During a time of unemployment and isolation, low-income families are turning to food stamps to pay for their groceries. While many have applied for food stamps, most have not received the support they need from their state. States like Texas and California have seen huge surges of food stamp applications that are unable to keep up with them, leaving families to wonder what they will do with no money for groceries.
Many who already receive food stamps will not see an increase in benefits either due to the large population of people applying. With every grocery store being bought out and lines that could take hours to get through, people are unable to get the groceries that they need.
Even with Congress approving $15 billion to help the food stamp program in low-income places such as Pennsylvania, improvements will be sparse. Health officials recommend having two weeks of groceries in your home prepared, however, it is near impossible for food stamp users. Many live paycheck to paycheck and rely on food stamps. It is nearly impossible for people using food stamps to buy enough groceries to feed their families for two weeks.
People are also turning to online grocery shopping to help them get supplies without risking exposure to the virus. However, due to legal restraints, many states are having trouble passing a law that allows food stamps to be used for online grocery shopping. States like California and Florida have been able to pass food stamp grocery delivery, but smaller states continue pushing for online delivery using food stamps.
With billions using the food stamp program, it is difficult to ask them to stay home if they can not utilize online food delivery systems. People struggled to support their families before the outbreak let alone during it. Some are working overtime while having to put their kids in daycare, others are unemployed and are not receiving their normal income. Food stamps are a very necessary and important outlet as many can not afford the basic necessities of survival.
During this time, millions are applying for stamps just to catch a break, while the people who desperately need them are struggling. Due to the constant overstock of essentials like toilet paper, they are not able to get a single roll.
The small population of the employed must work overtime and are unable to get to their essential groceries before stores close, while others who are unemployed and still able to make money, raid grocery stores and stock up unnecessarily. Grocery stores should be regulating large purchases of overstock for the people who need them, instead of pushing to make more money during hard times. Helping people in need as much as they can needs to be the top priority during these hard times. Food stamps are the best way to help.
