food insecurity

How POTUS’ Food Stamp Plan Will Impact Military Families

03/19/2018 By Veronica Jorden

When you consider that the United States is one of the world’s wealthiest counties, it is disheartening to hear that 1 in 6 Americans don’t have enough food to eat. Many of those struggling with hunger are children and many are part of military families.

POTUS' Food Stamp Plan Will Impact Military Families

Do you use food stamps or have you in the past?

In a 2015 report, an estimated $80 million dollars’ worth of food was purchased in military commissaries using the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). This number doesn’t include military families who use other programs like Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) or who don’t shop at the commissary.

So proposed changes to the SNAP program will have a profound impact on military families.

As part of the 2019 budget request, the Trump administration has proposed a dramatic change to the food stamp program. The proposed change includes a reduction in “cash” benefits by half for anyone receiving $90 or more per month. Instead, SNAP cash benefits will be supplemented with a “Blue Apron-type” box filled with shelf-stable foods like canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, cereals, pasta, butter and beans. These boxes, called “America’s Harvest Boxes,” will supposedly save over $129 million dollars over the course of the next 10 years.

The fact that there are military families in need of assistance is an issue for another day, but let’s discuss these food boxes.

It’s an Interesting Idea

There is a part of me that thinks that these boxes could work. I mean, buying in bulk almost always drives down the cost. If the government is using its buying power to get great pricing on products, then I can see the merit. Especially, if that buying power is being used to buy all of the things that are often out of reach, like fresh fruits and vegetables, or gluten-free or organic items.

Except, that these boxes won’t include those items.

Staples like peanut butter, pasta, even canned fruits and vegetables aren’t inherently bad, but the best nutrients and the healthiest of diets, don’t often include many things out of a can.

What about those families who have a child allergic to peanut butter? Or who need gluten-free pasta? Or who need their food to be kosher? What if a family buys from a food bank program or farming cooperative and can actually stretch their SNAP funds further than the box provides?

The argument can be made that beggars can’t be choosers, but the families on SNAP and WIC aren’t exactly beggars. They are often young families or those impacted by loss of employment.

Shouldn’t families be allowed to select the food they know their family will eat?

Should they be forced to eat what the government says they should?

I find this incredibly ironic, considering how adamant this same administration has been in dismantling the school lunch program put in place by the previous administration that was designed to get kids to eat a government mandated balanced meal.

What About Distribution?

If you read through the proposed box system, you’ll notice the distribution of these boxes has been left to the states to figure out. They can “distribute these boxes through existing infrastructure, partnerships, and/or directly to residences through commercial and/or retail delivery services.”

Really?

Current food stamp infrastructure most often includes direct deposit of money to a SNAP food card, which can be used like a debit card to pay for groceries. Kind of hard to “distribute” boxes in that same way. And I find it hard to believe that door-to-door delivery is a) efficient and b) actually going to save money.

Instead, it will likely require recipients to travel to a distribution center. Taking hours away from the work day and potentially adding the cost of transportation to an already tight federal budget.

Better Options

Call me an optimist, but I think if we really wanted to conquer hunger, there are better ways to do it. Some states have started edible food forests to help produce food for needy families. Some cities are seeing a growth in urban farming, cutting down on distribution time and costs, and there are plenty of non-profit farms working to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the diets of our poorest Americans.

I’d much rather see our government working to support these ideas instead of boxing up cans of corn and jars of peanut butter.

For our military families, this is yet another reason why we have to keep our commissaries open. How many more military families will find themselves simply unable to buy the things they need if the savings offered on base are taken away?

Do you use food stamps or have you in the past? What do you think of the proposed changes to food stamps?

Should BAH Be Excluded from Food Stamp Eligibility?

01/23/2017 By Kimber Green

In 2015, more than $80 million in food stamp benefits were spent at military commissaries. That is an astonishing figure and that amount does not cover every family that needs financial help to feed their family. There are many more military families that would benefit from food stamps, now known as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Congresswoman Susan Davis, the Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, introduced the Military Hunger Prevention Act. Its purpose is to exempt the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) in the determination of a military family’s eligibility for particular federal benefits. This bill is specifically aimed at making it easier for military families to qualify for SNAP.

