The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been operating for over 145 days without a budget. As a direct result of this impasse, organizations, school districts, and counties have been forced to cut services, lay off critical staff, double their caseloads, and go to extreme measure to continue operations.
Today, November 23, 2015, a strong coalition of nonprofits and school districts are collectively telling our stories in a statewide, one-day campaign – Stand for Pennsylvanians. Over 100 organizations – representing 27 counties – are participating. These organizations include multiple associations and funders who collectively represent over 700 additional agencies and thousands of Pennsylvania residents living throughout the Commonwealth.
The Stand for Pennsylvanians Day Campaign is a project organized by the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the United Way of Pennsylvania, the Adams County Community Foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundation, the PA State Alliance of YMCAs, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania and a growing group of nonprofits and schools districts.
We at United Way of Bucks County support Stand for Pennsylvanians Day because we care about our schools, our communities – and the thousands of people served by nonprofits here in Bucks County.
Each day, nonprofits in Bucks County protect, feed, heal, shelter, educate, and nurture people who need care. Without a budget our most vulnerable individuals and families will go without services. We should be doing everything in our power to stop this.
The time has come for consensus. Pennsylvanians must come together from all sides to negotiate and pass a final responsible budget for all Pennsylvanians now.