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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow many of your local food banks are having this problem since the cut in SNAP funds?
Is there some collection point to throw this back at Congress? This House is just disgusting. How do you actively vote to allow hunger to increase and spread?
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Food-Pantry-Demand-Up-as-Benefit-Cuts-Take-Hold-233387371.html
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- Food pantries call this time of year the giving season as many groups conduct food drives to fill shelves. But it may take more giving than usual to meet some of the increased demand.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients saw a 13.6 percent cut in benefits beginning the first of November. For a family of four, on whats still largely called food stamps, the reduction adds up to $36.00 per month. And fewer federal dollars is starting to have an impact on area food banks. One organizer summed it updemand the last few weeks is up and donations havent kept pace. Now the concern is whether this is a temporary blip as families adjust to the reductions or whether its the new normal that food pantries will have to meet in the future.
At the Linn Community Food Bank, a normal day usually means serving 12 to 20 families. But since the SNAP reductions took effect on November 1st, that daily number is closer to 35.
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Last year we did 11,300 people. Were already at 13,000 right now. I anticipate the end of this month and next month well be close to 14,000. Were growing about 20-25 percent a year, DeWolf said.
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kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)People criticize the poor for eating non-nutrious food but poor families are stuck with trying give their children something that will make them full on one meal a day. Active children burn calories quickly.
I wonder if people could be donated Boost or Ensure if that would increase nutrition for these families? Elderly folks in my family seem to thrive on almost nothing but these protein drinks. In fact, they are pretty healthy eating oatmeal, yogurt, and Boost almost everyday. The drinks are gluten and lactose free. I wonder if Schools would do better for poor kids if they gave them a bottle of Boost twice a week?
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)picked up extras for the food bank. They said that they are having a hard time keeping up with demands.