More Central Virginians are Using Food Stamps

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Updated: 9:17 PM Nov 30, 2009 More Central Virginians are Using Food Stamps Food stamp use is up across Central Virginia with some counties in the Charlottesville area recording jumps of as much as 75% in the last two years. Posted: 5:42 PM Nov 30, 2009 Reporter: Liz Palka Email Address: liz.palka@newsplex.com

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November 30, 2009

Food stamp use is up across Central Virginia with Charlottesville and all the surrounding counties reporting big jumps in demand for the stamps compared to two years ago.

About one out of ten Greene County residents are receiving food stamps, according to Greene County Director of Social Services James Howard, and that number is on the rise. The number of people using food stamps in the county has increased by 52% in the last year.

"The vast majority of people don't want to be receiving benefits from Social Services. So the faster they can get re-employed and get back to what they're used to, the happier they're going to be," said Howard.

Howard says people are out of work or in lower paying jobs right now. As a result, many people are, for the first time, turning to social services for food stamps.

Officials are seeing similar trends across Central Virginia. In the last year, Fluvanna County has seen a 51% increase, while Albemarle County has seen a 43% increase over the last two years. In Madison County, food stamp use is up 75% compared to two years ago.

Grocers such as Reid's in Charlottesville are noticing a significant increase in the number of customers using food stamps. That name is a misnomer. The stamps now come in the form of a credit card that reduces the stigma that used to be attached to paying with paper coupons.

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