HARRISBURG — As families gather this week for Thanksgiving dinner, 870 organizations representing all 67 counties are asking elected leaders to remember those in need by continuing efforts to rebuild Pennsylvania’s most important anti-hunger programs in the 2017-18 budget.

In a letter delivered Tuesday to Gov. Tom Wolf, the groups urge increases in the State Food Purchase Program, which provides cash grants to counties for the purchase and distribution of food to low-income individuals, and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, which redirects millions of pounds of Pennsylvania-grown fruits and vegetables to nutritious family meals.

The administration currently is putting together its proposed 2017-18 budget to unveil Feb. 7.

Last year, the General Assembly and administration enacted a 4.1 percent increase in the state’s anti-hunger programs — one of the most significant gains in years. Yet, even with the increase, funding for SFPP is still below its 2006-07 levels, despite a growing need. In 2006-07, the state allotted $18.75 million for SFPP. But now, a full decade later, funding for SFPP is even lower, at $18.188 million.