Politics of Food: Breaking the Myths of SNAP (Food Stamps)

Shanta Bailey, the new SNAP Outreach Coordinator with Harvesters food bank, presented to area food pantries on the benefits and elgibility of Food Stamps for area residents at a "Feeding More, Feeding Better" conference in downtown Kansas City. She will be working with food assistance agencies to increase applications for SNAP benefits, which was renamed to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from Food Stamps in 2008 to reflect focus on nutrition.

Shanta Bailey, new SNAP Outreach Coordinator with
Harvesters food bank in Kansas City, Missouri.
Shanta's energy and enthusiasm captivated the 50 food pantry representatives and volunteers in the audience, especially when she shared her passion for "empowering our clients" as the principle motivation for her work. She added, "this is about empowerment, this is about knowledge" after discussing myths of SNAP held by eligible residents. She provided an update to the newly emphasized effort led by Feeding America, the national network of food banks, as well as by the US Department of Agriculture. SNAP outreach at a local level involves informing both food pantry workers and their clients to apply for the temporary food assistance benefits. In some areas there is a low application rate despite a high number of elgible residents. Shanta highlighted one common myth held by elgible people: "other people need SNAP more than I do." She countered by emphasizing the benefits are available to all people that apply, that is, there is no limit to funds available for those elgible for SNAP benefits. She added that perceptions are changing from one of a "welfare program" to a program focused on "getting nutritious food to vulnerable households."

Shanta Bailey responds to questions about SNAP
benefit elgibility for food agencies.
She provided a description of the process, noting her experience in the field while working in Junction City, Kansas. Government agencies are attempting to streamline the process by making the application simpler, processing applications quicker, and working with food banks throughout the U.S. to perform the outreach to pantries and clients. She noted that elgibility does not require people seek jobs to get assistance though there are limits to benefits if a person's financial assets exceed a low level of $2000. Students with certain qualifications are also elgible and should apply for assistance, she mentioned.

SNAP stretch food dollars at discount stores like Aldi's and double a person's purchasing power by buying produce at area farmers market that participate in the Beans and Greens programs. The Beans and Greens programs allow SNAP recipients to swipe their EBT card once at a market in exchange for tokens that can be used at any of the stalls.

Shanta noted the stigma surrounding users of Food Stamps/SNAP, but still impressed food pantry workers to reach out to their neighbors and clients to apply for the benefits. Two people made quick comments about people being "too lazy to work" and "some people never work," but she considered how the vast majority of SNAP recipients were led by households with at least one working family member.

The presentation at the food bank conference demonstrates there are many people and organizations working to provide food assistance to people in this area. Shanta's enthusiasm demonstrates the renewed urgency to provide food assistance to fill a growing hunger gap in the US.

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