By: Rachel L. West, MSW LMSW
Yesterday I posted a story On the Political Social Worker about Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker challenging someone on Twitter to live for a month off of a food stamps allotment. Now others, from around the country are joining in. The challenge now has its own hash tag, #SNAPchallenge and it is well worth a look especially for social scientist. Not only are people pledging to participate but others who are or have had to survive on food stamps.
This whole thing got started when someone Tweeted Mayor Booker stating that they did not feel the government should be responsible for feeding children at school especially if those children where already recipients of SNAP benefits. The implication being that food stamps where more than enough so why continue free lunch programs. Mayor Booker countered this statement by pointing out that food stamps where barely enough for a family to get by on and then challenged the person to join him in spending one month living off of a SNAP food budget.
You can find a breakdown of SNAP allotments here.
