Lesson #1: everything takes more time on food stamps. By Emily Baer

Lesson #1: everything takes more time on food stamps.

As I prepared for the food stamp challenge, I combed through the weekly sales at Safeway, clipped coupons and made menu plans for the week.  Having taken the challenge last year, I’ve learned a few lessons.  Lesson #1: Everything takes more time on food stamps. Lesson #2: If you plan only for dinners and rely on leftovers for lunch, you’ll have nothing for breakfast or snacks. Lesson #3: Don’t skimp on bad coffee; it’s too important.  Lesson #4: Prepare to forgo being healthy for a while.

For the next five days, I will be living on food stamps with my mom and sister.  I hope to provide a slightly different perspective on living on food stamps as a family – initially, it seems easier to have $90 spread out over three people.  But it went so quickly.  It’s time like this that I’m grateful I can and like to cook.  And ironically, that I’m not male.  It’s easy to forget that men eat more than women – food stamps don’t take that into account.  They barely cover the food me and my family will be eating.

The next week will not be easy.  As a senior working on my thesis and applying to grad school, I have taken for granted that I do not have to cook every meal I make.  When I’m having a bad day or just don’t feel like cooking, I can order delivery or pick up something on the way home.  For the next five days, almost everything I put in my mouth I will be cooking.  As the daughter of a single mom with four children, I know firsthand how hard it is to find time to cook for a large family.  Add to that the hours it takes to plan meals, clip coupons and shop sales and it becomes a whole other job that most people, especially those living in poverty and already working several jobs, do not have the time for.  I’m already feeling a little ashamed of myself for complaining about application deadlines and being too tired to make dinner. 

After shopping, the menu for the week: Tomato bisque with garlic bread; French onion soup; spinach salad with bacon and goat cheese; mushroom lasagna; and pork chops with green beans.  I am banking on leftovers (and the fact that I generally don’t eat breakfast, although I did buy yogurt, eggs and bacon), and to be honest, being able to use the $10 leftover in my budget on coffee at starbucks.  I feel like I’m cheating already and I haven’t even started…

THE FINAL DAYS BY HILLARY MOSKOW

The past few days have been extremely challenging- and as I previously posted, I don't like a challenge. Not surprisingly, the hardest part has been not being able to buy coffee all week. Yesterday and today however, I "cheated," and bought myself a cup of coffee for 2.00 bringing me to a total of $44.00 for the week. Many people often stereotype the poor and often I hear people say that they are lazy. Maybe its not that they are lazy at all, maybe they just can't afford coffee. The working poor often hold two jobs, have kids, and constantly have to stress about where there next meal will come from. On top of that, they can't have the daily energy boost that many of us get to enjoy. After this week, I have never felt more sympathy for those people who have to combat this daily challenge.

Additionally, this week I learned how gracious people can be. Not only did 2 people offer to buy me a cup of coffee (they must have read my blog), one friend surprised me with a sandwich and another had her boyfriend make me chicken parmesean. This made me wonder, how often do the working poor get to experience such graciousness? How often do they frequent food pantries or soup kitchens so that they can get meals? If you have ever worked in either of these establishments, you are undoubtedly changing the lives of these people. I encourage everyone who is reading this to take the time to consider how much people appreciate your kindness. Please don't underestimate the value of a good deed.

I am excited to end this challenge tomorrow and get back to my normal life. However, I will never forget  this experience and the impact that it had on me. It opened my eyes to the way that the majority of America is currently living. The fact that most people have to wake up an hour early just so that they can eat breakfast, have a cup of coffee, and make their lunch. If they happen to forget their lunch, they are either forced to take another hour of their day to go home or not eat all. This was a huge struggle for me. Every challenge has its payoffs though, and the benefits of this experience will stay with me forever. I will never look at a dollar the same way or take advantage of my daily cup of coffee. I will always appreciate the value of a good deed and I will never forget those people who thought about my struggle during the week. If you decide to take this challenge, I guarantee that you will understand the impact of living in poverty and the daily struggle that comes with it.

Blogging, food-stamping, internetting… Part III. by Harvard Thompson.

Today is Friday and I ate some tasty food purchased by food stamps.

How do food stamps work? The current system has transferred the previous paper system of actual ‘stamps’ onto an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card, that is, for all intents and purposes, the same as a debit card, automatically transferring benefits at the beginning of each month. Using an EBT card allows individuals to discretely purchase an array of foods at a variety of sponsoring grocery stores that accept EBT food stamps.    Most major grocery stores accept EBT food stamps, including Giant, Harris Teeter, Safeway and even Target and Costco.  There are also a surprisingly large number of convenient stores and local (non-chain) grocery stores that accept EBT food stamps.  Personally, I can attest that this new EBT system is incredibly convenient, not only in the sense that I can simply carry around a portable plastic benefits card, but for someone who is still embarrassed about using food assistance (for clarification on this, please see my earlier posts), it helps me to confidentially and discretely purchase my food.

