4-23-2007

**Note: my apologies for the delayed post . . . computer problems**

CR

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In an effort to raise awareness about hunger, Governor Ted Kulongoski will be limiting his own food budget to $21.00 for a week and he's challenging average citizens to do the same. The idea is that the average person on food stamps is given 3 dollars a day to feed him or herself and setting a similar budget can help increase one's understanding of what it's like living in poverty.

But do the numbers add up? Based on the 21 dollar figure, the Governor and First Lady would split about 170 bucks for the month. In contrast, we spoke with one man who says he and his wife split well over 200 a month and he recalls friends who have seen over a hundred dollars for themselves in a given month.

I took those questions to Rachel Bristol with the Oregon Food Bank and she says the food stamp program is a supplement based on one's individual financial situation. IT IS NOT designed to be a families' ENTIRE food budget (she adds that stamps have not increased at the rate of inflation so families' get comparatively less help than they used to).

First, the government examines all of your assets (down to the perceived value of your car and any potential stocks or investments). Then, a household is granted a certain level of assistance. For some it may be only $10.00 a week, for others much more. It all depends.

The recipients we spoke with say you have to get creative but you can make it stretch by buying in bulk, preparing meals from scratch and skipping luxuries like prepared meals.

So what will that money actually BUY? On a recent trip to a local Fred Meyer, I was able to put in my cart:

A couple pounds of dry Rice
A couple pounds of dry Beans
Five pounds of Potatoes
A couple pounds of raw Carrots
A couple pounds of Apples
A large canister of Oatmeal (at least a months supply for me personally)
A gallon of Milk
A dozen Eggs
A couple pounds of Ground beef

(** "A couple" meaning at least two pounds, depending on your preferences you could sub in more of one or another)

Some of the items you CANNOT buy on food stamps include booze, tobacco and toiletries.

During this story, the answer to one question in particular caught my attention, though. Throughout the food stamp debate, some people have argued that there should be tighter limits on what you can buy (e.g., Twinkies and potato chips). When I asked about that, Rachel Bristol with the Food Bank said that they've asked that too and recipients have said:

I had to say no to the skateboard. I had to say no to the nice shoes. One thing I CAN say yes to is taking my kids on a picnic with a bag of potato chips.

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As always, if you've got questions about a story or have a tip you'd like me to check out shoot me an e-mail . . . subject: "BLOG"

colby.reade@kxl.com