From Lisa Barnes
I participated in last year’s Hunger Challenge led by the San Francisco Food Bank. I didn’t realize how many were effected overall and especially in San Francisco. We know what an expensive place this is to live, but there is the assumption that those living here are doing well. Not so, as 1 in 4 San Francisco children lack regular access to food they need to learn, grow, & have a healthy start in life and 60% of the clients served by The San Francisco Food Bank are working families. This year when asked to participate I’ve learned the numbers of those served is even higher and over 34 million people in the U.S. received food stamps in April 2009, up about 20% over April 2008.
While the numbers have increased, thankfully so has the amount given to food stamp recipients. Last year the average family living on food stamps has just $1 per person to spend on each meal (example my family of four would have $4 total per meal). So the challenge was to try spending just $3 per day on food (per person in your household). This year the amount has been increased to $4 per day, or about $1.33 per meal. Thus $4 x 7 = $28 per person for the week. Thus a family of four would get $4 x 28 = $112. This increase is good for my own family’s challenge since my family’s appetite and food bills have increased as my children get older (now ages 3 and 6). There’s no factor for age. I can imagine this is quite a bit harder for a family with a few teenagers. Unfortunately the increase is due to a stimulus bill that is only temporary (through December 2010).
Keep reading at Lisa’s new blog→
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