Taking a stand against hunger

Udubbers attempt to walk a mile in the shoes of a food stamp recipient by living on $21 for a week

Staring on Sunday, October 5th, a team of United Way employees and volunteers will take part in a $21 food stamp challenge to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in our region. Every month, more than 456,000 Massachusetts residents use food stamps to buy food, and the average benefit per person is -roughly- $1 per meal. Yes, you read correctly: $21 for a week of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

With households struggling to meet their nutritional needs on a $21 budget, it is no surprise that a 2007 report by the Sodexho Foundation estimated the economic cost of hunger in Massachusetts at $1.3 billon. The report aggregated the dollars spent on charitable donations, the cost of reduced productivity, and the health care expenses associated with hunger and food insecurity.

The 2007 Farm Bill reauthorized (and re-branded as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)) the food stamp program, and its new policies included an increase in the minimum monthly benefit ($14) indexed for inflation. Nevertheless, a brand new report from C-SNAP at Boston Medical Center reveals that food stamp benefits don’t go the distance to support the nutritional needs of our families. As a matter of fact, even families receiving the maximum food stamp benefit would have to spend an additional $2,250 in Boston annually to purchase the Thrifty Food Plan (the diet upon which food stamp benefits are based).

As food and energy costs rise and the economy continues in decline, we are very concerned about low-income families' ability to provide enough healthy food for their children. We are taking this challenge with them in mind, and we invite you to join us. We also welcome your thoughts and comments, and encourage you to GIVE, ADVOCATE, and VOLUNTEER in your community to end hunger.

The rules are simple:

Each person should only spend a total of $21 on food and beverages during the Challenge week.
All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, including fast food and dining out must be included in the total spending.
During the Challenge, only eat food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments.)
Avoid accepting free food from friends, family or at work.
Keep track of receipts of food spending and take note of your experiences throughout the week.

You can add your experiences to the blog posts that will go up about the challenge, or email me about posting your own blog entry. You may find it difficult to complete the Challenge due to schedule or limited budget, but it will be still be important and worthwhile to track your experiences. Please join us!

Before I even start, this is time-consuming!

Submitted by Elizabeth Curtis on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 3:19pm.

Paola, Thanks for writing this up and helping us understand the facts on Food Stamps. In preparation for the start of the challenge Sunday I did some food price research online today. I'm embarrassed to admit that I spent about 2 hours of my work day (I know, I should've done it at home - sorry!) figuring out what I would be able to buy and still get a marginally healthy diet. I'll fill everyone in later about what I buy, but so far this is not easy!

Sharon ate mystery meat

Submitted by Meghan Keaney on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 9:16am.

And I quote: "I could not leave it... it was so cheap."

Food stamps figures

Submitted by Michelle (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 3:35pm.

Out of curiosity, where are you getting the figure of 21 dollars a week? I am currently an AmeriCorps VISTA, receive 105% of the poverty wage, live in Boston, and get around 35 dollars a week (the minimum amount for a single person household)... are you averaging all of Massachusetts and not just Suffolk County?

Food stamp figures

Submitted by Paola Ferrer on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 6:50pm.

Dear Michelle,

The $21 per week figure we have used for the challenge is a national figure. The 2007 figures in Massachusetts reveal that the average here is closer to $.96 per person/per meal. You can look at the most current figures on the USDA website here: http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/18fsavgben.htm.

The minimum amount for a single person household is actually $14 (increased from $10 as of the 2007 Farm Bill). At 105% of poverty, you seem to be closer to the maximum benefit of $176.

Massresource.com has a great explanation on how allotments are calculated. See: http://www.massresources.org/pages.cfm?contentID=12&pageID=3%20&subpages=yes&dynamicID=310

Thanks for your interest on our blog (and for serving on AmeriCorps!). Let us know if you have other questions.

paola

Supplemental Nutrition

Submitted by Paola Ferrer on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 1:41pm.

I wanted to address some of the comments/concerns I have read related to our food stamp challenge...

Just as the new program name suggests, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is meant to be a supplement to a household's food expenditures. Nevertheless, it is important to note that fixed standard deductions and minimum benefit provisions (from the 1996 welfare law) eroded the purchasing power of the benefit more and more each year (because these were not indexed for inflation). Luckily, some of these concerns were addressed in the 2007 Farm Bill.

However, between February of 2007 and February 2008, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) revealed a 5.1 increase in the price of all food as retailers continue to pass on commodity and energy costs to consumers through higher retail prices. To give you an idea, the price of milk has risen by 17%, rice and pasta by 13%, cheese by 15%, and bread by 12% (according to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)). At this rate of inflation, households will have to spend far more than what the program guidelines anticipate -30% of income- just to buy the very basic "Thifty Food Plan" (TFP), which is the most frugal basket of foods and serves as the basis for the food stamp program. It is also worth to mention that the TFP is not even recommended as a long-term diet, because it fails to meet nutritional needs (FRAC).

The TFP encourages meal planning, doing price comparisons, and buying in bulk. I agree that these are good tips, but what do you do when you have, for instance, a household of one, don't have a car, live in a small apartment, work long hours, etc.? These are issues worth considering when looking at the big picture.

I've also read some comments related to eligibililty for other programs. True. Food Stamp eligible households may be eligible for other income supports such as utility discounts and fuel assistance (note: with the price of heating oil up 176%, gas 69%, and electricity 34% these don't go too far either). Other programs, however, have narrower guidelines (i.e. WIC is only available for income eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under 5) and leave out other vulnerable households.

I am the first to admit that our formula is not scientific, and that averages skew the numbers, but I think that -no matter how you look at it- people in our own back yard are experiencing hunger, food insecurity, and, soon enough, bitter cold weather.

Food Stamps are supplemental

Submitted by JJ (not verified) on Fri, 10/24/2008 - 11:45am.

I can appreciate all that has been written. I agree, no one can survive on $21 per week. I think there is a misunderstanding that Food Stamps are supposed to provide all of the food for a household each month. The Food Stamp program is meant to be a supplemental nutrtion program for families. The idea is that is not the only source for families and eligibiltiy for food stamps is based on many things. The benefit ranges based on income and other criteria.
For more information on what this benefit is intended to do and what the criteria is, anyone may contact the Department of Transitional Assistance Food Stamp Program (now known as SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Program).

SNAP

Submitted by Paola Ferrer on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 3:46pm.

Dear JJ,

Thanks for your comment, and -most importantly- for encouraging people to contact the DTA to learn more about their own eligibility (call the DTA Application Information Unit at (866) 950-FOOD). There is also a host of community based agencies authorized to submit applications via the web, or you can submit your own application by visiting the DTA website.

I am optimistic that the 2007 improvements to the Farm Bill will go a long way to avoid further erosion of the SNAP benefits, but we must acknowledge that the buying power of the foods stamps is not what it used to be and is insufficient to meet the needs of families... even as a supplement.