Food Stamp Use at all Time High

Jane Black, of the Washington Post, reports that food stamp use is expected to exceed 30 million this month - a number higher than the historic increase after Hurricane Katrina.

Any doubt that the next stimulus package should include increased food stamp benefits should now be erased.

“We soon will have the most food stamps recipients in the history of our country,” said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, a D.C.-based anti-hunger policy organization. “If the economic forecasts come true, we’re likely to see the most hunger that we’ve seen since the 1981 recession and maybe since the 1960s, when these programs were established.”

Earlier this month Obama’s new Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel said:

“Rule one: Never allow a crisis to go to waste….They are opportunities to do big things.”

When Congress returns to session, they should heed their former colleague’s advice and think big on ending domestic hunger.