EBT food stamps do have some restrictions.  Firstly, one can only purchase non-prepared food.  This means that pre-made meals (frozen, sandwiches and side dishes available at the deli) do not qualify as items purchasable with EBT food stamps.  Alcohol, cigarettes or any other type of medicine, product or non-food item are also strictly prohibited.  Finally, an EBT food stamps user cannot transfer benefits to another individual, regardless of whether they are also receiving food assistance.  When making purchases at a store, if any of the aforementioned prohibited items are included in the subtotal of items, then the EBT food stamps will automatically deduct EBT-friendly items and then the remaining balance will reflect those items not covered by food assistance.  This system is really user-friendly and quite self-explanatory; I have never had any problems in the nearly three-months I have been receiving food assistance.

How do I feel about my experience, so far, with food assistance?  I can honestly say it has been humbling.  Prior to receiving my food assistance benefits, I never quite understood what it meant to be in need of food.  I was aware of the food stamp program, but I always assumed, very callously, that it was a system intended for the poorest of the poor, those who had practically nothing.  I was wrong.  Food assistance is a means to an end, it is not a means to a means; it helps people who need food for an immediate period of time, when they struggle the most; it does not support long-term reliance on the program.  While individuals in need are able to receive food assistance for extended periods of time, often longer than the year time frame, it is generally because they have reapplied for their assisted benefits.  This experience has also taught me that one cannot ascertain who is poor and who is not simply based upon appearances.  Poverty has many shapes and sizes, degrees and calibers.  It may be true that some individuals who wear tattered clothes and appear disheveled are indeed on food assistance; however, one should not overlook the fact that some people choose to dress in such a manner.  Similarly, an individual who chooses to dress very formally may in fact be wearing the only articles of clothing that he or she possesses.  The stories my grandparents would tell me when I was younger about how individuals during The Depression would wear their very best clothes, only to stand in line at the local food shelter to receive their daily food rations have never seemed clearer to me than they do now.  It is practically impossible to know who is poor and who is not poor; moreover, one should not be so hasty in their judgment of who is poor and who is not; regardless of poverty, everyone has a right to survive and fight for their survival.  Food stamps, for some, are survival.  For me, food stamps help me make ends meet, but it is by no means a necessary component of my survival.  If I were truly pressed, I could readjust my living situation so that more of my monthly AmeriCorps stipend would be direct towards food.  I choose to live in the conditions I do; some people (mostly those living in poverty) do not have this luxury.  I admit that I appreciate the benefits I receive from food assistance, but they are by not necessary, when compared to someone who literally has nothing.  The point I am trying to make is that poverty is multifaceted and it varies between individuals.  My poverty is real, but temporary.  For others, their poverty is both real and inherent.  Their access to food assistance may be their means to survival, their existence. 

I appreciate food stamps, I do; I also appreciate that this program exists, more for those who have a greater need than I do and for those that will continue to struggle for their next meal, long after my AmeriCorps service has come to a close.

While I am technically living in poverty, I am sure that most people would never know that I receive food assistance unless they were informed.  If you ever have the opportunity to meet me face-to-face, please let me know if I look “poor”.

I encourage everyone to at least attempt the food stamp challenge for a period of 5 days.  I promise it will open one’s eyes to a whole new perspective on life.

Blogging, food-stamping, internetting… Part II. by Harvard Thompson

Today is Wednesday and I spent $20.30 in food stamps.

How do food stamps work?  First and foremost, in order to qualify for food stamps, one must complete the application process, which varies depending on the state in which the individual requests food assistance.  I applied for food stamps in the state of Virginia, so the following information will be based upon my particular experience in Virginia. 

Once I got over my personal hesitations of requesting food assistance and I realized that there was an actual application process and I had a slight panic.  I initially thought that one merely had to wait in line in order to receive his or her rations, much as happens in a food pantry; but I was wrong.  I began to have irrational flashbacks to applying to university, where there was a very real chance that rejection could occur.  While the process is not as rigorous applying to university, one can actually be denied food assistance, depending on whether they meet the necessary requirements, which consists of a balance of income, expenses and money-in-pocket (savings, trusts or money from relatives, benefactors, etc).  Those who are considered qualified must fall within the poverty income bracket (which also varies by state and district). Additionally, based on an individual’s expenses, such as rent, utilities and expenses for dependents (i.e. children, relatives and services related to said dependents), if one’s expenses amount to a majority of their monthly salary, then they can be considered in the poverty bracket, thus qualifying them for food assistance. Finally, the last qualification is based upon money-in-hand; if an individual has more than $2,000.00 in either savings, etc., then they are automatically disqualified from receiving food assistance.  In my case, as an AmeriCorps volunteer, my $1067.00 monthly stipend is not actually considered income, rather assistance for living expenses.  If the stipend were, however, to actually be considered a salary and since my monthly expenses average around $930.00 per month, then the $75.00 left per month, after taxes, would indeed place me in the poverty bracket.

