Cuts make it tougher to put food on the table
Published 2:31 pm Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Wintertime and the holidays can be a tough stretch for people and families with limited incomes. Now, a cut in benefits is making it even harder for some on Vashon. Are you aware that we are halfway through food stamp cuts that went into effect at the beginning of November?
The good news is that these cuts are temporary, only two months long. The bad news is that the cuts happened at all and that they came during what is arguably the worst time of the year for people who are struggling to get by.
What is this all about, you ask? This is about food stamp cuts that were passed by Congress (remember the Farm Bill?). This is about our governor’s move to mitigate these cuts through state action, following similar action of several other governors around the country (Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Montana, Oregon and even Washington, D.C.). Finally, and perhaps saddest of all, this is about a state computer system that couldn’t update a change in an automatic allocation from $1 to $20 with well over six months lead time, a slight change in processing that would have resulted in families not feeling the cuts to food stamps set out by Congress.
Yes, you read that right. The state that boasts that it is home to Microsoft and numerous other big tech and data companies couldn’t update its computer system in time because evidently the governor’s request just missed a system change deadline back in March, and somehow this deadline could not be altered, even though so many people would be hurt.
As a result, many folks are feeling a cut to their benefits that ranges anywhere from $10 to $100 per month. Even though this amount might not seem to go very far at the grocery store these days, for many of us, it can mean a lot when things are especially tight. It can mean even more during the onslaught of higher heating and utility bills, increased costs and need for childcare during school holidays. And don’t forget trying to put together holiday feasts and celebrations and give gifts just like everybody else.
The State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) sent out letters to those affected, letting them know that the cuts were coming. These letters highlighted that the cuts would only be temporary and that benefits would be back up to their normal level in January.
What is not answered and seems to be carefully avoided by the state is the question: “What about November and December, just when utility bills for most of us skyrocket and finances get squeezed to a near breaking point already, under normal circumstances?”
There are no satisfying answers coming from any of our officials. This experience has shown us that the safety net that many depend on isn’t perfect and can sometimes let us down. Thankfully the government isn’t the only help available. Vashon’s food bank has been watching the situation, working with the local DSHS office to try to help let people know what is going on and, most importantly, has been working to beef up offerings at the food bank to make the strain just a little less painful where we can.
Thanksgiving offerings went out to over 250 families this year, and we are keeping our shelves full and ready for the whole holiday season.
— Yvonne Pitrof is the executive director of the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank. She can be reached at yvonne@vashonfoodbank.org.
Food bank holiday hours and donations
During December, grocery distribution hours will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, as well as from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays for seniors and disabled people.
On Dec. 24 and 31, the food bank will close at 1 p.m. There will be no Wednesday evening hours on those holidays.
To donate financially, send a check to the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank at PO Box 1205, Vashon, WA 98070.
