Food Stamp Recipients Pinched by High Food Prices

[audtatious]

Danielle Brown stands outside a South Side market at midnight, braving the spring chill for her first chance to buy groceries since her food stamps ran out nearly two weeks ago.



For days, Brown said, she has been turning cans of "whatever we got in the cabinet" into breakfast, lunch and dinner for her children, ages 1 and 3.

"Ain't got no food left, the kids are probably hungry," said Brown, a 23-year-old single mother who relies heavily on her $312 monthly allotment of food stamps — a ration adjusted just once a year, in October.

This is what the skyrocketing cost of food looks like at street level: Poor people whose food stamps don't buy as much as they once did rushing into a store in the dead of night, filling shopping carts with cereal, eggs and milk so their kids can wake up on the first day of the month to a decent meal.

"People with incomes below the poverty threshold are in dire straits because not only are food prices increasing but the food stamps they are receiving have not increased," said Dr. John Cook, an associate professor at Boston University's medical school who has studied the food stamp program, particularly how it affects children.

On the South Side of Chicago, people like Brown wait for the stroke of midnight, when one month gives way to another and brings a new allotment of food stamps.

"I'm telling you, by the end of the month they're just dying to get back to the first," said Kladis, who has watched other area stores follow his lead. "Obviously, they are struggling to get through the month."

Jean Daniel, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department, which runs the food stamp program, said there is only so much the aid can do.

"Food stamps were designed to be a supplement to the food budget," she said. They "were never intended to be the entire budget."

As prices rise, the number of Americans relying on food stamps has also climbed by 6.1 percent in the past year, increasing from 26.1 million in February 2007 to 27.7 million in February this year. The sputtering economy, persistent unemployment and the mortgage crisis have all contributed to the increase. The Agriculture Department expects the overall number of participants to reach 28 million next year.

For Lynda Wheeler, who receives $281 in food stamps each month, the rhythm of life has been one of shopping for food, running out of food and then turning to churches, food pantries and friends for help. And all the while, she is doing things like cutting milk with water to make it last a bit longer.

"You get it on the first and it runs out by the 14th and 15th," said Wheeler, a single mom who brought her 14-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter shopping at midnight with the Link card, the Illinois version of food stamps.

Because food stamp allotments are adjusted every fall based on the federal food inflation rate, recipients are months away from getting any relief. But even when that relief comes, advocates said, it won't come close to keeping pace with rising costs.

The consumer price index for food rose 5 percent last year, the highest gain in nearly two decades. It is especially grim news for the poor.

Start with milk. Between March 2007 and this year, a gallon of milk jumped from just over $3 a gallon to nearly $3.80, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the same period, eggs climbed from about $1.60 a dozen to $2.20. Bread, chicken and tomatoes are all more expensive than last year.

Just last summer, the maximum food stamp payment — $542 a month for a family of four with a gross annual income of no more than $26,856 — was enough to cover the USDA's "thrifty food plan," a bare-bones diet that meets minimal nutritional needs. Studies show that allotment now falls about $25 short, Cook said.

And just getting to the store is a lot more expensive. Since October, the cost of gas has shot up nationally from $2.70 a gallon to $3.62, according to the Lundberg Survey, a petroleum market research firm.

If the USDA pulls $1.7 billion from a contingency fund of $6 billion this year to support the food stamp program, as it expects to do, that would be the largest withdrawal since $2 billion was pulled out after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

On Thursday, the Senate passed a five-year, $300 billion farm bill that includes $200 billion for nutrition programs such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy. Daniel said it was too early to say how that will affect benefits to food stamp recipients, and she knew of no provision in the bill to make the annual adjustment before the fall.

Diane Doherty, executive director of the Illinois Hunger Coalition, said she's seeing people more frantic for food than ever.

"The level of desperation is just frightening," she said. "People are calling, saying they have no idea what they are going to do."

