Tough Thanksgiving for Food Stamp Families

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/177403/tough-thanksgiving-food-stamp-families


A volunteer at St. Ignatius Food Pantry in Chicago restocks items as individuals and families in need visit the facility. More than 2 million low-income Illinois residents who receive food stamps will soon see their benefits cut. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Forget conservative fantasies of food stamp beneficiaries living high on the public dole and feasting on king crab legs—life on food stamps is anything but luxurious.

The average daily food stamp benefit is $4.44, which as you might imagine is almost unworkable. It’s very difficult for beneficiaries not to go over that amount each day, and data collected by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that 90 percent of benefits are redeemed by the twenty-first day of each month. So the last week of the month is particularly rough for people who rely on food stamps:




That’s worth reflecting on during this Thanksgiving week—a holiday known almost exclusively for its food, and one that always falls during the last week of the month. Having anything resembling a proper Thanksgiving meal on $4.44 per person is already basically impossible, and most beneficiaries are over-budget by this point anyhow.

Remember, too, that on November 1 food stamp benefits were reduced thanks to indifference by both Democrats and Republicans towards the already paltry benefit amount. So this Thanksgiving is even tougher than years’ past, and the upcoming winter months will be as well. Nonprofits that serve the hungry are buckling under increased demand.

[Th1onein]

1. I know a family who got their food stamps cut just in time for T-Day.

What does that say about us as a nation? It's pitiful that we can spend millions on weapons to kill people in other countries, but we resent food for our own families. I am NOT proud to be an American anymore.

[TBF]

2. But the billionaires need multiple residences,

private planes, and yachts. It's the American way!

[Johonny]

3. I can't understand how my friends that talk the most about family values and god

are the happiest when things like Food Stamps get cut. Not only are they happy they expect a thank you from the hungry people for helping to teach them a lesson. It makes me ill.

[Th1onein]

4. And they're the first ones in line at Walmart to get those Black Friday deals on JUNK.

Truly, they are in the spirit of "giving." It makes me sick, too.