Dear Neighbor,

I know there is a lot happening in our country right now, but I want to take a moment to highlight an issue of critical importance to many in our community. Starting tomorrow (November 1), the federal budget impasse will delay funding for both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). These unnecessary and cruel delays affect all of us—not just our neighbors in Centre County who rely on these programs to stay warm and put nutritious food on the table. The cost of groceries is projected to rise for everyone as retailers attempt to offset lost revenue from SNAP. And these delays come at the same time the Trump administration’s stricter standards for SNAP eligibility take effect, compounding the problem and adding further confusion and complexity for both participants and administrators.

At the same time, federal Medicaid cuts and the expiration of tax credits for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act are expected to have a dramatic impact—not only on hospitals and healthcare providers, but also on consumers, as insurers pass on additional costs to their entire customer base. The bottom line is that the loss of these critical safety net programs means more of our neighbors will be colder, sicker, and hungrier.

While Pennsylvania House Democrats are working closely with the Shapiro administration to do everything possible at the state level to prevent people from losing their benefits—such as suing in federal court to force the continuation of SNAP funding, urging utilities not to shut off heat for those who fall behind on payments, and identifying ways to address emergency food aid—the reality is that Pennsylvania simply cannot absorb or replace the hundreds of millions of federal dollars in lost revenue created by the Trump administration and Congress.

Please join me in reaching out to our representatives in Congress to urge them to restore funding for both SNAP and LIHEAP and extend the ACA tax credits as soon as possible.

Beyond that, what can we do to help ensure that no one goes hungry in our community? My district office has been partnering with groups and organizations across the district to provide as many resources as possible, including connecting people to partner organizations that are actively providing emergency food, collecting groceries for veterans in need, supporting our Thanksgiving food drive, and much more.

If you have ideas on how we can expand community support, please let us know. And if you can donate to food drives or pantries at this time, please consider doing so. We cannot sugarcoat the impact—we have reached a point where we are truly facing a hunger crisis. People are scared and need our help and support.

Read on for SNAP guidance, and a list of food resources in the community. Together, let’s make sure no one in Centre County goes hungry ??

If you receive SNAP benefits, I encourage you to stay informed and proactive during this time. Please check your account regularly through COMPASS or by calling the Department of Human Services (DHS) directly—though be aware that phone wait times may be longer than usual.

Make sure to report your work, education, training, and volunteer hours, check that your renewal paperwork and eligibility documents are current, and report any changes to your address, household size, or income right away, either to DHS or through my office.

If you experience missing or delayed benefits, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office or the Centre County DHS Assistance Office for help. Please be aware of scams targeting benefits during this critical time. The unfortunate reality is that criminals are actively trying to take advantage of vulnerable and frightened people. Remember: DHS will never ask for personal information in an unsolicited text message, email, or phone call.

For up-to-date news from the PA Department of Human Services visit dhs.pa.gov/work.

Statewide Emergency Resources:

There are many incredible organizations that operate food pantries, food banks, emergency food distributions, and more throughout our community. The following list of food pantries in the 82nd District is by no means exhaustive, but it does cover the entire district.

If you need additional resources, please reach out to my office, and we can connect you with other food assistance programs across the district.
 
Food Bank of State College:

• 169 Gerald St., State College
• Food distribution times: Mondays from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Areas served: College Township, Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township, Harris Township, Huston Township, Patton Township, Port Matilda Borough, State College Borough, Taylor Township and Worth Township 
   

Howard Area food pantry:

• 44 Vesper St., Beech Creek
• Food distribution times: First Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Areas served: Curtin Township, Howard Borough, Howard Township, Liberty Township and Marion Township 
   

Howard United Methodist Church food pantry

• 144 W Main Street, Howard
• Food Distribution times: First Thursday of each month and third Friday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.

Snow Shoe United Methodist Church food pantry

• 502 Moshannon Ave., Snow Shoe
• Food distribution times: Second Thursday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. Areas served: Burnside Township, Snow Shoe Borough and Snow Shoe Township 

Snow Show Township food pantry

• 268 Oldside Drive, Clarence
• Food Distribution times: First and Third Thursdays of each month from noon.

Due to a lack of funding from the federal government, the opening of LIHEAP applications has been pushed back to December 3. In the meantime, my office is continuing to assist with applications so that payments can be processed as soon as the program opens.

If you are having trouble paying your heating bills now, please reach out to your utility provider to discuss payment plans. And, as always, please contact us if we can help connect you with other emergency support organizations.

I’m proud that my office is partnering with the Centre County YMCA to collect Blessing Boxes filled with Thanksgiving food. Can you help us by donating canned and shelf-stable items?

Check the graphic for details, and feel free to drop off donations at my district office, located at 216 W. Hamilton Ave., State College, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To sign up for a free box, call us at (814) 308-0569 or visit our office in State College.

October has been a very busy month in our office.

On October 16, I hosted my annual tele-town hall and took questions from across the district. Thank you to everyone who tuned in, and big thanks to everyone who asked questions! You can listen to the full audio of the event here.

On October 19, we hosted our first community health clinic for pets and their people in Howard! In partnership with Centre County PAWS, the PSU Lion Mobile Clinic, the Nursing Department, and the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, we provided low-cost rabies and distemper vaccines, affordable microchips for pets, as well as free flu shots and health resources for people.

A huge shout-out to our amazing partners at Howard United Methodist Church, who also host our Thursday mobile office. It was wonderful to meet so many people, cats, and dogs from the community. If you live in or around Howard, please stop by and say hi on Thursdays!

Lastly, I’m very proud of our District Office interns, Rasha and Miranda, for their hard work organizing our first Accessibility Resource Fair at Schlow Library. As part of their capstone internship project, they created an engaging agenda featuring inspiring speakers, fun prizes, and a wealth of resources from university, local, and state partners serving our community.

It was a fantastic afternoon of bringing people together to make invaluable connections and share information and ideas. Please thank these talented and dedicated Penn State seniors—I can’t wait to see the amazing things they do next!

I’m honored and excited to share that I was recently appointed as the PA House Democratic representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education. As a long-time advocate for accessibility, affordability, and excellence in higher education, I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the state to strengthen post-secondary opportunities throughout our commonwealth.

Higher education is key to Pennsylvania’s future—it drives innovation, fosters economic development, builds stronger communities, and opens doors for students from every background. I’m eager to bring a balanced, forward-looking perspective to the board’s work to ensure that our institutions of higher learning remain a source of pride and progress for all Pennsylvanians.

I’m honored to share that I am the 2025 recipient of the George Harvey Memorial Award from Clearwater Conservancy and the Spring Creek chapter of Trout Unlimited. George Harvey, the father of the Penn State fly fishing program, was an author and mentor to the area’s fly-fishing community.

This award, named in his honor, recognizes outstanding contributions to the conservation and preservation of the Spring Creek Watershed. Thank you!

My office will be closed November 4th for Election Day, November 11th for Veterans Day, and November 26-28th for Thanksgiving.  If you need our help on any of those days, please email me at RepTakac@pahouse.net or call 814-308-0569, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible

And if you haven’t already voted by mail, please remember to vote in-person on November 4th. You can find your polling place here!

As always, thank you for your continued trust and support. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns to RepTakac@pahouse.net or by calling our office at 814-308-0569.

And please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky to find out more about what we’re up to and our upcoming events in the community!

District Office

216 W. Hamilton Ave.
State College, PA 16801

(814) 308-0569

Pennsylvania State Capitol

103-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-0750