KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Starting Friday, the increase in SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, benefits provided in 2009 by the Recovery Act will expire. The reduction in benefits will affect more than one million people in Kansas and Missouri, including Sandra Williams of Kansas City.
Sandra Williams is raising 13 grandchildren and great grandchildren. She cuts costs wherever she can, but getting by is still tough.
“We’re not poor, but we’re low class. We don’t live rich or none of that, but we can use a lot of help,” Williams explained.
Williams grocery shops on a budget at Harvest Learning Center, a grocery store run by her church, that doubles the value of food stamps, thanks to corporate sponsors.
“They can come in every week and get $50 worth of food that is local, fresh food, and only pay 25$ for it on their EBT card,” said Pastor Terry Glenn from the Harvest Living Center.
But even with that benefit, Williams relies on every penny to feed her grandchildren and she’s concerned about what November will bring when her SNAP benefits are cut. After the decrease, families will on average only have less than $1.40 to spend per person per meal.
A family of four, for example, will have 36 fewer dollars a month to spend on food.
“It’s going to be rough, but you know, we’re going to make it. We’re going to do what we have to do to survive.”
47 million Americans who rely on assistance will feel the pinch. In Missouri 16-percent of the population and in Kansas 11-percent of the population rely on food stamps.
One hundred percent of Sandra Williams’ family relies on food stamps.
“Put my trust in God and see how that goes,” she said.
At this point all she can do is pray they’ll get by on less.
Harvest Learning Center– the grocery store that gives food stamps an extra boost in the Ivanhoe neighborhood, is now working with its corporate sponsors to find a way to close the gap created by the decrease in SNAP benefits in order to help its customers who rely on that money to feed their families.
Connect with Abby Eden: Facebook | Twitter | Email