But even as demand is rising, many food pantries nationwide have been forced to cut back on the amount of food given to individual families because higher fuel costs and commodity prices have sliced into private donations to the pantries.

For now, many of the needy, including many in Kladis' store pushing carts laden with soda pop, bags of cookies and chips — much of it cheaper than healthier food — are doing what they can to stretch their shrinking buying power.

"The bottom line is, a mother trying to feed her kids is not really picky about what she puts in their bellies," said Dan Gibbons, executive director of the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation. "She just wants them full."

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/D...72598

[audtatious]

So, I see they are eating charcoal or is that for the steaks? She sure don't look anorexic to me.

"persistent unemployment and the mortgage crisis have all contributed to the increase"....Huh? 5% unemployment is persistent (it just dropped again). Did these people have mortgages? I doubt it if they are relying 100% on food stamps for food. Where's the babies daddies?

Call me Mr Negativity.....

[AZhitman]

Since when is soda, cookies and snacks cheaper than healthy food?

Morons.

Learn to cook, and you can feed a family of 5 on less than $250 a month. I should know, I did it for years.

Remember kids - Laziness is not your fault, the gubmint will fix it. As soon as we get a Democrat in the White House.

[smockers83]

I don't think charcoal is covered under the program. If it is, it would be because its a method for cooking...I'm not exactly sure how the program works. They're probably bigger because of the unhealthy, cheaper food they're eating.

I think they mentioned the mortgage crisis as a reason for growth in enrollment. I'm not too sure on unemployment though, for how "unhealthy" the economy is and how long we've been talking about it, unemployment has remained pretty low nationwide. But employment is a lagging statistic so we may see more unemployment coming up, who knows.

[Sil40_Mayhem]

Let's see, ramen noodles at $0.10 to $0.15 per pack, by 1/2 pack per child and 1 pack for adults...

[rn79870]

You can easily feed a family of three on $300 a month. Of course, you'll have to bake, and cook, and fore go convenience foods, but that's work. That's 10 bucks a day. It may not be steak and lobster, but you can make it last the month, IF you're willing to put a little effort into cooking that is.

[audtatious]

They're probably bigger because of the unhealthy, cheaper food they're eating.

soda, chips and cookies are "cheap foods"? For the price of a 12-pack you can have a few gallons of Kool Aide or, better yet, a gallon and a half of Crystal Light. Chips run around $4 bux and a kid can go through them in a couple hours and still want to eat dinner. Cookies? Please....

That $7 charcoal and the stack of microwave dinners in her hand could go for a decent meal that would last a couple days.

[AZhitman]

I'll bet she has no idea that a pot of beans and a ham hock is nutritious, tasty, and will feed 5 people for 2 nights for a couple bucks.

Too busy stuffing her fat face with Ho-Ho's and Diet Pepsi.

[audtatious]

Plus, with a bad lighter and a hose inserted in the anus you have a natural lighter afterwards

[ArizonaG35]

This is Horse $hit! I've busted my A$$ my entire life to get what I have... no handouts whatsoever. I've paid for my own schooling, living expenses and bills ON MY OWN without any government assistance... they can do the same. These programs are designed to "Supplement" someone who is in a temporary financial strain. This is not the free food country!

I make a healthy 6 figure income and I don't even get the luxury of some of these people. My wife and I (mostly my wife) are very frugal with our finances... This poor economy has gotten so bad that we are having a hard time making DOUBLE our mortgage payment and save about 35% of our income like we always do! We save every extra penny we get to make ourselves more financially independant and these gubmit drainers are getting name brand food! BS! I make a very healthy living, but I don't get to buy Kingsford Charcoal! I have to buy the off brand crap that takes 20 minutes to light and I end up with no knuckle hair! I don't get to buy Kraft cheese! I have to buy the Kroger $hit that burns through my cheap a$$ bread when I try to make a grilled cheese sandwich! But I deal with it... My wife and I feed each other very comfortably for about $250 a month... if we can do it... so can they!

