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 In a time when the United States is battling the worst food inflation in 17 years, the American people have food on the brain more than ever. And for many who used to wonder which foods would make them gain weight, now a more important concern is which ones they can afford.
“Since this same time last year, the Samaritan Center has seen a 39% increase in cash distributed for assistance through our social services,” says Susan DiStefano, MSW, Director of Programs and Services at the Samaritan Center. “This year rising food prices are going to be a real problem.”
The Samaritan Center has always referred people who qualified downtown to sign up for food stamps, but although some made the journey, some would rather go hungry or go into debt than brave the intimidating jungle that is downtown Chattanooga.
“They’re afraid of getting lost, not being able to find parking, messing up the paperwork, or getting stuck in endless lines,” says Mrs. DiStefano.
Now the Samaritan Center hopes to banish two of those four factors by allowing preliminary Food Stamp applications to take place on computer at the Samaritan Center itself.
“Clients will be able to knock out some of the paperwork upfront by doing it on computer at the Samaritan Center,” Mrs. DiStefano says. “Doing the paperwork online ahead of time also helps eliminate many of the lines. Clients will still have to battle the downtown parking, but our hope is that they will get in and out more quickly with this prep work.”
People can also check their eligibility for food stamps and sign up for them online by visiting www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/ on any computer.
“It’s sometimes hard to see hunger in our land of plenty,” says Tony Dahlberg, Executive Director at the Samaritan Center, “but it’s there. As our economy continues to flounder, we know that many in our area will suffer. Our hope is that when they do, they’ll know we’re here to help.”
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