Food stamp usage on the rise in Delaware

Nationwide and in Delaware, the number of individuals and families turning to food stamps to fill empty pantries and fridges is rising — at an alarming rate.

In 2008, 81,462 Delawareans received food stamps as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In 2009, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, that number increased to 90,933.


The average gross monthly income per SNAP household is $673, or an annual income of only $8,076.


One local individual who has had experience with the SNAP program is Edward Shank, 21, of Newark. Shank spends his nights sleeping on a bench in front of Grotto Pizza on Main Street. Passing cars on Main Street in the wee hours of the mornings are Shank's alarm clock, waking him from an uneasy rest.

Unlike most 21-year-olds in Newark, Shank is homeless and hungry.


A year ago, Shank started receiving SNAP benefits. He said he received $200 each month, but ended the assistance six months ago, stating that he did not wish to receive the benefits anymore. Shank would not reveal why he did not want to participate any further in the program.

Nationwide, SNAP serves more than 38 million people each month.

Shank has been unemployed for two years and constantly is searching for work. His last job was with a container research company in Maryland, but he said he lost the job when he moved to Delaware and no longer had transportation to work.

He said he scours stores up and down Main Street and around the Newark area looking for a job, but is never hired.


"It's really hard," Shank said. "The economy sucks."


Shank goes to the Newark Empowerment Center on Main Street every day for free food. He eats a package of Ramen noodles — the only meal he consumes all day.


Nutrition and dietetics professor Sandra Baker, who is also a registered dietician, stated in an e-mail message that a diet high in sodium and saturated fat can lead to deficiencies in protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C.


"If someone must eat Ramen noodles because of cost concerns, I would recommend to use only half (or none) of the seasoning packet in order to cut the sodium content," Baker said.


Those receiving SNAP benefits use an Electronic Benefit Transfer card, which discreetly looks like a credit card. It can be swiped at grocery stores and farmers markets across the country, and is accepted at the Pathmark, Superfresh and ACME in Newark.

The card can be used to purchase foods like bread, cereal, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products and seeds and plants which produce food. It cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, pet foods, soaps, paper products, household supplies, vitamins, medicines and hot foods.


According to a 2009 New York Times analysis, one in eight Americans receives food stamps, including 1 in 4 children. One in 50 Americans, six million total, who receive food stamps report they have no other income.

The USDA's Web site states that nationwide, 49 percent of all SNAP program participants are children and 61 percent of them live in single-parent households.

The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 — also known as the stimulus  package — has provided an additional $21 million in SNAP benefits to the state of Delaware since last April. The state received an additional $250,000 in food and expenses to support food banks, soup kitchens and pantries through the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Beverly Jackey, community nutritionist at the Food Bank of Delaware, said the food bank distributes food to member agencies, not to individuals directly, but someone like Shank could call the food bank and would be directed to food closets, kitchens and shelters near him.

She said unhealthy eating is a problem among the homeless.


"A homeless person is interested in getting food to put in their stomach to ward off hunger pains," Jackey said. "Their first goal is not necessarily looking for nutritious foods, just looking for foods in general."

Facts and figures:

SNAP Program Statistics, according to the USDA Food & Nutrition Service Web site:

• Eligibility is based on who lives and eats together, relationships in the home and income
• The USDA authorizes grocery stores to accept the EBT card
• Average monthly allotment in 2008 was $101 per person and $227 per household
• 9 percent of participants are elderly
• 43 percent of participants are white, 33 percent are non-Hispanic black, 19 percent are Hispanic, 2 percent are Asian and 2 percent are Native American
• Nationwide in 2008, 17.3 million people lived in households considered to have "very low food security," a USDA term that means one or more persons in the household were hungry over the course of the year because of the inability to afford enough food. This number increased from 11.9 million in 2007 and 8.5 million in 2000
• Black (25.7 percent) and Hispanic (26.9 percent) households experienced food insecurity at higher rates than the national average

2010 hunger study conducted by the Food Bank of Delaware and Feeding America:

• The Food Bank provides food to 241,600 people in the state, up from 153,200 since 2006
• Of families receiving assistance, 44 percent of members in the household are under the age of 18
• According to the Food and Research Action Center, an average of 9.4 percent of Delawareans faced low or very low food security from 2006-2008

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