These pics were all provided from state food stamp agency websites.... notice how they are all buying NAME BRAND CRAP.... BS!!!!!!!!!

No Kraft cheese for you sister! Keep moving down the line to the $.25 cheese!

SPRITE?!?!?! You gotta be kidding me... maybe if you fed those little kids less sprite, you wouldn't have to buy the 3,000 pack of huggies now would you sun yi?!?! And don't even get me started on the Oil of Olay... You're asian for christ sakes... your skin is smooth enough as it is!

This looks better than half the $hit in my cupboard! Tropicana OJ?!?!?! C'mon... buy the cheap stuff... I don't even get Tropicana!

French Bread! Ooh La la Ms. fancy pants... Go back to France for your uppedy bread!

Now this chick is just too good looking to be on food stamps... with a body like that, she could have a good career in prostitution and make decent money! "why don't you come over here and touch my pear sweetheart"

This one is like the woman on the left is trying to explain to the woman on the right what "Milk" is... and the woman on the right is about to punch her in the face and say "I may be mexican but I know what milk is you bich!"

I'm going to run off and go to hell now... anyone want me to save them a seat?

Dave

[AZhitman]

Dave, you rule the entire universe today.

Thanks for the LOL.

[audtatious]

I feel ya. Work your azz off to the point you have no bills only to be penalized and taxed more for it, thus you have to work even harder to go in the direction you were going.

[smockers83]

soda, chips and cookies are "cheap foods"?

Pop is an easy alternative to milk and with today's milk prices, pop is cheaper than a gallon of milk. On sale, you can get 2 24-packs of Coke for $9 or the equivalent of 4.5 gallons of milk, and at $3/gallon (which is on the low side), costs $13.50. Koolaide is just as bad for you.

I'll bet she has no idea that a pot of beans and a ham hock is nutritious, tasty, and will feed 5 people for 2 nights for a couple bucks.

Too busy stuffing her fat face with Ho-Ho's and Diet Pepsi.

That brings up the other problem of parent education of healthy foods. They don't know about Crystal Light and other good alternatives. And some of these people don't have a lot of time to cook as they probably work 2 or 3 jobs.

Evidence again of a dual economy.

[wawazat8402]

Pop is an easy alternative to milk and with today's milk prices, pop is cheaper than a gallon of milk. On sale, you can get 2 24-packs of Coke for $9 or the equivalent of 4.5 gallons of milk, and at $3/gallon (which is on the low side), costs $13.50. Koolaide is just as bad for you.

You know what we drank when my dad was busting his *** doing construction work and trying to study for fire dept entry exams? It was a lot healthier and cheaper than any of that stuff. I think it was called water and it had a never ending supply at home. I think people forgot the stuff they run over their sink full of dishes is also safe to drink and cures thirst quite effectively.

That brings up the other problem of parent education of healthy foods. They don't know about Crystal Light and other good alternatives. And some of these people don't have a lot of time to cook as they probably work 2 or 3 jobs.

We had another thing that was awesome at helping mom multi-task while she was being a waitress. It allowed her to have food ready for everyone when they got home from work/school and it made cheap food like beans, rice, roast, etc taste awesome. Crock pots are the ****.

I just dont buy all these excuses about why the people in line with food stamps were allowed to have 8 candy bars, soda, chips, etc while we were actually putting a lot of effort into not adding another burden to society.

Make classes mandatory for everyone that teach them about personal finance and budgeting, cooking enough food for the family for the week on the amount of money they spend on cigarettes and ho-hos.

Also, make food stamps coupons and not money to go buy stuff. They get their portion of dried rice in bulk, veggies, and other things you actually dont need a microwave to prepare. Our country would be a lot healthier and a lot less dependent on the middle-class being forced to provide for the lazy career welfare recipients.

