Hungry for the holidays. 1/2 of kids in the U.S. will be fed with food stamps
Filed under: Budgets, Home, Kids and Money, Health
This holiday, visions of sugar plums won't dance in the heads of nearly half of America's kids. That's because a new report says these kids might not be sitting down to a holiday feast. Or those who are sitting down to a holiday meal, they will be "feasting" on a paltry one.
"49% of all U.S. children will be in a household that uses food stamps at some point during their childhood," says the author of a new study, Mark R. Rank, Ph.D., poverty expert at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. A sign Rank says is a clear indication of poverty and food insecurity. "Two of the most detrimental economic conditions affecting a child's health."
For a family on food stamps, traditional Thanksgiving fare of turkey, bread pudding and pumpkin pie far exceeds their budgets. And not only are these kids missing out on eating like a pilgrim, chances are, they're not eating healthy, either, since Rank says being exposed to these levels of poverty often leads to unhealthy lifestyles.
Rank's study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found:
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90% of black children vs. 37% of white children live in a household that uses food stamps.
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Nearly 1/4 of all American children live in households that use food stamps for five or more years.
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91% of children in single parent households vs. 37% of those in married household, are in households receiving food stamps.
"Understanding the degree to which American children are exposed to the risks of poverty and food insecurity is essential for health-care and social-service communities," says Rank. That's because even limited exposure can have detrimental effects on a child's overall health and well-being.




Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-03-2009 @ 11:16PM
phil said...
This story is so bogus! .."For a family on food stamps, traditional Thanksgiving fare of turkey, bread pudding and pumpkin pie far exceeds their budgets. And not only are these kids missing out on eating like a pilgrim, chances are, they're not eating healthy, either, since Rank says being exposed to these levels of poverty often leads to unhealthy lifestyles."
Let's tell it like it is:
#1. Food stamps are used as a secondary currency in 'da hood. There is always someone who will buy your unused "stamps" (it's now EBT card), at 50 cents on the dollar. You buy a few groceries, walk out of the store, get cash from the food stamp buyer, walk back into the store and buy beer and cigarettes. On the way home you purchase a weekend "eight ball" (cocaine), with the remainder of the illegal cash. If you're not into cocaine, you can go and have your hair and nails did (sic) at a minimum of $500, and still have enough left for Saturday night at "da Club."
#2. Nearly 25 % of food stamp users will be on stamps for 5 years or more. (wanna bet..it's more?) No Kidding! Hell. It's "free" money. Where is the incentive to leave the program? You also teach your children to learn about stamps. Why would you ever want to work where they hold out taxes? (40% of Americans pay NO Income Tax!)
#3. Catch this stat: "91% of children in single parent households vs. 37% of those in married household, are in households receiving food stamps." Really???? You mean someone actually PAID good money for this study? Here's the real truth: You get money per child that you raise. If you marry, you risk losing money. That's why young girls learn to keep the pipeline open by having more kids. That's why the entitlement programs encourage illegitimate children and fatherless households..effectively destroying the inner cities. There is no tax base, cause no one WORKS!!!
Stories like this appear near the Holidays and are meant to encourage guilt in the working middle class. They must learn to accept ever increasing taxes to pay for ever increasing social programs, which guarantee a steady supply of new status quo voters. Sadly, for those in "poverty", this is the new plantation. The poor have become trapped into at least 3 generations of economic slavery by the golden handcuffs of "The Great Society."
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11-04-2009 @ 12:31AM
Gina in FL said...
I agree with phil. Big government welfare programs tend to become an exercise in mutual manipulation.
My son's girlfriend was just telling me yesterday about a former coworker who bragged about how she scammed the system. A single mom of three, she received thousands monthly in child support. She also claimed to get $850 monthly in food stamps. Then she would cook up fraudulent lawsuits for more income.
This woman did hold a job--at a daycare center run by my son's girlfriend's mother. However, she had no motivation to work, so she eventually got canned. I don't think she missed the income much. I guess the government operators who make this possible have a pretty fair expectation of her vote, though.
I work with poor single mothers in an area of Florida hard-hit by unemployment, referring them to local help. While I don't think all of our moms who get food stamps abuse them, doubtless some have. However, no one in our area should be hungry, even without food stamps.
Most local churches run food programs, and they've recently increased them. Many operate pantries. One serves hot meals three days a week. Two others work with a national ministry that provides food to anyone regardless of income at greatly reduced prices.
The people who did this study need to come out of their ivory towers and make contact with real people. When locals fund (voluntarily) and operate charity, they can decide who is truly in need and who is not. And--unlike politicians--every day across this country, anonymous people are helping others, asking for nothing in return.
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11-06-2009 @ 2:19PM
quietdynamics said...
