organization works toward expanding to a seven-day-a-week model.
Face to Face is experiencing a significant increase in demand for daily meals. Recent changes to SNAP eligibility and short-term pauses in benefit distribution led more individuals to seek daily food support, even after benefits were reinstated. Emergency funding will help sustain meal services as the organization works toward expanding to a seven-day-a-week model.
Health Federation of Philadelphia — $25,000
Emergency funding is supporting the relocation of the Philadelphia Model, an innovative program integrating behavioral health services with long-term care for individuals with serious mental illness. Following the unexpected closure of a partner facility, 47 vulnerable residents required rapid and coordinated relocation. Funding helped to ensure continuity of care and enhanced safety for all residents.
Emergency funding is supporting the relocation of the Philadelphia Model, an innovative program integrating behavioral health services with long-term care for individuals with serious mental illness. Following the unexpected closure of a partner facility, 47 vulnerable residents required rapid and coordinated relocation. Funding helped to ensure continuity of care and enhanced safety for all residents.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services — $20,000
JFCS expanded emergency assistance to older adults experiencing food insecurity. The demand for these services grew during the federal government shutdown and continued even after SNAP benefits were restored. Funding was provided for grocery gift cards to approximately 400 senior households, reaching nearly 1,000 individuals.
JFCS expanded emergency assistance to older adults experiencing food insecurity. The demand for these services grew during the federal government shutdown and continued even after SNAP benefits were restored. Funding was provided for grocery gift cards to approximately 400 senior households, reaching nearly 1,000 individuals.
KITHS Integrated and Targeted Human Services — $20,000
KITHS Kitchen has seen demand more than double since early Fall 2025 winter for Cambodian and Southeast Asian immigrant communities. Many of those served face language and access barriers that make navigating benefit changes particularly challenging. Emergency funding ensured continued access to culturally familiar food for elders.
KITHS Kitchen has seen demand more than double since early Fall 2025 winter for Cambodian and Southeast Asian immigrant communities. Many of those served face language and access barriers that make navigating benefit changes particularly challenging. Emergency funding ensured continued access to culturally familiar food for elders.
SeniorLAW Center — $25,000
Following the closure of CARIE, SeniorLAW Center stepped in to ensure continuity of the Providing Advocacy for Victimized Elders (PAVE) and Legislative Advocacy programs. Funding supported the transition of key programs, as well as the integration of staff and expertise necessary to sustain and expand these efforts.
Following the closure of CARIE, SeniorLAW Center stepped in to ensure continuity of the Providing Advocacy for Victimized Elders (PAVE) and Legislative Advocacy programs. Funding supported the transition of key programs, as well as the integration of staff and expertise necessary to sustain and expand these efforts.
Together, these requests reflect more than isolated challenges—they point to a broader moment of strain across systems that support older adults in Philadelphia.
At the Sarah Ralston Foundation, we remain committed to listening closely to our partners and responding where support is most needed. Emergency funding allows organizations to stabilize services in times of disruption, while also providing insight into emerging trends that inform our broader work.
“Sometimes a short-term crisis, like the federal government shutdown of November 2025, creates long-term strain on our grantee-partner’s resources and programs. By staying closely connected to our partners, we’re able to better understand what’s happening across the network and respond in ways that support both immediate needs and long-term stability for older adults in our community. ” said Finnegan.