Sunday, November 29, 2009

Food stamp use increasing

The NYTimes' Jason DeParle and Robert Gebeloff report on the increased use of food stamps in America since the economy tanked:

With food stamp use at record highs and climbing every month, a program once scorned as a failed welfare scheme now helps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children.

This interactive map shows that in New Haven county, 10% of us use food stamps. And that's a 20% increase in the past two years.

Tim White

6 comments:

franciscan friend said...

One of the TV networks ran a story about middle-class folks in Branford having to use soup kitchens to feed their families. These are people who've worked all their lives but got laid off.

In some places, working middle-class families are living in their cars or tents. They have jobs, but cannot afford rent or mortgages.

There's plenty of blame to go around to politicians of both parties for this mess. But I hope we'll also consider how our parents and grandparents survived the Depression.

They pulled together as families. They learned to make due with less, and to be thankful for what little they had. Most relied upon God to help them get by.

And they reached out to help their neighbors. Some of the most generous people then and now are those who have the least to give.

Maybe this Christmas we'll rediscover the true meanings of the holiday ("holy day") -- family, simpler living, generousity, thankfulness, and God's grace to those who ask.

We have hungry neighbors right here in Cheshire. Maybe we can buy one less piece of junk this Christmas, and instead give to groups like the Cheshire Food Bank.

Anonymous said...

"We have hungry neighbors right here in Cheshire. Maybe we can buy one less piece of junk this Christmas, and instead give to groups like the Cheshire Food Bank."

The turf is junk. $525K buys a lot of food for the hungry.

Anonymous said...

so TRUE, so self-evident:

"The turf is junk. $525K buys a lot of food for the hungry."

Breachway said...

The turf is junk. $525K buys a lot of food for the hungry.

Right on....When I went home for Thanksgiving, I have found that many of my old friends are poaching deer to help offset food costs.....there was venison every where I went....they all have middle class type of jobs...

Anonymous said...

Maybe the State can refurbish the prison ward being closed down into a food stamp distribution center. How would that look for Cheshire.

Anonymous said...

maybe elim park can pay the 600,000 in taxes they owe the town.