[smockers83]

We had another thing that was awesome at helping mom multi-task while she was being a waitress. It allowed her to have food ready for everyone when they got home from work/school and it made cheap food like beans, rice, roast, etc taste awesome. Crock pots are the ****.

I just dont buy all these excuses about why the people in line with food stamps were allowed to have 8 candy bars, soda, chips, etc while we were actually putting a lot of effort into not adding another burden to society.

That wasn't necessarily my point. My point was geared more towards frozen foods. Its food, its cheap, its easy, but unhealthy. How many people know how unhealthy it is? I'm not making excuses for candy and chips, but pop has taken over milk nationwide, which is why I brought that up.

[audtatious]

Pop is an easy alternative to milk and with today's milk prices, pop is cheaper than a gallon of milk. On sale, you can get 2 24-packs of Coke for $9 or the equivalent of 4.5 gallons of milk, and at $3/gallon (which is on the low side), costs $13.50. Koolaide is just as bad for you.

Kool Aid would be for the kids. Adults can drink water You can also get whole milk and cut it down with water to make it like skim milk.

That brings up the other problem of parent education of healthy foods. They don't know about Crystal Light and other good alternatives. And some of these people don't have a lot of time to cook as they probably work 2 or 3 jobs.

Evidence again of a dual economy.

You assume they work 2-3 jobs wheras we assume they don't. Neither is right nor wrong

[wawazat8402]

Why cant kids drink water? I never understood this when my cousins came over. I was 12 before I ever drank anything other than water or frozen orange juice. I think most people today that drink nothing but pop were raised drinking nothing but that crap.

[smockers83]

Kool Aid would be for the kids. Adults can drink water You can also get whole milk and cut it down with water to make it like skim milk.

You assume they work 2-3 jobs wheras we assume they don't. Neither is right nor wrong

Right, but Kool Aid is still bad for them. All it is is sugar, just like pop. And the H2O and milk, haha, that doesn't work. I didn't assume all work 2-3 jobs, hence the word "some".

Why cant kids drink water? I never understood this when my cousins came over. I was 12 before I ever drank anything other than water or frozen orange juice. I think most people today that drink nothing but pop were raised drinking nothing but that crap.

Because plain water is advertised as something not cool to drink anymore. Its flavored water, pop, sports drinks, and "health" water. I beg to differ that most people today that drink nothing but pop were raised that way. Both my brothers and my friends that do so were raised otherwise. They're all addicted to the caffeine. Water is healthy for you, but in different ways than juice, milk, and what not.

[audtatious]

Right, but Kool Aid is still bad for them. All it is is sugar, just like pop. And the H2O and milk, haha, that doesn't work. I didn't assume all work 2-3 jobs, hence the word "some".

Everything is "bad" for them. My generation grew up with Kool Aide and we are still around. Of course, we didn't sit on our butts all day but were outside playing so today it probably is not as good for kids. Whole milk mixed with some water is pretty much like skim milk (lol). When I mention water I mean tap water, not some sugar-laced sports crap.

I don't assume all sit around without jobs either.

[wawazat8402]

I think a different type of class requirement for everyone could help this situation a lot. It would need to be started in the latter part of elementary and middle school, so the kids haven't become too "cool" to learn yet.

It could be a combination of personal finance and smart shopping/cooking. I think a lot of the people in these situations waiting for the new deposit into their welfare acct honestly have no idea about cooking on the cheap and shopping smart. Odds are good their parent/s didnt know or didnt take the time to pass the information along. By teaching younger kids that are still excited to learn how to do things and havent formed bad habits yet, the practices may even be carried home and shared with the parents that are no longer in school.

[smockers83]

Agreed on the skim milk and classes haha. In middle school I took a cooking class, probably one of the most fun classes I took, unless you take out all of the screwing around we did. I love food so I like to make it, especially on the grill...so I have to buy the Kingsford. And partially because Kingsford charcoal started about an hour away from where I grew up.