While BAH varies based on region, pay grade and dependency, in many cases it still is not enough to cover housing. This leaves families using other components of their pay to cover rent or mortgage that would otherwise go to food. Because of this, many military families are forced to use emergency food relief. Investigators at Camp Pendleton reported last year that 400 to 500 military families used one of the food pantries on base. That is just the statistic of one of the 4 food pantries on Camp Pendleton.

Rep. Davis introduced this bill after learning that numerous families in the San Diego area, specifically Camp Pendleton, were unable to meet the basic need to feed their families.

By removing BAH from the annual income of military families, more will qualify for food stamps. This shift may provide relief to the overwhelmed food banks.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Committee on Armed Services as well as the Committee on Agriculture for further review.

In the meantime, military families will continue to stand in line at 7 a.m. to receive meals from food pantries on base as well as off base. To beat the stigma of getting help, a program was introduced in schools where children receive a backpack of food to help them get through the weekend when free breakfast and free lunch are not available. Sadly, nearly a quarter of the children in on-base schools receive free meals. This means thousands of children potentially do not have access to food at home, particularly over the weekend when free meals are not available.

While receiving SNAP benefits might sound like the answer to this problem, it isn’t a lot of money.

States vary on the amount of money that is allocated per person based on certain criteria. In 2015, California’s program paid on average $1.58 per person per meal a day. Last year Alabama paid on average $1.40 per meal per day.

Imagine how much you spend on your meals. Would this amount cover it?

In 2013 a Census Bureau study showed that about 2% of active duty families used SNAP. That is roughly 23,000 military families.

Six percent of those that responded to the Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey said they had to use emergency food relief last year. Military families are struggling to feed their families.

The Department of Defense tried a program in 2001 known as the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) to help military families. This program was meant to provide up to a $1,100 a month supplement to put service members over the requirement for SNAP. The program was terminated in September 2016 because not enough families qualified for it.

If the Military Hunger Prevention Act passes, will being able to qualify for SNAP be the answer to thousands of military families’ hunger problem or is there a better solution for those facing food insecurity?

What do you think of this proposal to exclude BAH from food stamp eligibility?

10 Reasons To Donate to Feds Feed Families

08/05/2016 By Kimber Green

The 2016 Feds Feed Families campaign is in full swing and there is still time for you to help make a difference.

What started in 2009 as part of President Barack Obama’s United We Serve campaign to gather nonperishable goods for hungry families has grown into an amazing program collecting almost 52.7 million pounds of food, cleaning and hygiene items. All of these donations are made by federal employees throughout the country.

The USDA leads the way in Feds Feed Families again this year. They have pulled together every federal agency to gather as much nonperishable food and other items that they can. Amazingly, last year the total amount collected came to more than 17.9 million pounds. The Department of Defense played a good role in this by collecting more than 3.2 million pounds of food and hygiene items for the Feds Feed Families program. Almost half of that came from commissary employees and patrons, with donations totaling 1.6 million pounds.

You can make a difference with Feds Feed Families by making a donation of nonperishable food, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies.

If you need motivation, here are 10 reasons why you should donate items to the Feds Feed Families program.

You wouldn’t allow a child to go hungry. Food banks see a shortage in summer months as less donations come in and demands increase. During the school year, many children are able to get meals at a reduced rate or even free if their family meets certain government requirements.

In the summer months when school is out, families must look elsewhere to feed their children. This is when local food banks get hit the hardest. That is why the Feds Feed Families campaign runs from June through the end of August each year.

A staggering 1 in 6 Americans suffer with food insecurity, meaning they often go hungry or worry about having enough to eat. That’s an astounding 50 million Americans that don’t know where their next meal is coming from or if they’ll have enough to eat.

Since 1985, the commissary has been making donations to local food banks. As part of Feds Feed Families, they are able to make a bigger contribution and so can you.

