$21.00 FOOD STAMP CHALLENGE

Four members of Congress have pledged to live for one week on $21.oo worth of food. That is the average amount a food stamp recipient receives, averaging out to $3.00/day or $1.00/meal. The challenge started from prompting from Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), co-chairman of the House Hunger Caucus. McGovern and Emerson are trying to "raise awareness of hunger and wht they say are inadequate benifits for food stamp recipients." McGovern and Emerson introduced legislation that would add $4 billion to the annual food stamp budget. Last year it was $33 billion and only covered 26 million Americans. "There are more working people today getting food stamps than six years ago....There's not a member of Congress that doesn't have hunger in their district."-McGovern

- This article really strikes a chord with me. As a student I have reduced availability for work. After my husband left, I attempted to get food stamps because I had a job, but it was only part-time. I wanted to get food stamps until I could find a second job and support myself. I was turned away, they said that because I am a student I am required to work 20 hours a week before I qualify for benefits. I was in tears leaving the office, and my caseworker had the audacity to tell me, "Why don't you just have some kids, then you'll qualify." I couldn't believe that he was encouraging me to burden myself further in order to obtain government benifits. Benifits that I felt I was entitled to. I pay taxes, I work, I've legally worked since I was 17. I receive my Social Security Income Statements that tell me how much I've paid in...and what I'm entitled to if I'm disabled. But if I was to become disabled, I wonder if I'd even get it....