The Food Stamp Program
Our #1 Defense Against Hunger
by Abby Youngblood

As the holiday season rolls around, many schools are hosting canned food drives and preparing Thanksgiving baskets. National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week will take place on November 17-23. On November 22, people across Pennsylvania will participate in FoodStock 2002, a statewide effort to raise awareness about hunger in our communities and provide food pantries and soup kitchens with support to feed the hungry.
 
In my home city of Philadelphia, I have witnessed the rising demand for food. Coordinators of food cupboards and soup kitchens are feeding more people than ever before. Yet, participation in the federal Food Stamp Program has dropped by 30% since 1996, and it is not because there are fewer hungry people.
 
So why is it that our soup kitchens and food banks are being flooded with people in need of food, when the number of people enrolled for the Food Stamp Program is dropping?  In 1996, with the advent of welfare reform, thousands of people became ineligible for cash assistance. What they did not realize, however, is that they might still be eligible for the Food Stamp Program, even if they now work. Minimum wage jobs simply do not pay enough for families to meet all of their expenses. Many people simply do not realize that they are eligible for food stamps, especially the working poor. The Food Stamp Program remains stigmatized and the application process can be intimidating and confusing.
 
While it can be gratifying to give food to others as volunteers at soup kitchens and food cupboards, we must also dedicate our time and energy to ensure that every person who is entitled to Food Stamp benefits is actually receiving them. In Philadelphia alone, there are 90,000 people who are eligible for food stamps, but NOT enrolled!
 
Food Stamp Basics
Food stamps come in the form of an access card, or EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card. They can be used just like a debit card to purchase food items at supermarkets and grocery stores. The next time you visit a grocery store, check for the EBT symbol on the card swipe. Households can apply for food stamps benefits at their local County Assistance office.
 
The Food Stamp program is our nation’s number one defense against hunger. Nationally, the Food Stamp Program serves an average of 17 million people per month, with an average benefit of $75 per person. Families who receive food stamps can improve the nutritional value of their diets and redirect money to meet other essential needs such as day care, transportation and shelter. Food stamps also provide families with a choice of what they eat, since they can be used in supermarkets and grocery stores.
 
How To Get Involved  
Awareness raising events such as FoodStock 2002 and the National Hunger and Homelessness Week are a great place to start, but we can go a step further to ensure that food is a basic human right. The Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign is an ideal service-learning project for students and teachers. This campaign, initiated by the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, provides low-income households with the information they need to enroll in the Food Stamp Program. With the support of student volunteers, schools,colleges and community-based organizations, we can help families receive the food they are entitled to.
 
Here’s what you can do:
 
1.  Teach Students About Hunger Teachers can integrate hunger awareness, including a discussion of the Food Stamp Program, into the classroom. The KNOW HUNGER curriculum is an excellent reference to teach students about hunger. To learn more, go to the KNOW HUNGER website at http://www.imakenews.com/psla/www.knowhunger.org.

2.  Provide Families with Information about Food Stamps Students can do outreach to help families find out about food stamps. PHENND can provide you with sample materials and information about food stamps to post in your school and community. Students can also include information about food stamps in Thanksgiving Day baskets. The USDA also has informational materials about the Food Stamp Program. Go to the USDA website at http://www.imakenews.com/psla/www.fns.usda.gov/fspto learn more.

3.  Write Letters to Your Elected Representatives Students can engage in direct advocacy and letter writing to improve the effectiveness of the Food Stamp Program. Students can send ideas to the governor, such as suggesting a name change to reduce the stigma associated with the Food Stamp Program. PA Hunger Action can provide you with information about current legislation that relates to hunger issues. Contact Barry Friesen at pahunger@paonline.com or go to their website at http://www.pahunger.org/ to learn more about letter writing.

4.  Recruit Volunteers for the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign Teachers and students can establish a site within the community where families can find out if they are eligible for food stamps and get help with the application process. Your school might be the ideal location.
 
Please contact PHENND if you and your class are interested in participating in the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign, or if you would like to learn more about this program:

Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND)
3451 Walnut Street, Suite P-117
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204
(215) 573-2379 ph
(215) 573-1134 fax

http:/www.upenn.edu/ccp/PHENND.html