Gone are the days when Dana and Tom Wisniewski can treat their two kids to pizza. Given only $308 a month in food stamps, they say their survival depends largely on the generosity of food banks and their church. "I have a streak of pride in me where I don't want to ask for help," said Tom, who has a 9-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. "There have been times I'll go without a meal to make sure the kids are fed. I'm just praying the kids don't go hungry." The Wisniewskis' situation is far from unique. Because of rising food prices and the weakening economy, an increasing number of Washingtonians are finding that food stamps have little buying power. To make matters worse, the value of food vouchers given to each person are adjusted only once a year, in October. Until then, many recipients are compelled to go to food banks, churches and family members to make ends meet. "I'm not panicked. I know where all the food banks are," said Tom, who makes his living from landscaping and handyman jobs. "It really helps out, especially toward the end of the month. Without them, I don't know what we'd do." In Yakima County, the number of participants in the food voucher program has increased by 1,189 individuals from May 2007 to May of this year, bringing the new total to more than 45,100. An additional 27 percent, or 16,609 Yakima County residents, are estimated to be eligible for the aid, according to state officials. John Camp and Glynnis Ashley, who manage the food stamp program for the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, said they know the need for assistance is great. At the same time, they said the program was never designed to be a person's sole means of buying food. The maximum monthly benefit for a four-person family with very little or no income is $542. Statewide, the average household size is two, with an average monthly benefit of $195, according to state records. The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets the maximum monthly benefits based on the "Thrifty Food Plan" developed by the U.S.D.A. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. The food plan is the lowest-cost model of what is needed to provide a nutritious diet for families. Even at the maximum allotment, the plan provides less than $2 a meal per person for a family of four. The amount of aid given to people won't increase until October, when the plan adjusts to reflect the change in food costs. But industry experts say it won't be enough to keep pace with rising prices. "One thing we are continually trying to do is get the word out about the program and reach those people who are eligible but who are not participating," Ashley said. "We want to reach more and more families who qualify."   Amanda Truchon of Yakima is allotted $90 a month in food stamps, but she's lucky if it lasts two weeks. Living in a tent with her husband, Joseph, she doesn't own a stove or a refrigerator. That means she has to eat food immediately after buying it, or stock up on bread, canned goods and other staples that last. While Joseph admits to panhandling and shoplifting after using up his own food vouchers, Amanda is a frequent user of food banks. She appreciates the help, but can't use the dried beans and pasta she's given. "I'm always anxious and worried," the 37-year-old said about her situation. "It's depressing." Local food banks are experiencing an increased demand on their services lately, to assist people like the Truchons. Lisa Sargent, program and events director for the Salvation Army in Yakima, said she usually sees fewer participants in the summer because more people are able to find work then. But not this year. She's serving 95 families a day instead of the typical 50. "We're definitely feeling the effects of the economy," she said. "We're definitely seeing the need for our food banks." During the Salvation Army's last food drive in May, 12,000 pounds of food were donated, down from the typical 20,000 to 22,000, Sargent said. And it's all been used. She's hoping her October food drive will be more successful. "We live on faith," she said. "We don't decrease the amount of food we give; we maintain it. Somehow, the money is always provided." Lisa Simmons, director of operations for St. Vincent Center in Yakima, is all too aware of people's growing dependence on food banks. According to statistics she has compiled, the number of families who use the county's food banks has increased from 106,249 to 124,244 in the past year -- an increase of almost 17 percent. "Many of the people we see are on a fixed income," she said. "The price of everything around them is going up, but their income isn't." In the past four years, Simmons has noticed huge price changes affecting the center's food supply. Flour has gone from 16 cents to 43 cents a pound, a 170 percent increase, and rice has increased from 24 cents to 50 cents a pound, a 110 percent jump. Despite the rising costs, the center still distributes 8,000 pounds of food each week. Nonessential items like sugar and butter are no longer distributed, but the amount of food given away remains the same, Simmons said. Although providing for the community has become more of a challenge, Simmons said she's actively seeking different funding sources to help cover the center's expenses. Her staff further assists people by helping them enroll in the food stamp program. "We have a really great community. They are involved. They step up," she said. "I'm nothing but optimistic for the future." To help out people in need, Gov. Chris Gregoire is raising the income maximum to be eligible for food stamps in October. She also released $200,000 from an emergency fund to help food banks offset rising fuel prices. To qualify for the program in Washington, a family's household income must be less than $26,900, or 130 percent of the federal poverty level. That cutoff is being increased to $42,000 for a family of four, or 200 percent of the poverty level. The change is expected to add about 23,000 families to the nearly 300,000 households already enrolled. Although the changes are well and good, Santos Rivas Jr. of Yakima said he's more concerned about the present. Unemployed because of health problems, he receives a little over $100 a month in food stamps, which he stretches out by eating potatoes and Top Ramen noodles. By the 20th of each month, he's asking relatives for help. A day or two later, he goes to the Salvation Army. Things have gotten so bad, he said, that he had to decide between paying his phone bill or buying food. He chose food, and now he doesn't have phone service. "My family will help me when they can, but they have their own worries," said Santos, 52. "I worry about what I'm going to do. ... It's not easy asking people (for help). They reject you. It makes you feel bad."   * Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.   Gone are the days when Dana and Tom Wisniewski can treat their two kids to pizza. Given only $308 a month in food stamps, they say their survival depends largely on the generosity of food banks and their church. "I have a streak of pride in me where I d City Desk, LOCAL

2008-08-01T23:53:22Z

by Erin Snelgrove

2008-08-24T04:30:51Z

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2008-08-25T04:43:20Z

Washington residents struggle as food stamps lose buying power 7013 washington-residents-struggle-as-food-stamps-lose-buying-power Web Story

Yakima Herald-Republic

2008-08-24T04:43:20Z

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8/17/08 food stamps DONT KILL!!! published Web Daily

2009-03-20T02:27:40Z