What Everyone Gets Wrong About Food Stamps

[tecelote]

[Newest Reality]

1. I know from experience.

It can be a real weight loss program, that's for sure.

The thing is, I have never seen or heard of a COLA for SNAP, (notice the wording SUPPLEMENTAL) and that has been for years now. That means, as you go to the store and notice the steady, year-by-year increase in the price of food, the purchasing power of SNAP goes down, and down, and down.

So, this crap about getting people off it belies the fact that it needs to have increases to keep up. Oh, but...STRATEGY!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Very informative and also heartbreaking. K&R. n/t

[alwaysinasnit]

3. Stark reality. Thanks for posting.

[LeftofObama]

4. This message needs to be spread far and wide.

I've been volunteering at my local food bank for a while now. If I live to be 100 I'll never for get my first day there. I escorted a 10 year old boy through the line to help him get food for his family. I had a lump in my throat the entire time I was helping him, but I tried to laugh with him so I wouldn't break down crying. That same day I helped a military veteran who appeared to be in his late 30's to early 40's. I wish for just one minute people could see the look on his face. He was trying desperately to hold on to the last ounce of pride he had left. I helped him take the food to his car and when he left I had to take a break. I sat in my car and cried like a baby.

When I went home that night I literally cried myself to sleep knowing that people are hurting and all I can do about it is volunteer. Now I put in about 20-30 hours a week stocking shelves and keeping a running inventory of the canned goods we have on hand at the food bank. I have to treat my volunteer job like a regular job just to keep from dwelling on the fact that people are suffering so badly.

I would encourage everyone to volunteer for just one day at your local food bank just to see the misery that the 1% have inflicted on the less fortunate.

[handmade34]

5. an example...

my son receives food stamps (max amount for single person: about $6 a day and the only assistance for a single male)... he was a self-employed builder until he had an accident a couple of months ago and suffered a pretty significant brain injury... he wants desperately to work again but struggles to do even the easiest job... and has to rest (involuntary- he just falls asleep periodically) often during the day... it will take a long time to heal, if ever

everyone has a story and to judge harshly is unfair and wrong

[mahina]

6. Wishing you all comfort and peace.

Aloha Handmade34

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. I have done volunteer work at a local homeless shelter,

working in their kitchen, preparing and serving food. It is actually a very gratifying job because the people we serve are extremely grateful for the meals.

Here's another aspect that is rarely considered. Some of those on food stamps might well be homeless, or have a precarious living situation that they can't really cook from scratch or store leftovers. If you can do that (which I can) my food costs can be pretty low. But if you can't, you're at the mercy of prepared foods and they are far more expensive.

[sandensea]

8. Far too much racism and self-righteousness around this issue, as far as voter perceptions go.

Courtesy of the GOPee.

Thank you for posting this, tecelote. Informative and compelling.