(TRGN) Providing for the Poor Lesson

Providing for the Poor Lesson 

Food Stamps ImageIn August 2011, the government reported that about 28% of children in the state did not have adequate access to food in their home. This was due to lack of money or other resources.   If you think that is high, can you believe that 1.4 million Georgians receive emergency food assistance from a Georgia based food bank?

 

WIC: Woman, Infants, and Children

Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 are eligible for WIC. They must meet income guidelines, a State residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional (an individual described as being at nutritional risk may be underweight, may have a medical concern, pregnancy concerns, or anemia). There are two components for meeting eligibility requirements: income level and the number of people in the family. In 2011, for a family of 4, the family income must be less than $41,438 to qualify.

Many of these women receive a card that contains money for foods. The food is limited to healthy items. Some of those items are infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried and canned beans/peas, and canned fish, soy-based beverages, tofu, fruits and vegetables, baby foods, whole-wheat bread, and other whole-grain options.   One might recognize these items at a grocery store; they are marked with the "EBT" sign.

 

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

This program provides money for families that qualify based on income needs.   This program assists many of the retired people whose retirement does not "pay the bills." In 2011, for a family of 4, if they meet the federal income requirement, they will receive $668. The government allots for 30% of the family's income to go toward food. Most families spend at least 30% of their income on food each week. SNAP benefits are only available for 3 months to those unemployed so applicants must take a suitable job or be enrolled in a workforce training program to qualify for SNAP.

 

Children

The National School Lunch Program, which provides free and reduced-cost lunches, supplies qualified students with nutritious and healthy lunches. Children that have a healthy lunch usually have fewer disciplinary problems, pay attention better in class, and attend school more frequently. To qualify for this program, the household income must be at 130% of the national poverty level ($23,800 in 2011). If the family makes more than that but still less than $33,874 then they can qualify for reduced price meals.

The federal government reimburses the school for these lunches. Each school is reimbursed for the amount of money lost from each lunch. In 2010 this equaled to $2.72 per meal for the free lunch program. In addition to this federal money they receive, some schools qualify for free food from the USDA.

School breakfasts and lunches must meet the applicable recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which recommend that no more than 30 percent of an individual's calories come from fat, and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. In addition, breakfasts must provide one-fourth of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and calories. The decisions about what specific food to serve and how they are prepared are made by local school food authorities. 

A List of the programs and services offered by Food & Nutrition Services. Links to an external site.

 

Extensions of the School Food Program

  • School Lunch Image Reads: Schools are required to serve lunches that meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provide minimum calorie levels, and on-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium.Free and Reduced Lunch Program: The National School Lunch Act began in 1946. Provides students with a lunch for free or at a reduced price. Based on family income.
  • Breakfast Program: Began as a pilot project and was made permanent in 1975. Provides students with a healthy breakfast at free or reduced price. Based on family income.
  • Milk Program: Began in Chicago in 1940. Was made part of the Child Nutrition Act in 1960. Provided needy children with a low price pint of whole milk.
  • Child and Adult Care Food Program: This program provides healthy meals and snacks to adults and children in public and private non-profit facilities. It also provides snacks for children in after-school care and emergency shelters.
  • Summer Lunch Program: Offers students the option of having a healthy meal in the summer, whether or not they attend summer school.
  • Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: This program delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to schools and military bases. Schools must use their allotment of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

Adults

Adults need proper nutrition, too. Many of them that are in approved day care facilities will be provided with a meal. Public or private non-profit adult day care facilities which provide structured, comprehensive services to nonresidential adults who are functionally impaired, or aged 60 and older, may participate in a meal program. The center is reimbursed by the government. Some private for-profit centers may earn some federal money depending of their clients' income level.

 

Elderly

A person aged 60 or older can qualify for SNAP if he/she meets these requirements:

  • living with a disability
  • a veteran who is disabled
  • a living spouse of a disabled veteran
  • a living spouse or child of a deceased veteran receiving VA benefits

Individuals living alone or in an institution may be eligible for food stamps or federal aid. They must make no more than 165% of the federal poverty level.

 

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