Food Assistance for the Needy

For those struggling with paying monthly bills, assistance with food purchases can be a great help. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, which used to be called food stamps fills that need. Surprisingly, many of those who qualify for assistance either aren’t aware of it, or don’t apply for it.

Food stamps often had a stigma associated with them since everyone at the store knew that you were using them. In addition, they could be lost or stolen. The new program puts money directly into a person’s account every month, and then issues them a card which they use like a credit or debit card at the store.

A new addition to the program is the participation of many farmer’s markets. This allows recipients to get fresh produce at a reasonable price. It is also a benefit to the farmers in that more people have the money to purchase their products.

To find out more information about SNAP and eligibility requirements, you can visit their website at:http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/Default.htm.

To apply for benefits, you need to contact your local or state office. The phone numbers and locations can be found at the aforementioned website, or you can look in your phone book under local and state government. A few states allow you to apply online.