Hunger and poverty are global challenges, but in the United States, assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have been providing support to those in need for more than 50 years. In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay speaks with three people — a retiree, a mother and a legislator — who all say nutrition assistance has made a difference in their lives.
42 million Americans, or about 12 percent of the population, need assistance to feed their families.
That assistance often comes from a federal program called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps). The Mountain State is one of the largest recipients of SNAP benefits. About 45% of recipients are families with elderly or disabled members, and about 60% are families with children.
The national food assistance program began 60 years ago as a pilot program in McDowell County, and since then, the program has helped alleviate poverty and hunger across the country.
In the award-winning encore episode Us and ThemHost Trey Kay speaks with a retiree, a mother and a lawmaker who say supplementation has made a difference in their lives.
This episode Us and Them It is supported by the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.
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“How are you supposed to survive on a fixed income? It’s barely there,” Kittle said. Us and Them “So in the winter I have to buy pellets for my wood stove. I have to pay my water bill… I have to pay all my bills. I don’t go out much because I can’t pay for gas. My income and bills are $1,300 a month, so I’m lucky if I have $200 or $250 left to buy food. My neighbors sometimes bring me dinner, which I appreciate. They try to help me out with food as much as they can. I get $23 a month on SNAP, which is no big deal.” They simply told me that they had looked at my case but that was the maximum they could do, they had no extra money to give and that was it.“
Photo credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Reenie walked straight past the produce section, past piles of pre-packaged strawberries and refrigerated cases packed with carrots and vegetables. She wasn’t there to buy what she wanted. Wish To eat. She was here to spend every last penny of her allotment.
Photo credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Seth DiStefano of the West Virginia Budget and Policy Center has lobbied to support programs like SNAP, which was the centerpiece of President Lyndon Johnson’s social reform program in his “Great Society.” DiStefano said SNAP has its origins in West Virginia, dating back to when President John F. Kennedy launched the first “food stamp” program in McDowell County.
“This is truly one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in American history,” DiStefano said.
Photo credit: West Virginia Budget and Policy Center
“I don’t tell people that I’m on SNAP benefits because I know who they are and they’re not like me,” Molitor explains, hoisting one of her squirming twin daughters on her hip. “They don’t have a college education. They don’t have a full-time job. They’re not me. It’s embarrassing. I don’t want to admit that I need help.”
Photo credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“Those are pumpkins. Those are volunteers. Those are tomatoes. Those are volunteers. Those are sunflowers,” Molitor said. Us and Them Trey Kay is hosting plants from around his home. “After Halloween I threw some pumpkins in a few places and they rotted and went to seed and now they’re huge! They’re self-growing. If anyone needs a free pumpkin this year, come to my house!”
Photo credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“I can’t say I have a problem. [SNAP] In general,” Pinson said. Us and Them “One of the reasons I can’t say I’m against it is because I remember before I was adopted, when I was 15, and I remember sitting in line at an armory in Florida on Saturday mornings buying corn flakes, powdered milk, and a five-pound jar of peanut butter. And I’m sure there were many meals that I wouldn’t have been able to eat if my parents hadn’t relied on food stamps (which were called “essential living items” back then). So I can’t say I’m against the government helping people in their time of need.”
Photo credit: West Virginia State Legislature