When I was ready to begin the application process, I went to the Department of Human Services (DHS) website for Virginia, and I followed the instructions.  As I filled out my application I had to have specific information in hand pertaining to my rent, expenses, bank account information and verification of employment.  Within two days of submitting my application, a representative from the DHS contacted me and set up a phone interview, where I responded to various questions, all of which were meant to verify the information I had provided in my application.  I was then asked to fax over a copy of my lease, my passport photo page (a birth certificate would also suffice), a document from my supervisor confirming my employment and my salary (or lack-there-of in my case) and a written and signed document confirming that I would not use my food stamps to either purchase or prepare food for others using any food purchased through food assistance.  Once these steps were completed, I was contacted within 24 hours explaining that I had been approved for the maximum allowance of food stamps ($200.00 per month). Since my first stipend check was not expected for an additional 3 weeks after my enrollment in food assistance, I also qualified for emergency food stamps, entitling me to by-pass the normal 15-day processing period.  Within 6 days, I received my EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card in the mail, which allowed me to start purchasing my government-assisted food.

Today I purchased a plethora of food, including almonds, grapefruit, cucumbers, milk, pita and blue corn chips and other assorted treats.  This was made possible through food stamps.

Blogging, food-stamping, internetting… by Harvard Thompson.

My name is Harvard Thompson and I am on food stamps.

Currently serving as an Americorps*VISTA volunteer in the DC Metro region, I quickly realized that I needed extra financial assistance with the high costs of living.  Being an Americorps volunteer, I am awarded a monthly stipend of $1067.00 USD on a biweekly basis, before taxes.  Once taxes and life insurance (a peculiar concept that I thought might be useful) are deducted, I receive $496.00 USD every two weeks.  Next, giving consideration to my monthly rent, utilities and travel expenses, which average around $930.00 USD, I am left with approximately $75.00 per month for either miscellaneous expenses and food.

If anyone has ever had to consider a period of 30 days with only $75.00 in hand, they will most likely agree that it can be an incredibly daunting challenge.  Fears of “what if I get hurt”, “what if I need money to pay for this” or “what if $75.00 really just is not enough” flooded my head on a regular basis.  That was around the time that I decided to swallow my pride and apply for food assistance.

Having been raised in a family that never had to worry about when the next meal would be available, I naturally feel like any form of living assistance is not appropriate for me.  Welfare, Medicaid and even food stamps are all systems that are meant to help those in need, which I have never identified as being.  It took me a long time to realize, however, that just because I had never qualified for these subsidies before, does not mean I do not qualify now.  In fact, the only major hurdle between me and obtaining food assistance was my personal hesitations.  I actually felt like I was robbing the system, detracting from those who truly needed the money.  What changed my mind was a talk with someone who explained to me that considering I had been paying taxes since I was 13, when I held my first job, I was actually just accessing my own money; I never would have guessed that the taxes I paid when I was an adolescent would be put towards my time serving as an Americorps volunteer.  Therefore, once I realized that I was not stealing, rather using my own money, I felt a lot better about the food assistance situation (especially since it is only for my year of service with the Americorps); and I applied for the stamps.

What do food stamps mean for me?  Aside from the immediate satisfaction of no longer having to worry about how I would be able to feed myself, I also have been able to enjoy an occasional social outing.  I mentioned earlier that after living expenses, I was left with approximately $75.00 for the rest of the month; once I started receiving $200.00 per month (the maximum amount possible), I was suddenly able to redirect that $75.00 to miscellaneous expenses and FUN!  In all honesty, it has been a blessing to be able to go out and enjoy the occasional snack (or meal?) at a restuarant, or know that I can spend $10.00 on entrance to a museum, concert or another social engagement.  Food stamps to me, aside from maintaining my ability to eat, have allowed me to engage in activities that have been as nourishing to my psyche and mental health as the actual stamps have been to my physical health.  Food stamps are truly nutritious…

The First Day - Jared Lewis

My first day on the challenge was, well....challenging. I woke up yesterday and drank a cup of coffee from home and found myself already thinking how much I had spent....this is when I knew it was going to be a long day.

8 hungry hours later, I found myself in the McDonalds line trying to figure out how I could rearrange my normal order to be under 6.00.... well it came to $5.33.....hmmmm; I hope that coffee was only about $.10.

I have to admit though, that by the end of the night I was hungry again...soooo.....I heated up some hotdogs...so I think the first day I went over $6.00 by about $.50

DAYS 2 & 3 BY Hillary Moskow

Condiments. Ketchup, mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, mayo, HOT SAUCE, salt, pepper.. Never in my life have I been so consumed by condiments.

DISCLOSURE: I've been "cheating" by using the condiments I already own.

But sometimes you actually can learn from cheating. I realize that if I had actually bought all of these items I would have probably been set back 15 dollars from the start. This got me thinking.. If people really live on this & they want to use these condiments, when do they actually buy them? Do they get them all in one week and eat less that week, or, do they continue to accumulate them through time? If its the second one, am I actually cheating?

Who knew that I would be spending the majority of my day thinking about a little heinz..

Another thing that keeps running through my mind is how gracious people can be. In addition to the coffee that Lily bought me, I was offered half a sandwich yesterday, a munchkin from Dunkin Donuts, and a cookie. While I was inclined to accept the coffee (and I am still taking offers), it felt wrong to accept the food.

As soon as it was offered, my pride set in. I don't need your help- I can do this on my own. But then it occurred to me, can I take things from others without feeling bad about it? Is this similar to what people who are actually in this situation experience? Am I doing this right?