SNAP Recipients See Decrease In Benefits As Food Costs Soar
SNAP Recipients See Decrease In Benefits As Food Costs Soar
April 04, 2022Steve Schwaller
(Spirit Lake)– A change that went into affect April 1st is impacting those receiving benefits through the SNAP program. Angela Kofoot of the Dickinson County Hunger Coalition tells KUOO news it’s putting additional pressure on those recipients…
“So SNAP, or food stamps, what we used to call food stamps, went back to pre-pandemic levels as of April 1st, so the last two years you may have been getting maybe $250 or whatever the maximum amount was the last two years, but you’re going back to $90 or $100 per month starting April 1st. So between prices and SNAP levels, we were fortunate we were able to get our Milford food pantry up and running on the third Thursday of the month about two months ago.”
Kofoot adds there are limits as to how SNAP funds can be used by recipients…
“SNAP money is only for food so things like I mentioned like diapers and toothpaste aren’t covered, but we through the Hunger Coalition do try and give everybody every month something that’s not covered by SNAP, so maybe toilet paper, or toothpaste or something like that. So that money we do get in does go toward things like that as well.”
Those who qualify can sign up for SNAP at the Department of Human Services office at the Dickinson County Courthouse.
Going back to the Dickinson County Hunger Coalition, Kofoot says the continued increase in food costs is hitting them on two fronts. She says the food pantries are seeing an increase in both demand, and for donations. She reminds us of the schedule and locations of the various pantries in Dickinson county…
“Lake Park is the first Thursday of the month at First Presbyterian in Lake Park; Good News Community Church has one on the first and third Saturday of every month; Spirit Life in Spirit Lake over by Forbes Meat Locker is the second and fourth Saturday of every month; and our Milford pantry is the third Thursday of the month; and Upper Des Moines is always open every Wednesday.”
Those interested in making a donation to the coalition can send it to Dickinson County Hunger Coalition at P.O. Box 617, Spirit Lake…51360.
