National "Food Stamp Challenge" highlights difficulties of living on less
Posted: November 8, 2011
Suggested Intro:
FROM U-S CONGRESSMEN TO CLERGY IN NEW JERSEY, PEOPLE ARE TAKING UP THE FOOD STAMP CHALLENGE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DAILY STRUGGLES OF THE UNEMPLOYED AND POOR. A SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS THE REAL CHALLENGE GOES BEYOND A WEEK OF TIGHT BUDGETING. GARY ABDULLAH REPORTS.
Story:
(:22) RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LAST WEEK GOT A FIRSTHAND TASTE OF TRYING TO EAT ON LESS THAT FIVE DOLLARS A DAY THROUGH THE FOOD STAMP CHALLENGE. THE EVENT DARES PARTICIPANTS TO LIVE FOR A WEEK ON THE AVERAGE AMOUNT RECEIVED BY ANYONE ON THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ONCE KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS.
ELISE GURGEVICH, STATE COORDINATOR OF PENN STATE NUTRITION LINKS, SAYS THE EXPERIMENT MISSES THE HARDER PART OF LIFE ON FOOD STAMPS:
Gurgevich Actuality:
(:17) "YOU CAN MAKE SACRIFICES FOR A WEEK, BUT IT BECOMES HARD WHEN THAT BECOMES YOUR WAY OF LIFE. HAVING TO SPEND THE TIME TO REALLY SHOP WISELY, IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK. AND YOU CAN DO IT ON THE SHORT TERM -- ALTHOUGH IT IS A STRUGGLE -- BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT YOUR LIFESTYLE, IT BECOMES MUCH MORE OF A BURDEN."
(:15) PENN STATE EXTENSION'S NUTRITION LINKS PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS WITH TECHNIQUES TO MAKE LIMITED FOOD DOLLARS GO FARTHER. LEARN MORE ONLINE AT AG-SCI DOT P-S-U DOT E-D-U, KEYWORD "NUTRITION LINKS." FROM PENN STATE, I’M GARY ABDULLAH.
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