Pennsylvania families confront rising costs at pop-up affordability events

MomsRising Together and Pennsylvanians Together in Action held lemonade stand events across Pennsylvania to spotlight how rising costs are squeezing family budgets. The campaign paired local stories with lawmakers’ voting records as organizers pushed Republicans in key districts on affordability.

Why it matters: - Seven in 10 Pennsylvanians are struggling to afford at least one basic need, including housing, food, health care or child care. - Rising costs are forcing families into tradeoffs between essentials such as groceries, gas, medicine and child care. - Organizers say the affordability squeeze is tied to policy choices in Washington and Harrisburg.

What happened: - MomsRising Together and Pennsylvanians Together in Action set up pop-up “Pennsylvania Feels the Squeeze” lemonade stands last week in Langhorne, Harrisburg, Scranton and Bethlehem. - The events invited local families to share how higher prices are affecting their budgets. - Each stop featured a giant “receipt” comparing the campaign pledges of U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Scott Perry, Rob Bresnahan and Ryan McKenzie with their voting records.

The details: - Karen Showalter, MomsRising Together senior director for Pennsylvania, said members face impossible choices between healthy food and gas, or doctor visits and child care. - Showalter said Republican lawmakers have cut taxes for billionaires and giant corporations, raised food and energy costs, and reduced funding for health care and SNAP. - Felicity Williams, executive director of Pennsylvanians Together In Action, said the events connect everyday costs to policy decisions in Washington. - The campaign is part of Economic Security Project Action’s “The Price Is High” Week of Action, held Sept. 23-30. - The Week of Action is a coordinated affordability-focused accountability push in key competitive districts nationwide. - In Pennsylvania, the average annual cost of child care for two young children is $27,400. - The average monthly price of health insurance is $555, up nearly 26% since 2025. - The average electricity bill is $209. - Estimated average monthly grocery costs are $1,130.

Between the lines: - The lemonade stands turn a kitchen-table affordability story into a political accountability campaign. - By pairing personal testimony with voting records, organizers are trying to make cost-of-living pressures more concrete for voters. - The focus on competitive congressional districts suggests the campaign is aimed at shaping pressure ahead of future elections.

What's next: - MomsRising Together said it will continue mobilizing across Pennsylvania to inform residents about the cuts and cost increases it attributes to Republican lawmakers. - The broader affordability campaign is expected to continue through similar events and accountability efforts in targeted districts.