Phil is right .....this article is skewed. If there are hungry, malnourished children; it is because of the food choices made by the adults at the store!!!
There are many WORKING poor and elderly who have to cut back on food to pay necessities, rent, electric, etc. For 15 years raising my two children on my own...we managed to budget and eat right. We planned our meals around 1/2 price specials on meats, cheese, and other whole foods. So for $40 in cost I would get almost $80 worth of food. If deli ham is $5.99 lb. and whole ham is on sale for $1.29lb. .....then guess what our sandwiches are made from.
It is certainly frustrating when I have to tell my kids no....to a treat because we can't afford it and then get in line at the store behind someone buying high priced frozen quickee foods, soda, chips, cakes, doughnuts and watch them pay with MY TAX MONEY.
So if you want to know who is food poor go to a food store and watch single parents and elderly people shop!!!!
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11-04-2009 @ 9:33AM
J.L Webb said...
Most of those using food stamps do so of their own making. They simply dont work or care to work because their mom and dad didnt. They eat better than many working class people. And most are fat ass over weight with many children that look the same
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11-04-2009 @ 11:00AM
JD said...
Right on Phil and J.L. This sums it up.
"It's "free" money. Where is the incentive to leave the program?"
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11-04-2009 @ 11:25AM
Megan said...
What a joke this article is! Believe me people on foodstamps eat far better than those who are not. I have gotten foodstamps in the past,while working,and my meals were alot better than know.The reality is that employers do not pay enough for families to afford to buy food.I don't see anything wrong with getting food stamps if you are a working and can't make ends meet.I really think that welfare should make anyone on assistant pass a drug test in order recieve assistance,that would eliminate some of those who sell their foodstamps for drugs.Probably more than half of the people on assistance would be kicked off.
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11-04-2009 @ 11:25AM
Jenn said...
You're right. This is a load. Let's think about these people who are supplied with food stamps. I assure you once they were in this predicament, they didn't stop having chidren. Why do it if you cannot support them - so the rest of us can??? It's a sad society when there are those out there who don't try to get themselves out of a hole, and therefore, those of us who do work hard have to keep them afloat. It's frustrating. When I was a kid, my mom hit that level --- very temporarily --- and she was SEVERELY ASHAMED. I do not have ANY sympathy. I would rather spend the money on them stopping reproducing and putting innocent children in this pathetic setup so they can think this is the way to live.
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11-04-2009 @ 12:16PM
Oh Boy said...
I feel bad for hard-working people who have simply fallen on hard times and need to use food stamps, but we know the majority of people using food stamps do not fit into this category. They should have some sort of mandatory birth control program as well, so we aren't paying for generations of people on this sh**! Government programs were put in place as a temporary solution, not a permanent way of life.
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11-04-2009 @ 12:35PM
queenangelica1@hotmail.com said...
I have seen several low life people who receive benefits and are perfectly capable of working. I'm a single mother of three who works a full time job and during tough times have tried to obtain assistance. Only to be turned down for making too much money. We the lower middle class working people don't get a break whether it be for child care assistance or food stamps. These lazy people need to get off their a**es and get a job.
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11-07-2009 @ 1:26AM
sparkle said...
well i think this article is made for the middle to lesser class people to feel bad.. iam 17 years old and i live with my grandmother and she works but she dosent make a whole bunch of money to pay the rent and to pay bills and to put food on the table so not everyone who get's foodstamp is not someone with 8 kids and is to lazy to work. some people just cant make it and try there hardest for there siblings to have a better life..sadly this economy is so f*d up that iam not able to get a job to support myself but i do my best. just like my grandmother does. so before anyone should talk people so think about the mijoirty of people who works but dosent make the salary they wish they could make. to provide for there family
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11-04-2009 @ 1:26PM
Hayley said...
Im kinda insulted by phils little rant about the ghetto and drugs and whatnot. My mom is a single parent who raises three children on her own and constantly works. We recieve EBT and i can assure you there is no drug trafficing going on in our household! I wonder if he has children or has ever fallen on hard times....I find it very sad that people use the program wrongly but not everyone does so. And I also find it sad that people like queenangelica cannot recieve the benefits they need to support thier families. I agree that drug tests should be given to people who recieve benefits! And as for a "permanent way of life" I feel that a majority of people on the program are ashamed of their situation and wont use it as a permanent solution. I understand the program is used wrongly but I dont think everyone should be stereotyped in this way.
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11-05-2009 @ 12:30PM
B said...
Why are people so angry when other's are just given food to survive. There are many people in this country who don't have enugh to eat, period and many children caught in this cycle of poverty. We are a country of food surplus' and we can't share what we have with our own citizens? Instead of hating those that are struggling, we need to look at our own failings first and see how we can be better people. But that would take a lot of personal courage and insight.
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