Military families are also hungry. Military families and service members unfortunately are not immune to this suffering. Not all military families can make ends meet and put sufficient food on the table for their families. Statistics are hard to come by and that’s why new studies are being done, to accurately document how many military families are using food assistance programs.

The reality is, you likely have some food in your pantry that you can donate. You know there is at least one item in there you are never going to eat, that can of asparagus in the back of the pantry you’ve been ignoring for example. You know you aren’t going to eat it, but there is someone out there that would love to have it. You can help ease their burden by making a donation of this and any nonperishable items you have at home. You can download a list of items the Feds Feed Families campaign is looking for.

The Feds Feed Families program is hassle-free. Even if you don’t feel like going through your pantry, you can make a donation. Most commissaries have pre-filled bags with items Feds Feed Families is looking for.

All you have to do is pick one up on your next grocery run and pay for it. Simply drop the bag in the Feds Feed Families donation bin on your way out.

It’s completely hassle-free.

This is a great teaching moment for your children. Many kids these days have a huge disconnect in where their food comes from. Those that have enough to eat don’t necessarily think twice about the cost of food. This is a great life lesson you can share with your family: be grateful for what you have, be kind to others and be an example for the next generation.

If nothing else moves you, you can write your donation off your federal taxes.

If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, you can join a gleaning event. This year in particular, Feds Feed Families is pushing families to gather extra fresh food by clearing fields of unused produce. This is known as gleaning. Your children can use this as a service project.

Have you always wanted to be a part of something bigger than yourself? This is your opportunity. Every office of the federal government is asked to participate in Feds Feed Families.

Because you can. If you aren’t worrying about where your next meal is coming from, make a difference for someone who is worrying – donate to Feds Feed Families today.

For more information about the Feds Feed Families campaign, visit the USDA’s Feds Feed Families page.

Food Insecurity a Reality for Many Military Families

09/15/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

Are you a military family who uses a local food bank?

I wasn’t surprised by the numbers. I wasn’t shocked by the headlines. I thought to myself “yeah, that seems about right.” Many military families, like many Americans, regularly face food insecurity so these military families, like many Americans regularly fill their pantries with nonperishable items from their local food banks. They may do it once. They do it between pay periods. They may do it every 6 months. The point is that military families use food banks.

This isn’t something new. My husband volunteered distributing food to military families at a southern California installation in 2003. But the news of American service members utilizing civilian food banks has recently grabbed the media’s attention.

It all started with Feeding America’s annual survey. In that report, it said that 620,000 households that seek food assistance from a Feeding America network agency each year include at least 1 member who is currently serving in the U.S. military. That person may be an active duty Marine or he may be an inactive reservist. The Feeding America study didn’t examine that type of specific data. But every media outlet ran with a headline saying “25 percent of military families are seeking food aid.”

The Department of Defense immediately questioned Feeding America’s survey methodology saying that “surveying households instead of individuals while comparing those numbers to military data creates an inaccurate picture.” The Pentagon spokesman also reminded Americans that the military offers the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance for low-income families.

But few military families are using the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance. Why? My guess is military families want to remain anonymous in their financial struggle. They don’t want their commander to find out they can’t afford to feed their 5 children. That’s why military spouses prefer to visit a food pantry at their local churches. In the majority of cases, spouses show their military ID and the food bank will give them food that day.

A short and incomplete search on Google showed food drives for hungry airmen, lines of Marine families waiting for free food, donation drop-off locations near Navy installations, partnerships between the USO and food banks and churches scrambling to fill the need for veterans, National Guard soldiers and Reservists families. I’m sure if you ask your FRO or the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, they will tell you that some, not all, military families are struggling financially to make ends meet.

If military families weren’t struggling, than why would there be a need for food banks located on overseas military installations?

Many military families, like many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. They aren’t saving for their dream house and they won’t buy a vacation home at their retirement. They are scraping by and local food banks ease their burden.

Do I think military families should use local food banks? Frankly it’s none of my business. But I do think that the Pentagon needs to hear the old adage: if one military family is relying on a local food bank, that’s one military family too many.